The Ansonia Hotel 1909

Today for my fbf (flash back Friday) I came across to this postcard of the Ansonia hotel that dates back to 1909. The Ansonia is located at 2109 Broadway between 73rd and 74th Streets.  The beautiful hotel is one of the earliest buildings that actually put grace in the Upper West Side skyline. William Earl Dodge Stokes was the genius behind the hotel, that was an heir to the Ansonia copper fortune. The Ansonia was astronomical, it covered  550,000 square feet of space divided between 2,500 rooms, 300 suites, grand ballrooms, restaurants decorated in the style of Louis XIV, a palm court, tea rooms and cafes, a bank, a barbershop and tailor, writing rooms, Turkish baths, and the world's largest indoor swimming pool. The hotel  was fireproof since its interior walls were terra cotta. An interesting fact is this was the first hotel to be air conditioned in New York City. Famous people that made the hotel their residence are Babe Ruth, Cornell Woolrich, and Jack Dempsey. 

The Prices!