Demolition crews have begun razing the century-old St. Cloud Hotel in downtown Chandler, Oklahoma, in recent weeks.
The Lincoln County News in Chandler reported that Midwest Wrecking of Oklahoma City was working on demolishing the facade of the St. Cloud buildings at 1216 Manvel Ave. (aka Route 66). The newspaper stated it would take several additional weeks to finish the job.
Several other Route 66 enthusiasts, including Mariko Kusakabe, posted photos online of crews working on taking down the buildings.
KFOR-TV reported that the city ordered the demolition in April, stating the building “lacks necessary repairs and is in a state of decay to such an extent, it is a hazard to the health, safety, and welfare of the public.”
A storm blew off the roof the previous month, damaging neighboring buildings that included a veterinary clinic.
Building owners Larry Donbraswell and John Givens tried to fight the demolition in court, including appealing it to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, to no avail.
The St. Cloud Hotel was built in 1904 for John Edward Gormley, predating Route 66 by more than 20 years. It reputedly had the first elevator in the city.
According to Route 66 Times, Gormley died in 1926.
Ghost signs on the south side of the building bear the hotel’s name and a Coca-Cola advertisement. The St. Cloud was also known as the Evans Hotel and Grace Hotel in later iterations. It also housed a Chevrolet dealership.
The hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, which offers little protection against demolition.
(Image of the St. Cloud Hotel in Chandler, Oklahoma, by Taylor Baker via Wikipedia)
