The Daily Times Echo – July 1, 1905
OPENING OF THE BASIN PARK HOTEL
A Red Letter Event in the History of Eureka Springs
A Brief Review of the Brilliant Social Event
Society does honor to the Enterprise Which Made Possible this Beautiful Hotel
To all the wondrous charms of Eureka Springs there has been added one more grand, dazzling and we may truthfully say, wonderful feature.
Even the beauties of nature seem, for the time, to be eclipsed in this magnificent structure. It is with timorous feeling that the editor tries to tell all its grandeur. He has read of the palaces of the kings and queens of old, and of this day as well; he has seen the immense and beautiful hostelries that abound in the great cities, and, while many of these have received more lavish expenditures, he cannot see wherein their conveniences could excel those of the new Basin Park Hotel. It is unnecessary for him to say what all our citizens know to be a fact – that it was a mastermind that conceived and executed its complete and perfect appointments.
What pen could describe the beauty and charm there presented Monday Night. Such an opening, such a feast, and so much genuine enjoyment, and the poems of Tennyson or the rhetoric of an Ingersoll could not portray. From the lobby to the roof garden, and on each of the six intervening floors, were gathered , not hundreds, because it went near the two thousand mark, of mortals, and from each came exclamations of approval and praise for its superb finish, fitting and equipment. If ever a building tested in carrying a weight of humanity, this structure was, and it bore the strain without a tremor.
THE DOORS ARE OPENED
Early in the forenoon Manager Brumfield opened the doors to the guests, and with each incoming train their numbers increased. The first service given in the elegant dining room was the six o’clock dinner, and, at one dollar per plate, the tables were continuously filled from 6 until nine, and it was here that Chef Crawford exemplified his knowledge of the culinary art to the satisfaction of hundreds of guests. The room was a dream, the tables all decorated with the finest wares and most beautiful flowers. Under the direction of Miss Grace Moreland, a bevy of neatly gowned girls served, with a precision that was gratifying and an evidence of their splendid training.
Following the dinner, the invited guests were ushered by receiving line at the entrance, to the parlors. Mrs. Brumfield had selected as her aides for this occasion Mesdames Butts, of Augusta, Kas, Garsh of South Bend, Ind., Cooper of Springfield, Melone, Vincent, Myron Jordan, Theodore Hawley and Anie Campbell, of this citiy, and the right royalty did they receive their guests.
The splendid elevator and the stairways were taxed to their full capacity to accommodate the people, who, in a most genial and orderly manner crowded by one another to reach the various portions of the building. Immediately following the reception in the parlors, the guests wended their way to the roof garden, and there joined hundreds of others waiting the grand march of the opening ball, which commenced at 9:30 o’clock.
Over one thousand invited guests had come from far and near to participate in this function and witness its splendor. The grand march was led by Manager and Mrs. Brumfield, who were followed by nearly 20 couples. Professor Henry Spielberger of Chicago was master of ceremonies, and from the music of Red Feather conducted the Coronation march. Beautiful indeed were the various figures which formed themselves until the ballroom looked a sea of floating humanity. From this march the dancers floated into a waltz, and so on until the hour of 2:30 a.m. arrived, and the twenty-four numbers on the program had been completed.
Below we give you a list of some of the notable gowns worn by the ladies present. It was impossible to give a complete list, because the ladies were backward about acting on our suggestion to furnish us with the necessary information:
Babe Wood, Paris muslin, lace trimmings; decollate
Bessie Squier, green silk crepe over green taffeta
Edna McGee, white silk; lace
Dovie Hyde, green lap silk over white; jewel trimmings
Fay White, pink organdie over pink taffeta
Joe White, white organdie, lace; decollete
Mary Davis, white organdie; lace trimmings
Belle Murphy, white organdie; lace trimmings
Ruby King, champagne Crepe de Chene; jewel trimmings; decollette
Bess Harris, flowered organdie over green taffeta; silk trimmings
Elsie Moler, flowered organdie
Blanche Davis, lavender silk mull over taffetta lavender; pearls
Beulah Lloyd, white jap silk; ribbons and lace
Edith Volner, Paris muslin; Mechlin lace and ribbon
Ida Volner, Paris muslin; Mechlin lace and ribbon
Mrs. Vincent, white pont de spirit, valencienne lace; diamonds
Mrs. Fisher, black net
Mrs. Maude Perkins, white lawn; valeneittle lace
Rav Roberts, Crepe de Chenne; lace trimmings
Mrs. Maude Fuller, white organdie; lace and ribbons
Bebe Brown, yellow chiffon, over yellow taffetta; black velvet
Mrs Theodore Hawley, white Persian lawn; lace; Dolly Varden Sash
Ida Riley, pink China Silk; Trimmed in pink baby ribbons
Mrs. J.O. Melone, white Persian lawn; lace
Mrs Myron Jordan, white embroidered net.
Dr. Tattman, flowered mull
Pearl LaForce, white argandie over pink taffetta
Mrs. R.E. Blair, black net
Mrs. Van Allen, white embroidered net, diamonds
Florence Pendergrass, white organdie lawn; lace
Mrs. Maude McHarry, black net
Laura Wassam of Galveston, Tex., white organdie, pont lace yoke, white satin girdle
Mrs. W.J. Wallace, white embroidered swiss over white liberty satin
Mrs. Emma Reinhard, flowered French organdie over white taffetta; real lace trimmings; diamonds
Mrs. Frank Diddea, white organdie made over silk
Miss Zoe Johnson, turquoise
The Basin Park Hotel Remains open today as one of Eureka Springs Places to Stay in Downtown Eureka Springs.