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Grand Opening Of The Lafayette Hotel
1904
The day has come for the
grand opening of the Lafayette Hotel, here in Buffalo, New York! This hotel
has unique structures and facilities. This is the first hotel to have
indoor plumbing and running water throughout the building. Louise
Blanchard Bethune is the designer
of the hotel.
Mrs. Bethune was born in Waterloo, New York, 1856. But then her family moved to Buffalo, New York in 1866. She was home schooled until she began high school. For two years, Louise Bethune studied in preparation to go to the newly opened an architectural school at Cornell University. But soon she changed professions and started working as a draftsman, focusing on the technical parts of the building professions. Mrs. Bethune mastered technical drafting, construction detailing and the art of architectural design. She then started an architectural business, which she headed for 16 years. She had 975 women and 25 men working for her.
In 1904, she completed and opened the Lafayette Hotel, after beginning construction three years before.
The Lafayette Hotel
Miss Bethune was the first women to be accepted in the American Institute of Architects. She also designed the Lockport High School. She was, in short, a great architect.
Historical Marker Near the Grave of Louise Bethune
Local News:
Louise Bethune and the opening of Lafayette Hotel!
Personalities:
Marian de Forest!
Life:
Mary Talbert
Dr. Frederick Cook
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