The Hotel Northland after a 1930s snowstorm. Submitted.
John F. Kennedy, Lon Chaney, Eleanor Roosevelt and the National Football League all have a connection to one of Green Bay's most celebrated hotels. Eighty-five years ago, the Hotel Northland caused a sensation when it opened.
Today, it remains in the memories of many who danced in one of the ballrooms, enjoyed live entertainment in the cocktail lounge or spotted a celebrity in the hotel's lobby. It is a unique link to the community's social history, as well as with events on the national scene.
Although the building remains mostly intact today, it now serves a different purpose. For more than 30 years, it has functioned as affordable housing under the name Port Plaza Towers. Recent news reports have indicated the hotel may one day come back to its former glory, and could even be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. New generations may share in the convivial atmosphere that made it one of the finest hotels in the entire state.
The landmark Tudor style structure is a dominant feature in downtown Green Bay; however, it is not entirely unique architecturally. In a sense, it has sisters throughout Wisconsin. The Hotel Retlaw in Fond du Lac and the Hotel Loraine in Madison closely mimic the style of the Hotel Northland. It was no coincidence, as they were all designed by architect Herbert W. Tullgren for the Schroeder Hotel Co. chain.
Walter Schroeder, a Milwaukee native, built seven hotels throughout Wisconsin and one in Minnesota in the 1920s. Green Bay's Hotel Northland would be billed as "second to none" in furnishings, and "the most modern hotel in Wisconsin," when it was built. Nearly half of the March 20, 1924, issue of the Green Bay Press-Gazette was dedicated to stories and advertising about its formal opening. Competitors in the hostelry industry even took out congratulatory advertisements in the edition wishing it success.
It was billed as "Green Bay's $1 million hotel," boasting four private dining rooms, 200 guest rooms and a taxi fleet of eight Yellow Cabs. Furniture was supplied locally by Schauer & Schumacher. Artwork from the personal collection of Walter Schroeder would adorn choice guest rooms, including four Bruno Ertz paintings of South American birds.
More than its architecture or appointments, the Hotel Northland is perhaps best remembered for social events. Helen Jane Engels, 88, of Palm Desert, Calif., still remembers the hotel's Manhattan Club as a "fine cocktail lounge with top performers appearing on a regular basis." She also recalled the famed Crystal Ballroom — the location of an annual charity ball so popular that there was a waiting list for tickets.
The Northland's ballrooms would be the site of many gatherings in Green Bay. On Feb. 22, 1932, the country celebrated the bicentennial of George Washington's birth. The Green Bay Press-Gazette reported "The Crystal ball-room of the Northland Hotel served as the reception hall of the Washington home at Mount Vernon." The event was noted for its accuracy and attention to detail, replete with footmen dressed in 18th century attire, and portrayals of George and Martha Washington.
The newspaper's account included the bold statement: "During the next few days there will be larger and more elaborate balls to celebrate this great Washington Bicentennial, but none will be more technically correct or more truthfully reproduced."
Political conventions, rallies, weddings and annual events such as the Antiquarian Society's annual antique shows would be held in the ballrooms for many years.
Ermalee Zilles, 82, of Green Bay has fond memories of the hotel during World War II when she worked a block away at Prange's beauty salon. "We girls would go over to the Northland for a drink. There was always someone at the piano and we could sing — 'They're Either Too Young or Too Old.'"
Mrs. Zilles also recalls one of several political functions at the hotel involving presidential candidate John F. Kennedy. "We were so excited to see him and just be there! We wore those 'pillbox' hats then — mine was white." John and Jacqueline Kennedy made several appearances at the Hotel Northland during the 1960 campaign.
Before the end of the decade, it would have connections to another Kennedy presidential bid. Eugene McCarthy, campaigning for president in the Wisconsin primary, would receive a late-night visitor to his hotel room the night of March 16, 1968. The Press-Gazette reported, "Sen. Edward Kennedy flew into Green Bay at 2:45 a.m. today to pay a courtesy call on the Minnesota senator."
Ted Kennedy was given the task of personally delivering the news to McCarthy that his brother, Robert Kennedy, was about to enter the race. McCarthy did not look kindly on RFK's late entry. The following day he was quoted as saying, "I haven't been moved to withdrawal (from the campaign)," and that Kennedy's visit "was hardly worth the trip."
In a bit of side drama, CBS News reporter David Schoumacher hid in a broom closet with a camera crew on McCarthy's floor in an attempt to record Kennedy's clandestine visit. He was discovered and kicked out of the hotel, only to return later. Ted Kennedy ultimately evaded the reporter via the hotel elevator.
Political figures would make headlines from the Northland Hotel for decades. First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt stayed at the hotel in 1938 when she was in town to deliver a speech titled "Peace" at the Columbus Club. She also was photographed at the local Community Chest headquarters in the building.
Adlai Stevenson made national news in 1955 while at the hotel for the Democratic Party of Wisconsin state convention. Reporters hoped to see if Stevenson would give any clues about a possible second run for president against Dwight Eisenhower the following year. They would be disappointed, however. As Time Magazine reported: "At the Northland Hotel he stayed close to his room, did not visit the Stevenson-for-President offices on the floor above."
Outside of the scope of politics, the hotel would also be host to figures in the entertainment world. In March 1929, Lon Chaney — the actor known worldwide as "The Man of a Thousand Faces"— was in town to film his latest movie for MGM.
Titled "Thunder," the film was centered on Chaney's character as a railroad engineer. As the Press-Gazette reported, "The lobby of the Northland was well-filled most of the morning with Chaney fans who hoped to catch a glimpse of their idol." The production company also used the hotel as its headquarters while in Green Bay.
The Hotel Northland had a link with the NFL dating back to 1927, when the seasonal scheduling conference was held there. In 1957 it hosted Vice President Richard Nixon and other guests in town to dedicate City Stadium.
When Vince Lombardi was named head coach and general manager of the Green Bay Packers, it was at the Hotel Northland that he gave his first news conference. The Packers connection would last for many years, as opposing teams lodged at the hotel when in town for a game.
P.D. Janssen, a beat cop working downtown in the late 1960s, remembers the era.
"The teams usually stayed on the top floor and they had their own security," Janssen said. He would occasionally encounter a player smoking in the hotel lobby.
Janssen also remembers an incident when the hotel's fire alarm went off around 3 a.m. when the Chicago Bears were in town. The Packers' win later that day was blamed on the Bears' lack of sleep — at least according to one of their coaches who felt it might have been a Packers fan's prank.
Eventually the hotel would face competition from newer hotels and motels in the area. When construction of the Port Plaza Mall cut off North Adams Street next door, the property went into further decline.
In 1972 it was sold by the Walter Schroeder estate and became the Port Plaza Towers in 1979. After 30 years, change may once again bring a hotel back to this historic building. Until then, the memories of what once was live on.
Michael Iwinski is chairman of the Green Bay Historic Preservation Commission. E-mail firstname.lastname@example.org.