We Found Our Founder -- Frank Poor's Portrait Arrives at the Hawthorne Hotel

Who is Frank Poor and what does he have to do with the Hawthorne Hotel?  He is an important part of our history.

Frank Poor (1879 – 1956) was the founder of Hygrade/Sylvania Lighting Company, and President of Salem Hotel Corporation. Mr. Poor led the Salem Rotary Club and Salem Chamber of Commerce in the creation of the Hawthorne Hotel in 1923-1925, and he and his company donated all the light bulbs for the hotel’s grand opening.  If you look at the share of stock that is framed in our Nathaniel's Restaurant, you will see Frank's signature there.  If you look at the historic "tote board" photo also in that display, you will see Frank's name listed among the leaders in fund-raising for the hotel.

We recently were contacted by Frank's grandson, Peter Poor.  He told me his grandfather founded the Hawthorne Hotel and he wanted to give us a photo of the opening of the hotel which included his grandfather.  I had always thought the hotel was founded by a committee, basically made up of members of the Salem Rotary and the Salem Chamber of Commerce.  But in really thinking about it, and looking at all the evidence at hand, it does seem more likely that there was actually one person who had the vision to create the committee, and lead the charge, and that person was very likely Frank Poor.

We made arrangements to meet, and for him to give us the photo.  While we were visiting about that, Peter mentioned that Sylvania (now Osram-Sylvania) had taken down his grandfather's portrait from their lobby a number of years ago, and it was in storage.  Peter was disheartened about that fact, and shared his feelings with me and Kristie Poehler, our Director of Sales and Marketing.  Upon hearing that news, we suggested he ask the company for the portrait, and somewhat to his surprise, they gave it to Peter.

Peter contacted me to see is my casual assertion that we would love to hang it in the hotel was real.  I assured him it was.  He agreed to bring the portrait to us, and arrangements were made, culminating in the presentation that occurred this week.  You can see it in the photos below.


Frank Poor's portrait, with me, Juli Lederhaus, and Peter Poor, Frank's Grandson, at the presentation in
our lobby this week.


Left to right:  The Poor family -- Amanda, Sharon, Alyson and Peter. 

We also learned this week that it was Peter's daughter, Amanda, who had the idea to present the photo from the opening (that had been hanging in her parents' bedroom for many years) to the Hawthorne Hotel.  Amanda works for EBSCO Publishing, and she had been to the hotel this past year for her employer's holiday party.

So we send thank-yous all around, to Peter, and his family, and even to Osram-Sylvania.  Because of all of you we now have a portrait that will help to tell more of the story of the historic Hawthorne Hotel, and we are very grateful.

We plan to hang the photo, the portrait, and one more item of interest to this story as soon as the photo is re-matted and re-framed.  So stay tuned.

I hope to see you here.

Juli