Cecil Hotel (San Diego)

At 1134 Sixth Street,^[1] the hotel was built by the San Diego Construction Company and was the first steel frame structure in San Diego.^[2][3] It was initially contracted to Crane Brothers but was leased in 1911 to secretary James H. Babcock of Babcock Investment Company, president W. M. Dickinson and treasurer C. A. Blodgett.^[2]

The hotel had 61 rooms with the intention of adding an additional 52 rooms by the time in opened for business on February 1, 1912.^[2] By April, the hotel had opened and was the only class A, fireproof building in the city.^[4] In June, the San Diego Construction Company petitioned the city for an open air stage at the hotel's rear.^[5] Babcock supervised Bab's German Garden Restaurant neighboring the hotel.^[6] Visitors of the hotel include Billie Ritchie and Chick Gandil.^[7][8]

In 1912, the San Diego Natural History Museum held its first exhibits in rooms at the Cecil.^[9][10] The hotel had expanded to 75 rooms by 1919.^[11] That same year, The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company occupied the first floor of the Cecil.^[12]

In 1920, the Greeters of San Diego held an election at the U.S. Grant Hotel, electing George Best at the first vice president of the hotel.^[13] In June 1921, the hotel was sold to Charles L. Dix for $110,000.^[1] Later that year, San Diego Athletic Club organizer Charles H. Daniels died of heart disease in his room.^[14] In 1923, the Marston Company purchased the hotel for and undisclosed amount of money.^[15] Dix said that part of the lease included that management would not change for three years.^[16] In 1924, Dix relocated to Los Angeles where he and Banks Hanner built the 700 room Cecil Hotel.^[17] A representative for RICE and hernia expert held a events at the hotel in 1925 and 1933.^[18][19] In 1926, D. D. Whitten was proposed for board of governor.^[20]

In 1930, the Marston Company planned to expand the hotel for the Marston store's rug and drapery departments.^[21] In 1931, the hotel moved to a different building nearby on C Street, formerly called the Hotel Polhemus that would later become the C Street Inn.^[22]

In 1912, an American flag was stolen in front of the hotel^[23] and Babcock had an advertising solicitor arrested for issuing bad checks to an innkeeper.^[24]

32°41′29″N 117°10′34″W / 32.6914°N 117.1760°W / 32.6914; -117.1760