Manufacturer: Scammell China
User: St. Hubert Old English Grill, Chicago
Date of platter: circa 1926-1930
Notes: St. Hubert was founded by an English gentleman and first named Abson's in 1877. In 1893, Charles A. Dawell, who had worked there as a busboy, along with James Gentleman and a couple of other investors, took over the grill and renamed it St. Hubert. Dawell ultimately ran it for 50 years.
In 1893, St. Hubert was located on the 18th floor of the Majestic Hotel. After a fire in January 1911, St. Hubert was relocated to 314 South Federal Street. And in 1943, Thomas Kelly, a long-time customer, bought it.
The name came from Saint Hubert, who was the patron saint of hunters. The South Federal location was in a six-story building, between Jackson and Van Buren. St. Hubert occupied the first two floors. The Chicago Engineers Club occupied the upper floors. The first floor of St. Hubert was for use by male guests only, and its first-floor dining room had walnut paneled walls, leaded glass windows, and a fireplace. Waiters, in red jackets, served 5-inch-thick mutton chops.
Meanwhile, the ladies dining room was on the second floor.
St. Hubert closed around January 1958.
The crested china produced for St. Hubert by Scammell contains a simple black transfer shield with rows of drink glasses. "St. Hubert" is above the shield. An undated menu cover provides the smoking gun for this shield crest.
Sources:
Facebook post by Robert Bruce – information, history
Morris Herald-News, Jan. 31, 1911 – fire
Ottawa Illinois Times, March 6, 1936 – James Gentleman, partner
Illinois State Register, May 16, 1943 – Dawell retiring
Chicago Tribune, June 1, 1943 – Abson's info
Chicago Tribune, March 25, 1956 – red jackets, mutton chops
Chicago Tribune, Feb. 9, 1958 – closed recently
Flickr – exterior photo of ground floor
Contributors:
Ed Babcock: platter photos
Larry Paul: author
