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Hotel Byers (Dole House)
This beauty sat at the southeast corner of 17th and Broadway. It was built during the Civil War by Charles and Stephen Dole. It was the largest building in Mattoon until the Hulman Building was built in 1911 (also part of our “Graveyard”). The fourth story was added in 1898 which gave the hotel 100 rooms. After improvements were completed in 1913, it became known as Hotel Byers. In 1961, the building changed hands once again. It was renamed Broadway hotel, but was closed September 15, 1962. When it was torn down it 1971, everything went to the landfill, including the registration cards and ledgers. The building was declared to dangerous too retrieve them. Another part of Mattoon History lost forever. This building served many purposes, throughout its history. In 1869, the post office was moved to the Dole House. Prior to 1900, a grocery stored occupied the middle storeroom of the building. This area was made into the lobby after the grocery store closed. Old photos show Owing Drug company being located on the corner of the Dole House. In its later years, Mory’s jewelry was located at the same corner. The city purchased the site in 1971 for $112,500, and planned to replace the structure with a parking lot. Demolition proved to be harder then expected. At the bid opening, a Springfield firm challenged the bids stating that the specifications were not complete, and a fair bid price could not be reached. Apparently, nothing came of this and a contract was awarded for $29,250. Once demolition started, concern was given to the party wall connecting the hotel and Osco Drugs next door. An agreement was reached to build a support wall. The City and the owners of the Osco building would share the cost. This almost doubled the cost to the city for demolishing one of Mattoon’s treasures. In 1974, the land was dedicated to the City of Mattoon as “Progress Square”. This mentality of replacing historic buildings with parking lots, then calling it “progress”, has continued as a Mattoon tradition for 30 years. That is why our graveyard list is so long.
Dole House
Lobby of Hotel Byers
Shortly before demolition
Progress Square |
