Name/Title
Hotel CasablancaEntry/Object ID
2022.21.428Description
Simmons negative number 428
Exterior of Hotel Casablanca. The building, located on the Village Square by Christian Science Church was destroyed by fire in March, 1969.
Index text:
428 0/3 Saugatuck - Lodging Casablanca
From photographic negatives created by William R. Simmons, editor of the Commercial Record newspaper between 1941 and 1961.
More information may be in the 2001 SDHS book "Off the Record"Photograph Details
Subject Person or Organization
Hotel Casablanca/Grace Hotel/Roamers Inn 1904-1969, Lane, Art 1930-2020, Fox, ViolaContext
Casablanca Remembered
I lived in the Casablanca for a few weeks after buying the Commercial Record in 1967. It was March, snowy and cold. There were no heat ducts to the rooms. What heat there was flowed through grates over the doors. My room was on the second floor.
The Casablanca (owned by Ilene Stilwell) was frame and I thought about it burning and had a bush down below picked out in case I had to jump. The Casablanca, in the southwest corner of the village square, did burn later and the gas main to it shot flames 30 feet in the air.
After I'd been at the Casablanca a few weeks Vi Fox took pity and let me move to a room in the Coral Gables Dog House building - complete with heat! -- Art LaneCollection
William (Bill) SimmonsCataloged By
Winthers, SallyRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Simmons, William "Bill" R. 1890/1-1966Create Date
March 13, 2022Update Date
January 17, 2024
