Sedalia
by DIANA LAMBDIN MEYER
The grace and charm of a bygone era, reminiscent of the golden days of speakeasys and a time when coffee was served in fine china permeates the hallways, guestrooms and nearly every crevice of Sedalia’s Hotel Bothwell.
The stately façade of the National Historic Landmark has been a presence of Sedalia’s historic downtown since opening on June 10, 1927. Through the years, names such as Bette Davis, Harry Truman, Gene Autry, and a young Clint Eastwood added to the omnipresent air of elegance in the grandiose lobby and dining area.
But the years took its toll on the graceful old lady, which had been an assisted living facility before it closed for renovation in 1998. The multi-million dollar rejuvenation of the Hotel Bothwell, completed in 2001, returned the property to its former glory and with it, restored a bit of the 1920s mystique to downtown Sedalia.
Now the guest register includes names like Tim McGraw, Faith Hill and others who perform at the Missouri StaFair. But the hotel’s charm has its greatest impact on business travelers, honeymooners and other “ordinary” folks looking for an extraordinary getaway for a few days.
From its opening well into the 1960s, the Hotel Bothwell was the place for any type of social or business gathering in Sedalia. Bette Davis headquartered herself here while selling bonds during World War II. It was here that a young Harry Truman announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. Countless numbers of proms, family reunions, wedding receptions and holiday gatherings were celebrated in the second floor ballroom.
The renovation was a labor of love for David Furnell of Sedalia, whose father had been a bellhop when the hand-operated elevator was in use for guests. The old elevator is still in operation at the hotel, but is used for freight instead of hauling guests. Other classic originals in the hotel include a seven-story mail shoot and a functioning telephone booth from the 1920s. The marble staircase and terrazzo tile floor in the lobby are also original.
These features were considered the best of the best for travelers in the 1920s, who, at that time, were privileged to be offered a private bath in each of the 109 guest rooms. Today’s Hotel Bothwell has expanded the size of each room, thus reducing the total number of rooms to 48. Six rooms, all on the southeast corner of the building, have been returned to their original 1927 style and size, complete with original showers and toilets.
Guests in other rooms must settle for original woodwork, transoms and marble thresholds. But the garnet red and gold furnishings, choices of four-poster or sleigh beds, fireplaces and optional jet bath tubs make up for any sense of loss for “settling” for modern amenities. A family-suite is available along with four extended stay apartments.
David Furnell’s father operated a toy shop when he was not working as a bellhop at the Hotel Bothwell. You’ll find antique toy displays in cabinets and in the open throughout the hotel’s public spaces. There you’ll also find photographs and newspaper articles referencing the history of the hotel or the city of Sedalia. Many of today’s returning guests provide photos from wedding receptions, business meetings and other events held at the hotel in its earliest days.
Del ‘Amici’s offers a full scale menu for lunch or dinner with an emphasis on Italian dishes. Sunday’s brunch is worth the drive from any distance for the pasta, seafood, salads and desserts.
Or if your visit is later in the day, stop in for a drink at the Speakeasy. It’s really just a nice, intimate hotel lounge, but descending the stairs under a flashing neon light gives the impression you’re flirting with the wrong side of the law by entering a speakeasy during the days of prohibition.
The charm of the Hotel Bothwell is at its peak during the holiday season, when many area companies and organizations choose this historic property as the backdrop for their holiday celebrations. Three trees, ranging from six feet to 12 feet tall, adorn the lobby, which is guarded by lifesize nutcrackers and historic lampposts. Two more trees appear on the outside of the hotel; one on the awning and one on the roof. Rows of lights highlight the hotel’s classic lines and oversized wreaths encircle the windows of the top floors.
All of downtown Sedalia, including the Hotel Bothwell, celebrates the season on Thanksgiving night with a lighting ceremony that includes fireworks and a community choir.
But no matter how hectic the activities are outside, the illusion of a quieter simpler time is always alive and well inside the glass-plated doors of the Hotel Bothwell.