Manufacturer: Iroquois China
User: The Dolphin Hotel
Date of example: circa 1917 – 1940s
Notes: The Dolphin Hotel was built in the last half of 1923 at the southeast corner of N.E. First Avenue and Tenth Street in Miami, by R. Earl Smith, a Miami businessman. The architect was M.K. Noland.
An article in The Miami News dated Dec. 29, 1923, states that the Dolphin would open on Jan. 5, 1924, and "On the ground floor is also a dining room which will seat 125 people."
Another article in The Miami News dated Jan. 1, 1924, states: "The hotel, a six-story building of handsome design … will cost, inclusive of grounds and furnishings, approximately $370,000. Of concrete and hollow tile construction, it is one of the absolutely fireproof hotels in the city. The outstanding feature of the hotel is the spacious lobby and mezzanine floor."
The Dolphin was to be operated year-round under the personal management of Mr. Smith and his policy was to establish moderate prices which would be available throughout the year. However, in less than a year and a half the hotel was sold for $550,000 to Shipp & Futch, real estate brokers.
An advertisement in The Miami Herald dated Nov. 16, 1941, states: "Newly renovated, new management. 100 outside rooms with private bath. We are now making attractive seasonal and yearly rates. Ample free parking."
During World War II, the U.S. Navy leased the Dolphin Hotel for $12,500 per year and used its 105 rooms to house enlisted men only. Only the lobby furniture remained with the Navy and all the other furnishings were sold by the Furniture Exhange Company in Miami.
Toward the end of the war, in June 1944 the Dolphin was sold to a New York hotel operator for $80,000. Less than a year later, in March 1945 the hotel was sold again for $125,00 to A. F. Dreyer as an investment. While the building was still occupied by the Navy, Dreyer leased the hotel to Sam Halpert for ten years for "a total consideration of $210,000."
A story in the Miami News dated Oct. 28, 1945, states: "A large cocktail lounge, dining room and solarium will be features of the hotel under the new lessee. Halpert expects to spend between $75,000 and $100,000 in renovation and refurnishing."
A story in the Miami Herald dated Oct 27, 1946, states: "At a cost of approximately $165,000, the 105-room Dolphin Hotel … has been modernized, according to Albert F. Meli, the new manager.
"Remodeling inside and out includes installation of newly tiled baths for every room, new draperies, Venetian blinds, new furniture, beds, carpeting, lobby, dining room and cocktail lounge.
"Beauty shop, barber shop, valet shop and drug store on the ground floor will operate throughout the year.
"After having been under lease since 1942 by the U.S. Navy, opening of the hotel to take place Monday, Oct. 28."
Toward the end of its life, a story in the Miami Herald dated Mar. 11, 1967, states: "The Dolphin Hotel, a paint-chipped weather-worn rooming house near downtown Miami was raided late Friday and its manager and a woman assistant charged with operating a $1,200 a day bolita [lottery] setup."
And finally, a story in the Miami News dated Dec. 28, 1978, stated that the Dolphin Hotel voluntarily closed in May 1978 after it was threatened with a $500 fine for failure to correct violations.
Since the example for this entry was taken from an Iroquois China sample plate, and since we have not found other examples, we are not certain that the china was ever produced by Iroquois.
Contributor:
Ed Phillips: author