Hotel Cheaney. A French-themed hotel of San Antonio, Texas long forgotten.

Hotel Cheaney is one of the long forgotten and lesser known hotels of San Antonio, Texas that has been forgotten with time. This news article will explain the history behind this hotel. Hotel Cheaney was also known as Cheaney Hotel.

Hotel Cheaney was a French-themed hotel built sometime around 1903 and was operated by a French couple. Hotel Cheaney was constructed as a 3-story stucco building at the corner of West Martin Street & North Navarro Street, just north of Downtown. (Ref: https://legacy.lib.utexas.edu/maps/sanborn/s-u/txu-sanborn-san_antonio-1922-vol2-139.jpg)

Mrs. S. Lyday would rent out Hotel Cheaney for her dance school called Mrs. S. Lyday School of Dancing throughout the 1910s and 1920s. Her dance school was often advertised in the San Antonio Gazette and San Antonio Express during the early 20th century. Her dance school served as a dance studio. Mrs. S. Lyday School would often host dance performances regularly. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth430715/)

Cheaney Hotel had an annex building called Cheaney Hotel Annex. This building served as additional space for extra room and boarding whenever the main building reached over capacity. (Ref: https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/39277598/)


An early morning blaze ignited a fire on a wooden porch at Cheaney Hotel on the date of September 26, 1920. The fire was believed to be caused by a single cigarette. All guests and customers were rushed out of the building by firefighters. (Ref: https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth431650/m1/7/?q=cheaney)

“Small loss and considerable inconvenience was caused by an early morning blaze at the Cheaney Hotel, 229 Martin Street, yesterday.”

 

In 1923, a contract was awarded to Baker Hotel Co. to remodel the Cheaney Hotel. The building was getting old and had fallen into disrepair. Remodeling work was highly needed. Herbert S. Green was the architect responsible for remodeling the Cheaney Hotel. The Cheaney Hotel would reopen as the Texas Hotel later that year. (Ref: Manufacturers' Record, Volume 84, Issues 10-17)

“Baker Hotel Co. will remodel old Cheaney Hotel at Martin and Navarro Sts., to be known as Texas Hotel; $15,000.”

Mrs. A. O. Van Riper serve as the superintendent of chefs and head of food operations when the hotel reopened. The food operations served all meals. (Ref: https://mysapl.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/november-11-in-san-antonio-history-7/)

“The Texas Hotel at the corner of Martin and Navarro streets, formerly the Cheaney Hotel, has reopened to the public after a $14,000 renovation.  A special feature of the newly remodeled hotel is the excellent home cooking served at all meals, superintended by Mrs. A. O. Van Riper, formerly of Van Riper’s bakery and the Gunter Hotel pastry shop on Travis street.”

Texas Hotel shut in 1930 due to the economic crash and stock market crash of 1929 better known as the Great Depression. Hotel Cheaney has since been demolished. A Bank of America unit/branch now occupies the space where Hotel Cheaney once was located.

Hotel Cheaney was located at West Martin Street & Navarro Street, San Antonio, Texas, US 78205.