CONGRESSMAN UNDAUNTED BY HOTEL FIRE AS HE FINISHES HIS REST
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On April 24, 1922, the New York Tribune's Washington Bureau reports that on the previous evening at 10 o'clock Representative James W. Husted* (R-New York) "finished his rest" long after a fire had started at the New Willard Hotel** here in the Nation's Capital.
By the time he turned over, the worst of the fire was done but water was dripping down the walls of his room and "running...on to one side of the bed."
The New York congressman said...
"I needed the sleep."
*James William Husted (1870-1925) was born in Peekskill, NY, graduated Yale University, 1892 & New York Law School, 1894. JWH served 4 terms as U.S. Representative 1915-1923.
**Willard Hotel (1847-present) Henry Willard came to Washington in 1847 to run a hotel described as "a large row of small houses." She would become known as "the residence of presidents." A. Lincoln stayed here before his 1861 inauguration.
SOURCES
"Husted Slumbered On in New Willard Hotel Fire," The New York Tribune, April 25, 1922, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"The Willard Hotel," by Elizabeth Smith Brownstein, The White House Historical Association, www.whitehousehistory.org/
JFK+50 NOTE:
I stayed at the Willard Hotel on my trip to Washington in the summer of 1966. I had just graduated high school & my Australian uncle who came to live in the USA accompanied me. As I recall, the rooms were $12. I have a few photos but they are of very poor quality (see below), but at least I dressed up for the occasion.
