Hotel Dauphin: A Chronology of a New York Landmark
The history of the Hotel Dauphin is a fascinating study of New York City's urban development, legal disputes, and its role as a hub for diverse residents and social movements. Located in the heart of Manhattan, the hotel's origins are intertwined with the growth of Broadway and the entrepreneurial spirit of the late 19th century.
The Origins and the Battle for a Name
The story begins in 1894 when William Flanagan opened the Hotel Marie Antoinette at the corner of Broadway and West 66th Street. Flanagan also held ownership of an adjacent empty lot located at the corner of Broadway and West 67th Street.
By 1901, Flanagan sold this empty lot to a syndicate that included Albert Keen, the manager of the Marie Antoinette. Between 1902 and 1903, the syndicate constructed a new hotel on the site. Although this second establishment was legally unaffiliated with the original, Keen marketed the new property as an expansion of the Hotel Marie Antoinette.
This marketing strategy eventually led to a legal conflict. In 1926, hotelier Joseph Goulet took over the lease of the older hotel. A subsequent lawsuit determined that the newer hotel could not continue using the Marie Antoinette name, resulting in its renaming as the Hotel Dauphin.
A Hub for Business and Social Action
Throughout the early to mid-20th century, the Hotel Dauphin served as a base for various professional and political entities. For instance, C.D. Halsey & Company operated its offices from the hotel until November 1929, when they relocated to the Sherman Square Hotel at Broadway and 70th Street. Later, in 1942, the property was purchased by investor Benjamin Winter, Sr.
The hotel also played a role in humanitarian efforts. In May 1946, it was designated as a depot for an Emergency Food Collection Drive coordinated by the American Women's Voluntary Services. As one of only five collection repositories in Manhattan, the hotel supported a city-wide initiative led by Mayor William O'Dwyer. Residents were asked to forgo bread, pies, cakes, and pastries during evening meals on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays to support "Freedom From Famine" and combat hunger abroad.
Political activism also found a home here. In 1949, the American Irish Minutemen, a group of 1,000 members, established their headquarters at the hotel. On May 31, 1949, they organized pickets outside the Empire State Building to protest a British House of Commons vote regarding the status of Northern Ireland, advocating instead for a United Nations-conducted plebiscite (a direct vote by the electorate).
Notable Residents and Cultural Events
The Hotel Dauphin attracted a wide array of notable figures. In May 1949, Donald Davis, the son of playwright Owen Davis and an employee of the American Broadcasting Company, resided there. The hotel was also home to Gilbert Gabriel, the president of the New York Drama Critics Circle and a critic for Cue magazine, who lived there until his death in September 1952.
One of the most poignant connections to history was Mrs. Henry B. Harris, a survivor of the RMS Titanic disaster. Living at the hotel in 1958, she was one of only eight Titanic survivors residing in New York at the time. In October 1958, the hotel hosted a special screening of the film A Night To Remember for Mrs. Harris and twenty guests in a lounge off the main lobby, months before its general theatrical release in December.
The hotel also served as a venue for the arts, such as in June 1960, when it hosted a showing of paintings by Elsig Springer.
Key Facts
- Original Name: The newer building was initially marketed as an expansion of the Hotel Marie Antoinette before being renamed Hotel Dauphin.
- Humanitarian Role: Served as one of five Manhattan depots for the 1946 "Freedom From Famine" food drive.
- Political Center: Headquartered the 1,000-member American Irish Minutemen in 1949.
- Titanic Connection: Was the residence of Mrs. Henry B. Harris, a survivor of the RMS Titanic.
- Legal Precedent: A 1948 New York Supreme Court ruling by Justice Kenneth O'Brien voided a 15% rent increase for forty tenants.
| Year | Event/Occurrence |
|---|---|
| 1894 | Hotel Marie Antoinette opens on Broadway and W 66th St. |
| 1902-1903 | New hotel constructed on W 67th St. |
| 1926 | Newer hotel renamed Hotel Dauphin following a lawsuit. |
| 1942 | Purchased by investor Benjamin Winter, Sr. |
| 1946 | Designated as an Emergency Food Collection Drive depot. |
| 1949 | Headquarters for the American Irish Minutemen. |
| 1958 | Residence of Titanic survivor Mrs. Henry B. Harris. |
| 1960 | Art exhibition by Elsig Springer held on-site. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was the hotel renamed Hotel Dauphin?
The hotel was renamed after a lawsuit in 1926 established that the property could not legally use the name of the nearby Hotel Marie Antoinette, despite earlier marketing claims that it was an expansion of that hotel.
What was the "Freedom From Famine" initiative?
It was a 1946 humanitarian effort coordinated by the American Women's Voluntary Services and supported by Mayor William O'Dwyer, where New Yorkers were encouraged to skip certain desserts and breads on specific weeknights to help end hunger abroad.
Who were the American Irish Minutemen?
They were a group of 1,000 members who used the Hotel Dauphin as their headquarters in 1949 to protest British parliamentary decisions regarding Northern Ireland and to call for a UN plebiscite.
Which Titanic survivor lived at the hotel?
Mrs. Henry B. Harris, whose husband perished in the sinking, resided at the hotel in 1958 and was one of eight survivors living in New York City at that time.
Was there any legal action regarding the hotel's tenants?
Yes, in May 1948, New York Supreme Court Justice Kenneth O'Brien voided a 15% rent increase that had been applied to forty of the hotel's tenants.