- Mississippi State University Digital Archive CHARM Collection. Rand Clayton Papers. Photographer unknown. Taken 1963- date of subject is likely earlier. The image has been colorized. B/W original
The Hotel Heidelberg was a fixture on Capitol Street for fifty five years. The hotel was opened by Roy and Cecil Heidelberg in 1922 , a modest building of five stories and only 124 rooms. Architect R.W. Naef’s towering addition of 1937 was designed in the “Modern” style of the period we have come to know as Art-Deco. This brought the published number of rooms to 300, though the actual number may have been smaller as at least a couple of them were used as permanent apartments for the Heidelbergs and for the Resident Manager. A state-of-the-art parking garage, known as the “Heidelberg Auto Hotel, ” was built in 1940-41. The rooftop Victory Room opened shortly thereafter, only to be followed by two more rooftop meeting rooms, the Silver and Olympic Rooms.
The Lobby
The Heidelberg Roof was a popular venue for dining and dancing. Jerry Lane’s orchestra played here from November 1943 until 1960. Not as large or well known as its nearest competitors, the famed Blue Room at New Orleans’ Roosevelt or the Skyway Room at the Peabody in Memphis, the Heidelberg Roof still fulfilled a solid role in Jackson’s nightlife. Vocalist Betty Rogers filled the room with her sultry voice and crowds whirled the night away on the parquet dance floor.
Coffee Shop
The Heidelbergs did not limit their investments to Jackson. They built the Hotel Heidelberg in Baton Rouge in 1927 and also owned the Hotel King across the street. The three hotels were often advertised together. The Heidelberg in Baton Rouge was later sold and was under various names and ownership until its recent restoration as the Hilton Capitol Park. If only Jackson’s Heidelberg could have shared the same fate.
The hotel was not as staid or formal as the Edwards, but it enjoyed undeniable popularity- especially with theater people and the meeting trade. Instead of a grand dining room like that of the Edwards, there was a brisk coffee shop, an informal dining room called the Green Room and (at least at one time) a cafeteria as well. I don’t think it had a bar until much later. Liquor laws in Jackson made bars go into hiding until the sixties, though I doubt there was much of a drought here at any time in its history.
The Green Room
The Heidelberg played a role in the history of Civil Rights as well. A number of important civil rights meetings were held at the Heidelberg. The hotel was integrated seamlessly, along with its neighbors, the King Edward and the Sun-n-Sand Motor Hotel. The owners of the Robert E. Lee Hotel nearby did not take this enlightened viewpoint and closed the hotel on the same day.
The 275 rooms varied in size considerably, with the ones in the newer tower addition being preferred over those in the original building below. Most were economically minded twin rooms without a great deal of space. This was typical of hotels of the period.
Twin Bedroom
Though the hotel continued to renovate and reinvent itself through the 1950s and early 60s, it fell out of fashion and closed its doors on November 11, 1974. It was unceremoniously demolished in 1977 . I have memories of a brick-strewn lot with only the parking garage staring balefully down at the lot. This would fall within a couple of years. The ironically named Landmark Building occupies the site today. If anyone has memories or images of the Heidelberg, please post away.
Presentation rendering, R.W. Naef, Architect-- Mississippi Department of Archives and History
Thanks for the post, Tom. I hadn’t known much about the Heidelberg before, since it’s been gone a while, and this was a great introduction. Plus, I’d like to hang that colorized photo up on my wall–it’s amazing!
Posted by ELMalvaney | September 17, 2009, 8:03 amYeah, and its not often I agree with that Malvaney character. Loved the pictures. But wouldn’t the Heidelberg have made a wonderful boutique hotel/condo development?
Posted by Theodore | September 17, 2009, 12:47 pmGreat article and pics!!!
Posted by Charlie Ali | September 17, 2009, 5:02 pmWow, I loved finding this article. I purchased many of the original light fixtures from the hotel in 1976 from the demolition company. I always hoped to find a renovation for them but no luck. The 12 deco metal and etched glass torcheres from the Victory Room are real treasures. If someone has information on who manufactured them I would be very interested to know. They are similar in style to the exterior wall sconces on the Plaza Bldg. These fixtures are presently for sale. Also a set from the 1930 renovation of the coffee shop in a western motif. Thank you for this article!
Posted by Jane Hearn | September 24, 2009, 12:40 pmDo you happen to have a picture of the light fixtures? They sound intriguing. Perhaps there might be some interest in them from David Watkins or HRi with the Farish Street project…..It would be nice to see them placed in downtown Jackson again.
Posted by Tom Barnes | September 25, 2009, 1:33 pmSure. Will send to you. I contacted David Watkins long time back. Seems architects were not interested.
Too bad huh? Any other ideas? I agree that keeping them in MS would be a good thing to do.
Posted by Jane Hearn | September 25, 2009, 2:55 pmI remember the most wonderful Shrimp Remoulade at the Heidelberg, from my childhood. Is the recipe around somewhere? Thanks
Posted by Shirley Waring | April 24, 2011, 12:33 pmI grew up in Jackson from 1957-1970 and have wonderful memories of the Heidelberg. One of my best friends, growing up, was Terri Vickers, whose father was the manager of the hotel. I spent many delightful times with Terri and her mother, Trudy exploring the hotel and eating in the dining room where we indulged in the delicious Shrimp Remoulade and Pineapple Sherbet – an unforgettable experience for a young Southern girl.
Posted by Linda Nix | July 16, 2011, 8:04 pmLinda,
This is Teri. My husband discovered this post tonight, and how surprised I was to come across your comment. Earlier today we were downtown and came up High Street, and passed where I think your house used to be. That is where you lived, right?
I too have such great memories of the year we lived at the Heidelberg, and remember eating my fair share of Shrimp Remoulade and Pineapple Sherbet. For a nine year old, being able to go to the restaurant by myself and order whatever I wanted was like living in a storybook. I’ve often wished the hotel was still there so I could see it with grown-up eyes.
Posted by Teri (Vickers) Metts | December 21, 2011, 8:21 pmWonders never cease! I got goosebumps when I saw your reply. Fifty years – gave or take – and I remember you so well. Proof positive that one is never too young or too old to leave a lasting impression.
Yes, we lived on High Street until 1962, when the racial riots erupted in the street outside our front door. We then moved to North Street. I left Jackson the 2 days after I graduated from Central High School. My sisters and I revisited the area this past August and as we drove through the old neighborhood we reminisced about the good and the bad. You, Teresa Wills and her younger sister Pam were part of our conversation.
I’ve always wondered what became of you. Isn’t life amazing? I would enjoy keeping in touch so I’ve requested your friendship on Facebook, Your smile is exactly as I remember.
Linda
Posted by Linda Nix | December 22, 2011, 5:58 pmI have several memories of the Heidelberg, in high school the Beta Club conventions were there, while at Millsaps we crashed victory parties when Ole Miss or State played in Jackson, they opened the first legal bar in Jackson, 1966, when Prohibition was repealed, met Bobby Kennedy, Wayne Morse, and Ronald Reagan at the Heidelberg and spent first night of honeymoon with first wife there in 1968.
Posted by Graham Lewis | July 18, 2011, 5:47 pmI have the original picture of downtown jackson that was in the parking garage at the heidelberg hotel. It is about 4ft x 8ft. I bought it in 1976 or 1977 when the hotel sold everything. It is very interesting and gets a lot of comments, mostly from old people like me. Murrah 1970.
Posted by tom ridgway | July 25, 2011, 5:11 pmIs the photo of the hotel? My Dad worked at the Heidelberg for 39 years before it shut down. Attended a military ball on the “roof” when I was in high school.
Posted by Nancy | July 30, 2011, 8:02 amI hate to hear you talk about old people like you! I don’t consider myself old and I wonder when I ever will. (ha ha)
I remember the hotel well but I never went in there but my parents used to go to dances there. Provine 1965
We left Jackson in 1967 for Waco Texas where I still live and on my last return to Jackson to visit friends in 1998 I was disapointed to see what had become of my old home town. I loved Jackson a lot but nothing stays the same.
Posted by Jim Miller | November 24, 2011, 11:59 amMy husband and I bought Henry and Martha Hederman’s home on Old Canton Road about 11 years ago. The Hedermans visited us after we moved in and informed us that the parquet floor in our den was from the roof of the Heildelberg Hotel. He acquired the flooring as they were demolishing the hotel. I am looking for any photos of social events (dances, etc.) that were on “the Roof.” Many thanks.
Posted by Claudia Hauberg | September 13, 2011, 3:27 pm