Description:
The Illinois Hotel was built at the beginning of the Twentieth Century (about 1903) at 217 West Main. This ornate four-story hotel was not very large, but it did feature a café and a barber shop on the first floor. The hotel was located on the north side of West Main about half way between Robinson and Harvey. It was very near the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad (Frisco) passenger station, a short walk away at West First and Harvey, and yet was far enough away from the clatter and bustle associated with the busy rail station. Although this photo gives the impression that many guests rode bicycles, the truth is that a bicycle shop was located next door. In 1905 the S. H. Kress company built a three-story five-and-dime store where the bicycle shop was and about 1910, when the city was experiencing an economic boom, Kress took over the first floor of the Illinois. In 1915, Kress moved across the street to 218 West Main and the Illinois was occupied by the exclusive Brock Clothing store which later evolved into the John A. Brown department store.