About St. Charles

• Preface
• Native American History
• Early Settlement
• Building a Community
• Philanthropy & Tourism

1920-1950: The Rise of Tourism and Philanthropy

Resort Town

Several decades and events proved to be defining points in St. Charles history, but none so much as the years 1920-1940. It was during this time that major factors of wealth and growth in St. Charles influenced the residents as well as people in the entire region. During this time, St. Charles was quickly transforming itself into a "resort town". In the years leading up to 1920, factory workers immigrated to St. Charles as industries like the Cable Piano Factory and Moline Malleable grew. However, in the 20s and 30s, tourism and philanthropy exploded taking over the growth and persona of the town.

Tourism was inevitable in St. Charles due to its beautiful parks and scenic river views. The boom occurred after the construction of the Hotel Baker and Arcada Theatre in the late 1920s. The Hotel, built by Edward Baker, became so popular as a romantic getaway that it was nicknamed "the honeymoon hotel." Lester Norris designed the Arcada Theatre with influence from his travels around the world, giving the Theatre Spanish baroque style. Even Main Street bridge was renovated in 1927 to compliment the Hotel Baker and Arcada Theatre. The combination of the two structures turned St. Charles into a favorite retreat for urbanites.

Philanthropic donations enhanced the civic services and buildings of St. Charles during the 1930s and 40s. Many community structures were built including the Baker Community Center, the Municipal Building, the Delnor Hospital, Main Street bridge, and other public projects. The Municipal building was designed by R. Harold Zook and is a one of a kind masterpiece done in white marble. Even today, the 3:00 chime of an old-fashioned melody from the bell tower can be heard throughout the town.

What does the rise of tourism and philanthropy have to do with barbed wire and Texaco Stations? All are connected through the nationally-known Norris and Baker families, both wealthy residents of St. Charles. Their effect on the town was dramatic and clear, although, the source of their terrific wealth is not easily understood. It all started with one fascinating man who has no direct connection to St. Charles: John Warne Gates.

Norris-Baker-Gates Connection

John Gates was born in Turner’s Junction (West Chicago) in 1855. He earned the name "Bet-a-million" (which he disliked) from his "all-or-nothing" attitude toward gambling. In 1873, Gates met Dellora Baker of St. Charles. She was the daughter of Edward Baker, a farmer, merchant, and public figure. Dellora was considered to be the "Belle of St. Charles" due to her stunning good looks and her family’s prominent position within the community. In 1874, Gates and Baker were married. Gates and Dellora’s younger brother, Edward J. Baker were now brothers-in-law.

In the following years, Gates associated with two gentlemen from DeKalb, Illinois with whom he made his first fortune selling barbed wire. Their fortune began with the need to isolated thousands of cattle on ranges in the West. It was cheap, fast, and fairly maintenance free; an ideal fencing material for large tracks of land. Gates’ business ventures did not stop at barbed wire, however. Using his financial wizardry, Gates invested money in Texas land. By 1902, his land struck oil. He subsequently founded Texas Oil Company, later known as Texaco.

Tragically, Gates and his immediate family did not live long enough to enjoy their vast wealth. Not long after Gates’ death in 1911, his wife and son died as well. By 1918, the entire fortune was split between the two closest living relatives, Edward Baker, a brother-in-law of Gates, and Dellora Angell, a niece of Edward Baker and Dellora Gates. Young Dellora Angell was the daughter of Vernie (sister to Dellora Gates) and R. F. Angell of St. Charles. Although John "Bet-a-million" Gates was never a resident of St. Charles, his 38 million-dollar fortune played a major role in the development of the town.

Hotel Baker

Edward Baker was given the honorary title of "Colonel" by a Kentucky governor for his love and care of fine racing horses. At 40, he inherited the Gates fortune. In addition to his visible contributions to the city, in 1928 he brought the tourist industry to new heights with the construction of the Hotel Baker. The Hotel, combined with other attractions like the scenic river views, the Arcada Theatre, and the abundant parks and activities, changed St. Charles into a weekend resort town.

The opening of the Hotel Baker on June 2, 1928 was celebrated with a banquet in the ballroom for over 300 people. The "honeymoon hotel" was a favorite getaway spot for many urbanites in the 1920s and 1930s. "Colonial" Edward Baker purchased the site in 1926 and began the construction of the unheard of $600,000 hotel. At the 1933 World’s Fair in Chicago, the Hotel was advertised as one of the best places to stay in the area. Baker resided in the penthouse of the Hotel until his death in 1959.

Local contractors and materials were used to build the hotel, which boosted the economy of the town. In addition, St. Charles experienced a business boom due to the Hotel because of the shops, tourists, and wealth that poured into the small town. In 1926, accommodations started at $2.50 a night and increased to $6.00 by 1947.

A main attraction for the Baker was the famous "Rainbow Room," a two-story oval ballroom surrounded by a balcony. It earned its name from the dance floor which had 2,620 red, green, yellow, and blue lights beneath 300 glass blocks. At that time. the dance floor was one of only three lighted glass floors in the world. The lights could synchronize with the beat of the music, or produce pictures such as a heart, flag, star, or Christmas tree.

The Rainbow Room of the Baker drew top-notch entertainers. Louis Armstrong, Tommy Dorsey, Guy Lombardo, Lawrence Welk, and Eddie Duchin were among the talents to have graced the floor and entertained huge crowds every night. The music from the Baker was piped across the river into the Municipal Building during the 1940s.

Another attraction of the Hotel was the resort feeling that patrons got from the town. This was due its proximity to the Fox River, and its access to Pottawatomie Park and the Arcada Theatre. The Hotel was designed to have an extensive park along the river. When this did not materialize, Baker laid out a beautiful garden behind the Hotel. After dinner in the Hotel, guests could enjoy a quite evening and view thousands of roses, tulips, and other fragrant flowers. Lanterns illuminated the walkways out to the boat house where people sat under colored umbrellas and watched the river. A rock garden and pond surrounded by statues of animals and gnomes sat picturesque next to the river. For the sports advocate, there was a small putting green for golfers to practice their skill.

After the World’s Fair in 1933, the Board of Directors of the Fair gave Baker three Venetian gondolas. These boats were stored in the boathouse and were seen on the river dawned in candle "fairy lights." Guests could rent the gondolas, complete with singing gondolier, nightly at the Hotel.

Famous guests of the Baker included: John F. Kennedy, Gerald Ford, Jim Thompson, Everett Dirksen, Adlai Stevenson, Edmond Muskie, Charles Percy, Richard J. Daley, Billy Graham, Len O’Conner, Jeanette MacDonald, Mary Martin, Edward Arnold, Edgar Bergen, Tommy Dorsey, and Lawrence Welk. Many of the entertainers were performing at the Rainbow Room or the Arcada Theatre. In addition, because Baker was a staunch republican, politicians stayed at the Baker as the hotel was considered the headquarters for the republican party.

Visitors arrived by chauffeur or airplane. The latter flew into town on the Central Airway Corporation which offered 15 minute trips between an airstrip west of town and a Chicago airport. The flights cost $30 round trip and were often greeted by Baker himself.

Arcada Theatre

The Arcada, the Spanish word for "arcade", was the vision made real for St. Charles native Lester Norris. Construction was completed in 1926 equipping the structure with facilities for live performances, films, and after-show festivities. Norris was a graduate of the Chicago Academy of Arts and worked as a commercial artist and cartoonists for the Chicago Tribune. Norris’ wife Dellora, was the niece of Edward Baker and heir to the Gates fortune. The family wealth, combined with Norris’ artistic talents, provided the means necessary to build the one-of-kind Arcada Theatre.

The Venetian-Spanish theme of the structure came from Norris’ extensive travels to Florida where he studied Spanish-influenced architecture. He worked closely with architect Elmer F. Behrens, the same architect that designed the Tivioli and Chicago Theatres in Chicago. The basic structure used a tan colored brick with terra-cotta trimming. Niches in the walls of the interior contributed to the exotic Spanish atmosphere. The 1000 seat auditorium had leather seats on the main floor and wicker lounge chairs with deep cushions in the balcony.

The organ was an early 20th century theater’s centerpiece due to its importance within the performance. A good organ set the standard of quality for theaters because movie-goers depended upon it to acoustically enhance the visual images on the screen. Norris purchases an organ from New York at a price of $25,000; it was considered to be the finest organ in the country.

Norris opened the Arcada on September 6, 1926 at 6:00pm to sold out crowds. Theatre-goers from Chicago were brought in on a special train. It was reported that prestigious names from as far away as New York showed up for the unveiling. The evening featured a film and several vaudeville shows. The film "the Last Frontier" was given its premier screening. The vaudeville show presented piano and radio stars the Jordans, also known as Fibber McGee and Molly. In addition, dancers Ross and Louise and vaudeville performers Lori Marie Harrington and her Gypsy Wayfarers were entertaining that night. Rounding out the evenings entertainment was an our gang comedy "False Alarm." The stage of the Arcada was the largest in the Fox valley and the seating capacity could fill one fifth of the population of St. Charles.

Throughout the 20s and 30s performers at the Arcada included: Ginger and Pepper (Ginger Rogers and Jack Pepper), Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, Little Jack Little, Sam ‘n Henry, Will Rogers, John Philip Sousa, and Burns and Allen. George Burns and Gracie Allen actually ended their vaudeville careers at the Arcada. Entertainers played in front of packed audiences. However, after "talkies," the Arcada began to only book theater and films as vaudeville died out.

New Shops and Restaurants

Named for the "Blue Goose" brand of American Fruit Growers Association, the Blue Goose Supermarket is the oldest surviving grocery store and is one last of the original 18 grocery stores in the downtown St. Charles area. Built in 1928 by Nancy Lencioni, its first location was at 205 W. Main where it stayed for a number of years. The Goose sold fruits, vegetables, and a limited amount of other items in the early years.

There were many fine dining establishments in town during the 1920s and 1930s. Among the favorite spots were the Red Parrot Tea Room above the Arcada, the Hotel Baker Restaurant, the Wild Rose Inn, the Log Cabin Restaurant-affectionately named "Tin Willie" because of its tin roof, the Sweet Spot, and Port of Entry along the Fox River. Allegedly, Al Capone frequented a speakeasy long route 25 north of town and held bootleg parties. Today, the restaurant, aptly named "Al Capone’s Hideaway Lounge," brims with paraphernalia for the roaring twenties.

Many people owned or rented summer cabins along the Fox river north of the Park. Yearly trips were made to the scenic Fox River area to enjoy the outdoors. Resorts such as Pinelands, Oak Ridge, and the Wing camp had packed houses every summer.

Colonel Baker owned eight horse farms in the greater St. Charles area. The height of his equestrian career was the success of his prize trotter, Greyhound. Greyhound beat the world record for fastest mile in 1938 and kept the record for 31 years. Ultimately, the horse broke 17 world records. Greyhound outlived his owner by six years and is buried on Red Gate Farm where a plaque commemorates his achievements.

There were several other horse farms owned by E. J. Baker which produced some of the finest racing trotters during this time. Greyhound was the finest horse produced out of this era. It held the record for the fastest quarter mile for over 30 years. In addition, it won numerous awards and races and was named trotter of the century in the 1970s.

History of St. Charles
The First 100 Years
Written by Jeanne Schultz-Angel
The Heritage Center

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