Westward Ho

The Westward Ho is a landmark 16-story high-rise building in Phoenix, Arizona, standing 208 feet (63 m) to the roof. It was originally conceived as the Roosevelt Hotel, with construction announced in spring 1927 and financed by Sutherlin-Barry & Company of New Orleans for owner G. L. Johnson of Chicago. Designed by the architectural firm Fisher, Lake & Traver—who had also designed the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel—the project stalled in early 1928 with only six stories completed. In April 1928 the J. V. McNeil Company of Los Angeles was contracted to finish the structure. In September 1928 Charles V. Bob of New York City purchased the Pacific Hotel Company from G. L. Johnson, and the hotel was renamed the Westward Ho. It officially opened on December 15, 1928. For over three decades the Westward Ho was the tallest building in Arizona, a title it held until the completion of the Meridian Bank Tower in 1960. The hotel housed several offices and restaurants, including the Top of the Ho on the 16th floor, the Turquoise Room on the second floor used for wedding receptions, and the large Thunderbird Room convention center that could seat 1,600. A five-story annex was added west of the original structure by the Del E. Webb Construction Company in 1948. In 1949 a 240-foot steel tower and 40-foot antenna were erected to broadcast Phoenix's first television station, KPHO-TV channel 5, making the total height 488 feet and the tallest structure in Downtown Phoenix. The antenna later served KXTC 92.3 FM in the 1970s and eventually became a cellular telephone tower. The hotel changed hands several times. August Heckscher took full control in the early 1930s and, after his death in 1941, the property passed to his wife Virginia Henry Curtiss, who died a few months later. In 1943 it was purchased by John B. Mills and R. H. Hawn of Federal Underwriters, Inc. of Dallas, Texas. In December 1972, after nearly 30 years of Mills family ownership, the hotel was sold to Leisure Inns and Resorts Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio, and then to Minneapolis banker Deil Gustafson in March 1973 after financial difficulties and a foreclosure notice. In May 1975 management announced the facility would no longer operate as a hotel and would become a retirement residence. A foreclosure suit was filed in August 1975 by Republic National Life Insurance Company of Dallas. The hotel officially closed on April 7, 1980. After closing, new owners converted the building into a subsidized housing complex for the elderly and mobility-impaired. It was later renovated to make apartments more accessible, housing 320 residents in 289 rooms. The Westward Ho was recognized by the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. In 2003 the building was acquired by the Phoenix Preservation Partnership, a Rhode Island–based group of investors. Today it remains a residential landmark in downtown Phoenix, preserving its historic identity while serving a social housing function.

The Westward Ho began as the Roosevelt Hotel, with construction announced in spring 1927. The project was financed by Sutherlin-Barry & Company of New Orleans, Louisiana, for owner G. L. Johnson of Chicago, Illinois. The architectural team Fisher, Lake & Traver, who had also designed the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, California, designed the building. The hotel was to be operated by Johnson's Pacific Hotel Company. Work halted in early 1928 with only six stories completed. In April 1928, J. V. McNeil Company of Los Angeles was awarded a contract to complete the hotel. In September 1928, Charles V. Bob of New York City purchased all issued and outstanding shares of the Pacific Hotel Company from G. L. Johnson; complete financing of the hotel was transferred to Bob, including construction, furnishings, and equipment. August Heckscher loaned US$275,000 to Bob prior to the purchase; in return, Bob pledged 10,000 shares of Pacific Hotel Company to Heckscher. Following the transfer of ownership, the hotel's name was changed to Westward Ho. On September 20, Southwestern Supply Company of Phoenix was awarded a $100,000 contract for heating and air-conditioning. The hotel officially opened on December 15, 1928. According to the Sun City Museum librarian, developer Del Webb got his start hanging doors at the hotel during its construction. His namesake company would later build an expansion to the hotel. A five-story annex was built west of the original structure by the Del E. Webb Construction Company in 1948. In 1949, a 240 ft (73 m) steel tower and 40 ft (12 m) antenna were erected to broadcast Phoenix's first television station, KPHO-TV channel 5, taking the total height of the structure to 488 ft (149 m), making it the tallest structure in Downtown Phoenix. In 1960, KPHO moved to its new transmitter on South Mountain. The antenna was used in the 1970s by KXTC 92.3 FM, and later became a cellular telephone tower. The building had several owners. Heckscher took over full control in the early 1930s and died April 26, 1941, leaving his real estate to his wife Virginia Henry Curtiss, who died a few months later. The hotel was put up for sale and purchased in 1943 by partners John B. Mills and R. H. Hawn of Federal Underwriters, Inc., Dallas, Texas. They purchased the hotel without seeing it in person, persuaded by W. R. Wayland, president of the Westward Ho since 1937. Wayland was already partnered with the two in their Texas hotel interests, working with their holding company Federal Underwriters, later Associated Federal Hotels, of which Mills was Chairman of the Board. They already owned several other large hotels in Texas, including the former William Penn Hotel in Houston, Cliff Towers Hotel in Dallas, and the Hotel Hawn in Temple. There was no change in management or policy following the change of ownership. In December 1972, after nearly 30 years of ownership by the Mills family, the hotel was sold to Leisure Inns and Resorts Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio. In March 1973, after encountering financial difficulties and a foreclosure notice, Leisure Inns sold the property to Minneapolis banker Deil Gustafson, owner of four banks in Minnesota and the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. In May 1975, management announced that the facility would no longer operate as a hotel and would become a retirement residence. In August 1975, a foreclosure suit was filed against Gustafson by Republic National Life Insurance Company of Dallas, who claimed the owners were late on mortgage payments and were failing to operate as a hotel, as specified in an original agreement. The Republic National Life Insurance Company purchased the hotel at a Maricopa County sheriff's auction in June 1976, but Gustafson had until December 10, 1976 to pay a $2,044,800 purchase price plus a penalty of about $180,000. If he failed to pay before the deadline, the sheriff's office was to give Republic the deed. Hours before the deadline Gustafson obtained the deed through the Maricopa County Recorder's office, and filed for protection from creditors under federal bankruptcy laws; the judge in the case blocked Maricopa County Sheriff's Office from handing over the deed. In March 1977, Gustafson's lawyer and an attorney for Republic National came to an agreement that $2,504,908 was to be paid to Republic National by March 1, 1977, or the stay order on the Sheriff's office would be lifted and Republic would take the property. The hotel officially closed on April 7, 1980. After closing as a hotel in 1980, the building's new owners converted it into a subsidized housing complex for the elderly and mobility-impaired. It was later renovated to make apartments more accessible, housing 320 residents in 289 rooms. In 1982, the National Register of Historic Places recognized the Westward Ho as a historic building. In 2003, the building was acquired by the Phoenix Preservation Partnership, a Rhode Island–based group of investors.

• 2003

  Building acquired by Phoenix Preservation Partnership, a Rhode Island–based group of investors.

• 1982

  National Register of Historic Places recognizes the Westward Ho as a historic building.

• 1980

  Hotel officially closes on April 7.

• 1975

  Management announces facility will become a retirement residence; foreclosure suit filed by Republic National Life Insurance Company.

• 1973

  Leisure Inns sells property to Minneapolis banker Deil Gustafson after financial difficulties and a foreclosure notice.

• 1972

  Hotel sold to Leisure Inns and Resorts Inc. of Cleveland, Ohio, after nearly 30 years of Mills family ownership.

• 1960

  KPHO moves to new transmitter on South Mountain; Westward Ho loses tallest building title to Meridian Bank Tower.

• 1949

  240 ft steel tower and 40 ft antenna erected to broadcast KPHO-TV channel 5, making total height 488 ft.

• 1948

  Five-story annex built west of the original structure by Del E. Webb Construction Company.

• 1943

  Hotel purchased by John B. Mills and R. H. Hawn of Federal Underwriters, Inc., Dallas, Texas.

• 1941

  August Heckscher dies April 26; property passes to his wife Virginia Henry Curtiss, who dies a few months later.

• 1928

  Construction halted with six stories completed; J. V. McNeil Company contracted to finish. Charles V. Bob purchases Pacific Hotel Company; hotel renamed Westward Ho. Officially opens December 15.

• 1927

  Construction of the Roosevelt Hotel announced; financed by Sutherlin-Barry & Company for G. L. Johnson.

Historic landmark turned affordable housing; formerly Arizona's tallest building and a premier downtown Phoenix hotel.

• Hotel accommodations

  Rooms and suites for travelers during the hotel era (1928–1980).

• Top of the Ho restaurant

  Restaurant on the 16th floor.

• Turquoise Room

  Second-floor gathering room used for wedding receptions and events.

• Thunderbird Room

  Large convention center adjacent to the main hotel, seating 1,600.

• Subsidized apartments

  289 rooms housing 320 residents for elderly and mobility-impaired after 1980 conversion.

1. 1Westward Ho (Phoenix, Arizona) - Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Westward Ho - Wikidatawikidata.org