Davenport Democrat Davenport, Scott, Iowa Jul 20, 1924 FINEST HOTEL IN THE WEST DURING CIVIL WAR DAYS WAS THE BURTIS HOUSE AT FIFTH AND IOWA STREETS Davenport once boasted of having the finest hotel "in every respect superior to any other in the United States." That was in 1858, and perhaps it was only a boast, but it was certainly one of the finest in the West. It was noted for its elegance, accommodation and beauty of structure." The building extended 118 feet on Fifth street and 109 feet on Iowa street, and had a dining room 39 by 81 feet, supported by "iron columns and magnificently frescoed by Messrs. Paterson & Hildebrand." The structure rose to a height of five stories including basement. Hot and Cold Water. A 35-horsepower engine in the basement and a Worthington pump forced water to a tank in the fifth story from which in hot and cold jets it was distributed to every hall in the house. The basement also contained a laundry room, restaurant, billiard room, smoking room, and store rooms. Steam heat was used for heating and cooking. The dining room occupied the center of the main floor and was lighted by means of a skylight. There were 150 sleeping rooms. Dr. Burtis himself designed the structure assisted by Mesrs. Underwood & Cochran and a Mr. Carroll. The eminent doctor had a reputation with travelers for "those gentlemanly and hospitable attentions that end so much to lessen the discomfort of travel and to ameliorate the hardships of absence from home." Frank Kendrick was assistant manager of the hotel. Frank was undoubtedly the most suave of managers-except of course, for Dr. Burtis himself. "To all who know him, " one man said, "nothing need be said in regard to his qualifications; to others it need merely be said that he is- a gentleman." The Chef Extraordinary. William Coulter was the man who made the old Burtis house famous all over the United States thru his cooking. In fact, so great was the improvement in the preparation of the food when he returned to the kitchen after an absence of a few months that The Democrat spoke glowingly on the following day, July 2, 1864. "The boarders at the Burtis house were highly gratified yesterday at the change of the order of affairs in the culinary department. There was such a sudden change in the style of cooking that an inquiry was at once instituted to ascertain the cause. The investigation resulted in bringing out the fact that the old time and popular Burtis cook-William Coulter-was back at his post again. Mr. Coulter is one of the best cooks in the country. He was with the Burtis house from its opening until last spring when he left for a while. He commands in the kitchen and the public will have the return of those splendid dinners such as he along knows how to place upon the table." Previous to coming to the Burtis, Mr. Coulter had made the LeClaire house noted for its cuisine. He had come to Davenport from Chicago in 1858 and previous to that time had been chef of the Collamore and Globe hotels of New York, the National at Washington and a number of leading Chicago hotels. Burtis Once a Dentist. Dr. J.J. Burtis had been a dentist before he came West from New York, his native state, and settled in Missouri; but did not seem to enjoy the profession. He is described as a fine looking man with raven black hair and a black mustache. Tho one of the most public-spirited citizens in the history of Davenport and at one time one of the wealthiest, Dr. Burtis had but $5,000 when he left the city to engage in the hotel business in Topeka, where he purchased the Taft house, a center of political gathering in the state. Here he made a success of his venture. Dr. Burtis was born May 27, 1811, and died at Topeka, July 19, 1883, his funeral being one of the largest ones ever held there under Masonic aupsices. Cathy Joynt Labath Scott Co, IA USGenWeb Project http://www.celticcousins.net/scott/index.htm Iowa Old Press http://www.IowaOldPress.com/