Nolan Hotel is one of San Antonio’s lesser known hotels that seems to have been forgotten and lost in time. Not much history is known about Nolan Hotel. This news article will explain the history behind Nolan Hotel.
Nolan Hotel was actually a home before ever being a hotel. Prior to the establishment and opening of Nolan Hotel, Mrs. Robert Thomson resided at 525 Nolan Street in San Antonio, Texas. The San Antonio Gazette stated the property of 525 Nolan Street was the home of Mrs. Robert Thomson. So by then Mrs. Robert Thomson was the owner of this property. (Ref: San Antonio Gazette, Page 8, June 6, 1908)
Mrs. Robert Thomson was the regular organist of St. Mark's Episcopal Church. She gave St. Mark's Episcopal Church 22 years of constant service as an organist. (Ref: San Antonio Light, Page 3, February 1, 1914)
Sometime during the 20th century is when Mrs. Robert Thomson sold the property to Mrs. Bettie Crawford Hocker. Exactly when is still unknown. What is known is that her home was sold to Mrs. Bettie Crawford and a handful of others.
San Antonio Register reported an open house gathering was to be held on the date of January 21, 1945 from 3 PM to 6 PM. Mrs. Bettie Crawford Hocker was listed as the proprietress. Nolan Hotel boasted about having 13 rooms with the best furnishings and having all modern conveniences. Utilities such as gas, electricity, and plumbing were available. There were 8 rooms on the 1st floor and 5 rooms on the 2nd floor. Nolan Hotel was within walking distance of the heart of Downtown. (Ref: San Antonio Register, Hotel Nolan to Hold Open House, Sunday. Jan. 21, January 19, 1945)
Nolan Hotel first opened in the Dignowty Hill neighborhood in San Antonio, Texas in 1945. Nolan Hotel operated on the West side of a black neighborhood for many years. Black patrons frequented this hotel. Motorists would crash here temporarily before continuing their travels. San Antonio Register, San Antonio Express, and San Antonio Gazette referred to Nolan Hotel as ‘Hotel Nolan’ sometimes. Mostly it was the San Antonio Register that referred to Nolan Hotel as ‘Hotel Nolan’. 
San Antonio Register had Miss Eula Ben listed as the former manager of Nolan Hotel. Eula Ben had been a manager of Nolan Hotel for a number of years. She was also in charge of business affairs regarding management. Another person was made manager when Eula Ben opened another hotel. (Ref: San Antonio Register, Eula's Hotel Now Open For Business, Friday, December 23, 1949)
According to The Negro Travelers’s Green Book of 1959, Nolan Hotel is listed as being located at 525 Nolan St. The hotel was clearly in operation then. This hotel was listed several times in the Negro Motorist Green Book throughout the 1950s and 1960s. (Ref: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8e/The_Negro_Travelers%27_Green_Book_1959.pdf)
In late October 1961, San Antonio Register posted an advertisement which
listed Robert S. Grady as the new owner of Nolan Hotel. (Ref: San
Antonio Register, October 27, 1961)
In early February 1966, San Antonio Register posted an advertisement which stated Nolan Hotel is “Now under new management”. Private baths were provided as listed in the San Antonio Register advertisement for Nolan Hotel. (Ref: San Antonio Register, February 11, 1966)
Nolan Hotel has seen its fair share of violent mishaps. One violent incident was in 1970 a man was wounded by a stray bullet at the Nolan Hotel from a 31 year-old parolee’s gun. Police said a suspect was there. Detectives found the suspect next to the victim in the hallway. The detectives drew their guns and after a second the suspect laid his 22 cal. revolver at his feet. The detectives arrested the 31 year-old parolee’s gun and booked him for murder.
(Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/66233706/)
(Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/29702520/)
The date of when Nolan Hotel shut down operations and closed is unknown. This hotel seems to have been abandoned for a number of years.
On the date of City Council continued from February 5, 2002, designated the property as residential. So the hotel became a residence once again. Felton R Nance would live at this residence for a year or two before moving. (Ref: https://webapp11.sanantonio.gov/archivedagendas/docsguest/1H2W01!.PDF)
According to the staff recommendation, “The Downtown Neighborhood Plan recommends residential infill and housing rehabilitation to maintain the neighborhood character. The proposed zoning is incompatible with the surrounding residential zoning and uses.”
Jeep Investments sold the hotel to IBG Enterprises LLC on the date of 1/23/2009 on a warrant. On the date of 7/31/2012, IBG Enterprises LLC sold the hotel to Syngman R Stevens and Charassi Saeng-On on a special warranty deed. 3 years later is when Syngman R Stevens and Charassi Saeng-On sold the hotel to Sithsaeng Saeng-On on a deed on the date of 12/16/2015. (Ref: http://www.bcad.org/clientdb/Property.aspx?prop_id=105494)
Today Sithsaeng Saeng-On is now the owner of the former Nolan Hotel. A couple of “Private Property No Trespassing” signs have been posted at the front exterior wall and chain link fence. The hotel has no roof and everything has been removed. All interiors have been gutted. The 2nd floor seems to have been removed and leveled. Today Nolan Hotel is one of the many forgotten hotels of San Antonio, Texas.
However citydata.com (City Data) has IBG Enterprises LLC as the owner interestingly enough. citydata.com has listed a handful of other owners as well. Syngman R Stevens, Charassi Saeng-On, J K Heichel, and Felton R Nance were listed as the owners on the citydata.com listing for 525 Nolan Street. (Ref: http://www.city-data.com/bexar-county/N/Nolan-2.html)
Nolan Hotel is and was located at 525 Nolan Street, San Antonio, Texas, US 78202.
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