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This Day in History - The Potter Hotel
updated: Jan 18, 2010, 3:43 PM
By Neal Graffy
One hundred and eight years ago, on January 19, 1902, Milo M. Potter broke ground for a new hotel along West Beach. Exactly one year, $1,500,000 and 2,700 barrels of cement later, the Potter Hotel officially opened on the 30 acre site.
The orders from Milo Potter to John C. Austin, the architect, were "do your best". The end result certainly reflected those three words. The Potter was the final word in taste, elegance and luxury. No comfort or service was overlooked, a tradition soon appreciated by America's wealthiest familes who came, who saw, who stayed.
Bounded by West (Cabrillo) Boulevard, Chapala, Montecito and Bath streets, the hotel had close to 450 guest rooms and required a staff of 500 at a time when Santa Barbara had a population of around 7,000. The hotel had its own power plant, farm, livery, golf course and polo field.
Milo Potter and his hotel put Santa Barbara on the map, and the result changed the face of Santa Barbara forever.
This week's Sunday's Edhat will cover the full history of the Potter.
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COMMENT 53982
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2010-01-19 08:47 AM |
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64 years ago on Jan 19th, 1946 my wife and I were married at the old SB Mission. We have 4 children, 4 grand children, 6 great grand children. Our family help me farm our avocado ranch on the Gaviota Coast. I was born on my grand fathers ranch, now the Earl Warren show grounds. My father was born there in 1886! Before the Potter hotel! PLCC
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