I had never heard of the Angelus Hotel before I came across this sadly atmospheric photo taken in 1956, just before it was torn down. The hotel stood on the southwest corner of Spring and 4th Streets and opened for business on December 28, 1901 with a bowling alley, billiards room, buffet, and what was described as “a finely furnished ladies’ hair dressing parlor, with professional attendants.” It sounded like it was the height of 1901 elegance. How sad to see it like this with “Auction” and “Close Out Sale” signs and its entrance covered with grime and neglect.

Andie P. says: “I don’t believe this! That Chevy station wagon belonged to the foreman on one of my dad’s construction crews and he, my dad and two other workers were at the hotel to purchase by auction a bunch of architectural pieces, doors, a bar and back bar, a bunch of ceiling fixtures and etc., after they began dismantling the building. It took two large trucks making several trips, to haul away all the materials dad purchased. A dozen other contractors were bidding on varous things, but they were all friends and had pretty much “shared out” the particular pieces each was bidding on. I recognize the station wagon from the crease in the side where his wife made a too close turn around a pile of bricks in the supply yard, didn’t see a big plank protruding from the pile and one end scraped along the side.”

Here’s an photo of the Angelus Hotel in its prime in 1905

And here is a menu for their “Business Lunch” dated Saturday, June 27, 1903:

And this is what the southwest corner of Spring and 4th looked like in April 2022: