Editor's note: With the demolition of the Rialto Hotel this week, we bring you this reminder of part of the history of the building. Originally written by Ethel Johnson in August 1959 for the Kiowa County Press as part of Kiowa County's 7-tennial (70 years since the founding of the county) celebration, it recounts part of the history of Eads. Lloyd (Bill) and Ethel continued to operate the hotel until June 1968.

Never a Dull Moment in 30 Years

Friday, August 21, 1959

Many interesting events have taken place in and many interesting and some noted people have been guests at the Rialto Hotel during the years that Mr. and Mrs. LM Johnson have operated the business from October 1, 1929, until the present time.

Mrs. Johnson gives the following accounts of highlights during the span of 30 years.

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During 1929 to 1940 we entertained guests connected with the wheat expansion of the 20s. The main land company was the Colorado Land and Colonization Company under the direction of WH Herzog and RJ Philpy. A number of western Kansas and Oklahoma people came in and some of the most extensive holdings for them were those of Homer Hawkins of Texhoma, Oklahoma. He and Mrs. Hawkins for frequent visitors at the hotel in those days. Fergus switch on the Missouri Pacific west of Eads was renamed to that of Hawkins.

The Railway Savings trial in the early 30s almost saved the town’s businesses during the winter it was held. Change of venue brought this trial to Eads from Pueblo. Prosecution headed by French Taylor, the Bench with Judge White from Eagle, and the various news representatives were guests at the Rialto, while the Defense lawyers in the defendants stayed at the Commercial. The cafés were impartially patronized. In that period came the Mante Bank Bandits, in which robbery a Kiowa County deputy sheriff Coral Hickman was killed. The resulting murder trial again fill the hotel with guests.

The 30s with all the dust and depression, oddly enough did not affect the hotel business. Guests came and stayed for days, simply because they could not leave. Cars would be completely sanded. Favorite pastime in the lobby would be cards, dominoes in the writing of chain letters, in between the periods of cleaning the lobby which garnered dirt and blown out grassroots every time the door was open.

A number of teachers for guests at that time Opal Covey, Grace Anderson, Jo Korsoski, Mary Shy Crockett, Geraldine Rick and Erma Sterett Smartt, and we have kept in touch with these fine girls throughout the years. Another group for almost two years representing the Gulf Oil Company were guests at this time. Among these fine people were Frank and Betty Tinnemeyer and Richard Kiel. Richard married our Kyowa County girl Fern Oquist, and now lives in California. There was much static electricity in those days and the brass knob on the lobby door was heavily charged, never failing to jump across and nip the unsuspecting. Dick was a frequent victim and complained of “amps in his pants.“

Perhaps our most noted guest during this period was Ed Johnson. Upon taking over the duties one morning, it was noticed that an old beat up Chevrolet sedan was parked in front of the hotel and Room 7 was occupied by a certain Ed Johnson of Craig, Colorado. Upon arising, he introduced himself as the Democratic candidate for governor. He was a real campaigner and won, holding that and the Senatorial office for a number of years. He visited us several times and we always found him to be the same friendly outspoken person of the earlier days.

The hunting season always brought in Denver, Colorado Springs and Pueblo men, and transportation and roads being what they were, the guests stayed for a week at a time. Live decoys were used and the clanking of goose chains and their honking reverberated through the halls from 4:00 a.m. until the last hunter was on his way. Teller Ammons visited us during this time. We remember a Mr. Barsotti from Colorado Springs, who became incensed because the 50c slot machine at Strahans wouldn’t pay off, and he bought it out right so he might break thing to pieces!

Then there was the excitement caused by finding the so-called human bones in the furnace at the hotel. Basement rooms were available for a 50c consideration. A strange man carrying a heavy suitcase came in and took the room next to the furnace. Early the following morning, when Mr. Johnson stoked the furnace, he found bones, and the man was gone, leaving the empty bloody suitcase. The resulting investigation found wide publicity the item even appearing in a Chicago newspaper.

The 40s issued in World War II with the hotel full. Now came the land rush headed by the John Baughman Land Company and the extension of the Garvey and Wear interests to Kiowa County. These men were frequent guests and we greatly appreciated the fellowship they radiated. A week before his death, Mr. Garvey stopped in and inquired of Mrs. Johnson if Bill were still her boy friend. This personal interest in us has always been a source of great enjoyment. James Garvey was, also, a steady guest during these years. Vera Haynes Stewart stayed with us a number of years during this period, as well as the Andy Cooks. With the war over CW (Coke) Coughenour stayed with us most of the time until his death in 1958.

When we started in 1929, the hotel was strictly bowl and pitcher with the exception of a general bathroom. We, at once begin planning for an addition to the hotel and modernizing the old rooms. The depression hit us right in the midst of this program, and it was touch and go for some time whether the Rialto would stay open. By diligence on our part and consideration on the part of our creditors, we weathered the storm. By the early 50s, the front porch had begun to sag under the millions of acres of one-waying and the large amount of wheat raised by way of the evening conversation, so we again embarked on a period of construction and getting the resultant bill paid. We built the lobby in place of the porch, installed baths and showers, air-conditioned and readied the place for new after-war demands for standards of comfort.

We must not fail to mention the building of the big CIG plant and pipelines into the area. Such lovely friends as the Charlie Grahams and Stein Collinses will never be forgotten. Also, our many friends and guests from the Missouri Pacific Railroad. In good times and bad, they have always been a real standby and we have greatly appreciated this business.

In the past 30 years, with all the work, with being tied down (the doors of the Rialto have never been locked night or day), the experience has been very rewarding and we trust we have contributed something of value to our little town in the way of friendly hotel service.