Beloit in Mitchell County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Porter Hotel
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2022
1. The Porter Hotel Marker
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
July 23, 2004
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1939.
Location. 39° 27.551′ N, 98° 6.506′ W. Marker is in Beloit, Kansas, in Mitchell County. Marker is on East Main Street east of North Hersey Avenue (State Highway 14), on the left when traveling east. Marker is mounted at eye-level on the southwest corner of the subject building, facing East Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 209 East Main Street, Beloit KS 67420, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 3 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Lest We Forget (within shouting distance of this marker); Mitchell County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Beloit's Little Red Schoolhouse (approx. 1˝ miles away).
Regarding The Porter Hotel. National Register of Historic Places #04000725.
From the National Register nomination:
The hotel contains approximately 28,900 square feet plus a full basement of 7200 square feet. On thesecond, third and fourth floors are 27 apartments and 6 rooms. The interior of the building has no load-bearing walls. The structural steel framework bears all the weight. Originally the hotel had 54 guestrooms, and three apartments. The Porter family lived in the largest apartment, on the second floor across the entire front of the building. On the second, third and fourth floors were rooms used by traveling salesmen to show their wares. Each room was complete with full or half bath, Murphy-style bed in closet and display space.
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Also see . . . The Porter House Story.
The historic Porter Hotel opened for business on October 11, 1939 and was built by Mitchell County native, W. Earl Porter. His name can still be seen, carved in stone, on the front of the building. Porter, a traveling salesman and later a partner of the famous retailer, J.C. Penney, sold his stock in Penney's to finance the construction of the hotel. Construction began on October 21, 1938 with Earl Porter using his own farm equipment to dredge the basement.(Submitted on December 26, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)When the Porter Hotel opened in 1939, it was considered one of the finest between Kansas City and Denver. It quickly became the hub of social activity for north central Kansas. Social and civic organizations, and businesses all used the facilities of the hotel. Big bands such as
Tommy Dorsey and Jimmy Dorsey played and stayed at the Porter Hotel. Every Kansas governor from 1943 to 1979 either stayed or dined at the Porter Hotel.Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 20222. The Porter Hotel Marker(marker is at southwest corner of the building • under the flag) Times do change however and, in 1989, the Porter Hotel became the Porter Apartments. In 1999 the Porter family decided to close down the Porter Apartments altogether. In 2004, Continental Real Estate, Inc. of Topeka, Kansas purchased the Porter Apartments. Also at that time, it was renamed the Porter House Apartments and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Continental Real Estate rehabilitated the building as senior housing.
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2022
3. Porter House Apartments (south/front elevation)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 21, 2022
4. Porter House Apartments (southwest elevation)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 26, 2022. It was originally submitted on December 25, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 88 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on December 25, 2022, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
