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Hotel Dobler - Gulfport, Florida - 1921 - Ultra Rare - Large Hotel China Relish - Serving Tray - Made for the 1922 Opening of the Hotel
Offered for your consideration is a very rare 1921 top marked large 11 1/8" wide china relish tray - celery tray - bread tray made for the opening of the Hotel Dobler that was located directly on the beach at Gulfport, Florida, near St. Petersburg, Florida.
This particular china tray is from the 1921 original order of china placed with the Iroquois China Co. for the hotel's 1922 opening. I'm positive not much of this china remains today. I also believe that only one order was ever placed for this china, but I could be wrong. This is an ultra rare pattern that rarley, if ever, surfaces.
For decades, this specially marked Hotel Dobler china pattern has been illusive to me, as many years ago, I had seen a piece of this china but was unable to obtain it then. Fast forward to now, and I was finally able to secure this one.
If you collect historic Floridian hotel items, high-end restaurant ware, or rare Gulfport historical antiques, you might want to consider this rarity for your collection.
Historically, John Dobler opened in 1922 his namesake hotel on the basis of providing luxury and well appointed accommodations to those traveling to Gulfport to enjoy the resort atmosphere that Gulfport and St. Petersburg provided. The hotel was not only popular in the winter months, but it appears to have been open year round.
The three story building was constructed out of wood with a white stucco applied. Painted on the side facing the street was the wording "HOTEL DOBLER". The hotel had a spacious lobby and lounge area where guest to check in or out, socialize, or just set and read the latest newspapers or magazines. The hotel provided guests with a fine dining room that offered exceptional service with a well-trained culinary staff. In addition, the hotel had a sun parlor and a spacious outside setting area.
The hotel was locate directly on the beach and waterfront of the Boca Ciega Bay of the Atlantic Ocean. The area where the hotel was located also was occupied by other business and venues, which was a very busy place. See the image (that is not included but shown for historical reference purposes) of just how busy this area once was with all the 1920's era automobiles near and around the area where the hotel was located. Though much smaller than the nearby large and upscale Great Southern Hotel, the Dobler held its own in popularity with guests and was considered a very popular place for many of the persons arriving in the city to stay.
The hotel was also located next to the famous Municipal Fishing Pier at Gulfport that extended out into the bay. Fishing was also a very important industry in Gulfport at this time as well. However, guest could rent boats and spend the day out on the bay or even the ocean fishing, swimming, or just relaxing. The hotel was also only a short distance from the popular Gulfport Casino and other attractions and venues.
Interestingly, Mr. Dobler had been the Mayor of Gulfport from 1909 to 1911 and ran on the Socialist Party platform. It appears he only served one term as mayor. Information on Mr. Dobler and his hotel is limited at best.
Sometime by the onset of the Great Depression, it appears Dobler was no longer in control of the hotel with it being renamed the Gulfport Inn. For some years after that, it continued under the name before lastly operating as the Boca Ciega Inn. By the late 1960's, the once popular hotel lay vacant and nothing but a shell of its former days when it was considered one of the finest hotels in Gulfport. In 1974, the hotel's structure was torn-down. Later, Veteran's Park would be built on the grounds where the hotel once stood with a parking lot now occupying the hotel's original site.
During the era that this tray would have been made and used at the hotel, persons arriving in Gulfport and St. Petersburg to stay at the Dobler, would have arrived by either the Atlantic Coast Line or the Seaboard Air Line Railroad passenger trains.Train travel during this era was the quickest and most reliable way for persons coming to Florida from other parts of the United States; especially during the winter. Eastern Seaboard Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico steamship service was still considered a popular means as well, but railroad passenger had become the primary means for transportation for long distances, which is where most tourist arriving in Florida would have came by.
The tray was made by the Iroquois China Company that was located in Syracuse New York, and dates to April of 1921 with the date code of G-4. It is the heavyweight type steamship, restaurant, and railroad china. It would have been used in the dining room and for private room service for holding appetizers, celery, breads, candies, and other selections. It would have also been used in connection with the Dobler Hotel silver soldered - silver plate and glassware for actual table service.
It has no cracks, no chips, does have some glaze wear, some slight staining, usage scratches, and so forth that one would expect to see of actual hotel china that is now well over 100+ years old. But overall, this tray - dish is in remarkable condition and looks absolutely beautiful. Please study the photos and feel free to message any questions.
Again, I believe that there was only one order of this pattern made with Iroquois. Or, if there were others, most of the china marked as such with the Hotel Dobler name was dumped or destroyed when the hotel was changed to that of the Gulfport Inn. This pattern is very rare.
A most rarest addition to your historic Gulfport - Saint Petersburg, vintage restaurant ware, or rare Iroquois hotel china collection.
Please note that the historic postcard images of the hotel shortly after it opened are shown for historical reference purposes only and are not included with this listing; only the very rare tray is.
Please ask any questions before committing to purchase.
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