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| Casa Monica Hotel Cordova Hotel Casa Monica Hotel |
| The demand for apartments in the Hotel "Sunnyside" has for years trebly exceeded its capacity. Its patrons will be gratified to know that it is being substituted by a spacious and elegant structure on the same site, to be named CASA MONICA Sunnyside with its annexes, "Villula" and "Villa del Sol," will be opened Dec 15; the new section of "Casa Monica" on the 15th of January, 1887, with a capacity of 120 rooms. (This is the old Sunnyside which had been moved). The situation, directly opposite the "Ponce de Leon," now in progress, fronts the U. S. grounds and is adjacent to the Plaza, the churches, ancient Cathedral, Post Office, Theatre, Club House, Harbor, etc.; and certainly is unsurpassed for entertaining surroundings, by any location in Florida. The balconies and porches, several hundred feet in length, offer full facitilities for the outdoor existence which attracts increasing migration from snows and furnace heated shelters of the North. All the premises have been newly and handsomely furnished; many of the rooms are of extra size, with closets, and in communication as suites; gas, electric bells, hot and cold sulphur baths from an artesian well on the premises, are added appliances for health and comfort. It is intended that the Casa Monica shall be a first class establishment, with most refined and convenient appointments. An ample dining room and kitchen, also with fire-proof walls, have been built apart from the residential building, avoiding the objectional contact of sleeping and cooking under the same roof. The manager of Casa Monica, Mr. J. L. Scott, has a wide reputation in the North, as proprietor for seventeen years of the hotel at Highgate Springs, Vt., famed for the excellence of its cuisine and the scrupulous neatness of its premises. A French chef will lead the table supplies, which will be of best materials from the North, with the early vegetables of New Year's. The design is prepared for the completion of Casa Monica, with a frontage of about 450 feet, to be opened at the same date as the Ponce de Leon and the Alcazar, Jan 1, 1888. Smith received the land and the Sunnyside Hotel building (with it moved to the site) in exchange for Smith’s interest in the Ball Estate property. The Casa Monica (named after the mother of St. Augustine, Bishop of Hippo). Franklin Smith built the Casa Monica with a Moorish Revival style design in 1887. It opened on January 1, 1888 with only 3 guests registered. Timeline: 1887 May Henry Flagler sales the land to Smith for King and Cordova sites (construction begins) 1888 January 17 Opens 1888 April 20 Bought by Henry Flagler 1888 July Flagler adds addition on the east to dining room. 1892 Carriage entry closed, café located near the dining room. 1893 November 5th opening (till May) – Rate $3-$4 a day (by the week each person $21.00 and upwards.) 1895 parlors, writing-room, the sun parlor, and corridor were converted into bazaars. 1896 Only sleeping apartments opened. Dining room used as an audience-hall or ballroom. There was a reconfiguration of the entrance hall and stairs. Shops were created in the former offices along Cordova, and the elevator removed. 1900 Apartments built – two apartments on each floor opening onto each staircase and two on the landing where the elevator would e available. Each apartment was to be from two to ten rooms, working off of a private hall, and containing a private bath. Apartments were furnished or unfurnished including housekeeping. 1903 Walkway built from Alcazar to Cordova 1910 Substituted steam for gas heat 1919 August 15 first home of 1st National Bank 1924 Dining room removed and the shops along King street extended back into the courtyard. 1930 Lobby reopened and elevator added. 1932 In the spring the hotel closed 1961 Florida East Hotel Company sells to County for $250,000 County renovates for 1.68 million (includes purchase price) 1999 December 10 Casa Monica reopens Rooms: Writing Room Parlor Sun Parlor 108 foot long Library or Reading Room Dinning Room (at courtyard on King) Ladies Writing room (round Tower) Drawing Room (round Tower) 200 guest rooms arranged in suites with private parlors, where meals were served if desired. All of the suites were equipped with closets, electric lights, gas heat and electric bells to call for service. Baths were located on each floor. 1894 – 270 guests accommodations plus chambers contained baths. Building: Entrance on King St Modeled after the Puerta del Sol at Toledo Spain Kneeling balconies on lower range of windows Carriage entrance on King Street Façade above 400 feet Tower 100 feet in height 3 towers (two with battlements) one round (six stories) two square (Corner tower 7 stories) Roof type flat parapet Dinning room 2 rows of handsome fluted pillars Gas heat originally converted into steam heat Originally lit by gas 1900 - Apartments built 2 to 10 rooms each furnished or unfurnished, privilege of housekeeping Cordova side classical columns built in the 1960s Cordova Park east of Cordova Fire escapes were rings attached to wall under windows. Onto the ring is tied a length of rope adequate to reach the street. Sewer system ran to harbor Elevator, boiler, and heating apparatus of hotel supplied by the Whittier Machine Company. Managers: 1888 - 1893 Mr. E. N. Wilson 1893-94 O. D. Seavy 1894 Clarence B Knott Other Employees: 1892 Chef- Theo C Manna Stewart – Robert Murray Head waiter – C C Randolph Pastry – John Messier Muffins – Edward Longwood Register – A E Martin Master of Ceremonies – B S Hoag Cashier – Arthur L R Despeaux Keys and Mail – E E Wilson / Geo A Oruis Housekeeper Mrs. A. Logan Engine and Machinery – John Bevins Café – Charles Berry 1894 Chef John Buelletta 1894 George W. Boinkin head bellman Room Rate: 1894 3 and 4 dollars per day Shops: El Unico Gift Shop (under arch by the round tower – photographs/books Asaboonian and Simonian Curiosity Shop HW Davis Clothing Smith and Woodman Druggist WJ Henry Bicycles Library: Burkes Peerage Almanach de Gotha Websters Royal Red Book Kelly’s Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes Masterpieces of Industrial Art & Sculpture at the International Exhibit by J. B Waring (1862) House of Commons and the Judicial Bench Castles and Abbeys of England Within 4 months after opening Franklin Smith sold the building to Henry Flagler who renamed it the Cordova. On April 20, 1888 Henry Flagler purchased the Casa Monica and all items for $325,000. Later (in 1903) Henry Flagler decided to build a walk way to the Cordova from the Alcazar. You can still see the remains of that walkway on the second floor of the Alcazar. When this was completed in 1902 the Cordova became the Alcazar Annex. It certainly recovered from this. Today, it is a AAA 4 Diamond hotel and it has its original name back the Casa Monica. They are always happy to have you take a look inside. It operated as the St. John’s County Courthouse from May 29,1968-1997. The property was acquired by Richard Kessler and completely renovated. It reopened as a hotel December 10 of 1999 taking back its original Casa Monica name. |
| Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division, Historic American Buildings Survey or Historic American Engineering Record, Reproduction Number (Ex:"HABS,ILL,16-CHIG,33-2") |
| Other Articles Plumbers Strike |
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| Note Pillars from old County Courthouse use |
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| Cordova Hotel Courtyard New York Public Library |
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| Cordova Menu New York Public Library |