Manufacturer: Maddock Pottery
User: Hotel Napoli – Boston, Massachusetts
Pattern: #170 New Buckingham
Date of examples: circa 1905

1908 Advertisement for the Dining Room at the Hotel Napoli

1907 Advertisement for Dining at the Hotel Napoli

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Notes: The Hotel Napoli, at 84-90 Friend Street in Boston, Massachusetts, applied for a liquor license in December 1904, while the hotel was under construction, and opened  in January 1905, claiming itself "to be the only high class Italian restaurant in Boston." It was advertised as both an American and European Plan hotel, but appears to have been mainly a restaurant that served Italian and French-style food. It is listed in a 1906 Boston Post article as one of the hotels allowed to sell liquor until 12 a.m.

Although it was named Hotel Napoli, it appears to have been more of a restaurant operation. In addition to the Renaissance Dining Room, there were banquet halls and private dining rooms for large and small parties. The Napoli advertised that it had seating for more than 400.

Alfred Di Pesa and George E. McCulloch were the owners, and William Maturo was the manager. Lunch was served from 11:30 a.m. until 3 p.m. for 40¢. Dinner was served from 5:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. for 75¢. In December 1906, they applied for a liquor license, with operating hours extended until midnight. In 1908, the newly remodeled dining room opened as the Renaissance Room, which would seat around 400 guests. By 1915, the lunch price increased to a 50¢ lunch, and the cost of the 75¢ dinner held steady.

In September 1920, the Boston & Maine Railroad acquired the Hotel Napoli, with plans to convert the hotel and dining room into a Y.M.C.A. for railroad employees.

The Napoli then relocated to Friend Street and Boston Post Road. Prohibition problems lead to bankruptcy in May 1925 and then closure.

Maddock Pottery produced American China crested "Napoli" in a distinctive font. The green transfer border is Maddock's #170 New Buckingham pattern. Only two pieces of this china service are known. The handled cream does not contain any maker's backstamp, and the distributor is unknown.

Source:
The Passionate Foodie, April 8, 2025 – detailed history

Contributor:
Larry Paul, author