Hotel Crellin (1892) 1
The Hotel Crellin was a large hotel at 10th and Washington. It occupied the upper floors of the Crellin Block (often called the Hotel Crellin Building), and the entrance was at 1005 Washington.
The building was built for John Crellin (father) and/or Thomas Crellin (brother or son). Excavations for began in December 1888. The iron girders were made at the Judson Iron Works; previously such work had been done in San Francisco. An early commercial tenant at 1009 Washington was the Lace House, the predecessor of H.C. Capwell Company.
The hotel opened in 1890. The manager, F.J. McLaughlin gave a party in May 1890 to celebrate the opening.
In 1892, E.R. Lewman started managing the hotel. In 1894, M.M. Hartman took over.
Fred A. Jordan
from Men of the Pacific Coast 1902-1903c.1901-1908, Fred A. Jordan was the proprietor. Staff included:
- Fred A. Jordan - proprietor
- Frank Aetchson - waiter
- Edwin Berg - bellboy
- Myrtle Bettencourt - domestic
- E. L. Burke - waiter
- Robert Cross - employee
As with many hotels at the time, some people lived at the Crellin. Notable residents in 1903 include Henry Bert Bercovich, cigar importer and nephew of Abraham Bercovich, and Thomas T. Dargie, postmaster and newspaper publisher.
c.1911-1915, Louis Aber was the proprietor. An ad in the 1911 directory touted "steam heat, electric light, and phone service in every room."
c.1890 2 
1896 Illustrated Directory
NB: The UC Berkeley, Bancroft Library has the photo on the left in the Frank B. Rodolph Collection, but has it labeled Everts Block. While this is likely a Frank Rodolph photo, it is not the Everts Block, which was a block away.
Whitthorne and Swan bought the property in 1922. It continued operating as a hotel for a time, then the building was demolished in 1926 for an addition to Witthorne and Swan's department store.
1924 ad
1912 Sanborn excerpt
Links and References
- Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Center
- ohrphoto.oaklandhotels.022 Oakland Public Library, Oakland History Center
