Durley Hotel
It All
Started with a Tornado, Wilbur A. Zink
H.W. Grantley built the Durley Hotel in
1892. The old Durley was a busy place in its day. A Grand Opening was celebrated
with Thomas S. Harrison as the clerk in charge. It was made from brick made by
Adams & Wescot Brick Company two miles south of Appleton. The walls of the hotel
are 18” thick, and it had steam heat to all the rooms. On the front of the hotel
was a portico over the large front door, and twelve cane split-bottom chairs
were placed under the portico for hotel guests to sit in. There were two rooms
on the north side of the ground floor for traveling salesmen (called drummers in
that day) to display their wares for the local merchants to peruse. The Durley
Hotel was a popular place for many years. Daily meals were fifty cents. Dining
room wages were fifteen cents per day. Many socials were held at the Durley,
including banquets and dances. The banquet food menu was fancier than most
hotels of today.
Dance Advertisement, 1929
Appleton City Journal
Submitted by Mary Zeiler