Rawls Hotel Building, Enterprise Alabama
The Rawls Hotel is one of the most elaborate buildings in Coffee County. Constructed by Japenth Rawls about 1903 and remodeled and enlarged by his nephew, Jesse P. Rawls, in 1923, it is located across from the train station and has served as a landmark and central meeting place for the citizens of Enterprise. The Rawls family was important in the early growth and prosperity of the city. The elder Rawls was involved in the development of the turpentine industry in Coffee County, while his nephew built and financed the first electric system in Enterprise and operated one of the largest and oldest mills in the city. It was, however, the railroad, whose station the hotel served, that gave the town its major economic stimulus.
In 1896, the year that Enterprise incorporated with 250 citizens, Mr. Jesse P. (J.P.) Rawls of Nansenond County, Virginia, was sent to Enterprise by his uncle, Mr. Japenth (Capt.) Rawls, a South Georgia turpentine manufacturer, to buy or lease timber. Shortly after his arrival Rawls built what is reputed to be the first turpentine still in Coffee County and began overseeing construction of a house for his uncle who planned to move to Enterprise as soon as a suitable home could be built. Capt. Rawls and his wife arrived in 1898, the same year the first train arrived. By 1906, the population had grown to 3,750 and the elder Rawls had built and operated five turpentine stills and a saw mill. His nephew, J. P., owned and operated the Enterprise Mills and Novelty Works, which employed one hundred people making showcases, scrollwork, ceiling, flooring, molding, sashes, and doors for shipment to all parts of Alabama and the Southern states. In 1901, J.P. built and financed the first electric system in Enterprise. It served 50 customers and operated from sundown to bedtime.
In 1903, Capt. Rawls retired from the turpentine business and turned his interests to other ventures, including construction of a hotel on Main Street (then Carmichael Street). The hotel served as a central meeting place for businessmen, civic meetings and social gatherings. The Enterprise Rotary Club held its charter meeting and banquet in the hotel in 1926. When Capt. Rawls died on February 2nd, 1925. ownership passed to his nephew's wife, Mrs. Margaret E. Rawls. In 1928, J. P. and his wife remodeled and enlarged the small two-story brick building. Two three-story wings were added facing the train depot and the original building remodeled. There are no documents to indicate that J. P. Rawls engaged an architect and, since he was familiar, through his mill business, with current fashions, he may have had a hand in the design. The construction was done by John D. C. McKinnon who also constructed the old U. S. Post Office Building in Enterprise. Rawls died in 1943 and the building passed to his daughters. It was recently purchased for restoration and renovation.
Building Description
This stucco-faced, load bearing brick building of Spanish Mission design was constructed in two phases (1903 and 1928), resulting in two distinct sections: the 1903 (76' x 61') section which fronts onto Main Street and consists of two, one-story store fronts and a central two-story pavilion containing two storefronts and a central hallway leading to the lobby in the rear section and the later, three-story, U-shaped segment (100' x 95') which faces Railroad Street and the depot. The Main Street section was altered in the 1928 renovation. It has suffered some slight alterations to the storefronts, some of which is reversible, but it retains its restrained Baroque-inspired frontispiece. The raised stepped, curvilinear parapet with cement coping painted a rich brown conceals the flat roof.
On the west, the two wings define a small entrance court terminated by a low arcaded loggia forming the entrance. A false roof with red tile and open eaves supported by heavy brackets runs the width of the loggia and is repeated on the ends of the two wings. There the raised, curvilinear parapet repeats that of the central section. The major ornamentation of this western elevation is the stair landing window, which consists of three tiers of triple windows enframed in a single panel with rich curving molding reflecting that of the parapet above. A small circular medallion with an enriched 'R' is repeated in each of the western parapets. Windows throughout are simple double-hung with 6/1 or 8/1 lights. Some are paired and there are a number of small single sash windows which correspond to bathrooms.
The major interior spaces are the front and rear lobby and the dining room. These rooms have terrazzo floors, richly ornamented walnut ceiling beams, elaborately carved and gilded column capitals and walnut trimmed doors and windows. A light well, the stairway and the landings are also notable features. Original lighting fixtures of brass and crystal and some original ceiling fans remain. Walls are original plaster painted white. Few interior changes have been made.
Also located on the lot with the hotel are two small structures associated with the nearby depot. The older of the two structures is located in the extreme southwest corner of the lot and is a one-story building of simple red brick design which originally belonged to the American Express Company. Adjacent to it is a two-story high structure with a fairly steep pitched roof. It is supposed to have been used for sleeping quarters for railroad crews.
Looking east at what was front entrance of the hotel looking the train depot (1980)
Looking east at what was the front entrance of the hotel looking the train depot (1980)
Looking east at what was front entrance of the hotel. Corner of train depot is on the right (1980)
Looking east at what was front entrance of the hotel (1980)
Looking east at the left hand wing (1980)
Looking west at the Main Street entrance to the hotel (1980)
Looking west at entrance looking Main Street (1980)
Interior view showing top of column in lobby. Gold painted, hand carved beechwood setting atop black walnut column (1980)
Interior view showing chandelier in lobby Chandelier is cast bronze with crystal prisms imported from Europe (1980)
Interior view showing mezzanine area with skylight above with stairs in background leading to third floor (1980)
Interior view showing stairway from lobby to second floor (1980)
Interior view of hotel office door leading into the lobby with an original ceiling fan shown at top of picture (1980)
Interior view showing the hallway leading from the Main Street entrance into the lobby (1980)
Interior views showing portions of lobby area (1980)
Interior views showing Portions of lobby area (1980)
Interior views showing portions of lobby area (1980)
Interior views showing portions of lobby area (1980)
Interior views showing portions of lobby area (1980)
Interior view showing top of column in the dining room (1980)
Interior view showing stairway (1980)
