'Twas a Grand Time for a Grand Hotel

[KenFSU]

This might have been posted here in the past, but I just stumbled upon this T-U article from 1998 on the George Washington Hotel and thought it was just great:

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/111498/nef_allfoley.html

[Dapperdan]

The 70s were a brutal time for downtown. Just imagine if this building where the Beatles stayed had been preserved. Imagine tours being given of Lindberg's room. Imagine grand balls still being held there today. It is shame that the landowners let it fall into disrepair.

[Dapperdan]

Actually, according to Wikki, the Beatles were denied rooms due to a miscommunication in available rooms. i wonder if they stayed at the Roposevelt insead?

[heights unknown]

My Mother was a Maid at the George Washington Hotel in the late 1950's and early 1960's.  I remember her telling my Grandmother back then (I was  a toddler) that she was a Maid at the George Washington Hotel in Downtown Jacksonville.  It was a Grand Hotel; I remember the Valets in the front of the Hotel and the Bell Boys which these were hallmarks at all basically all Downtown Hotels in Jacksonville and nationwide back in the day (Robert Mayer, Ambassador, Mayflower, etc.).
The end of a grand and "bygone era."

Heights Unknown
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[KenFSU]

I've heard the late Bill Foley's name from time to time since moving to Jacksonville a few years ago, but until I started reading his columns this morning, I never knew just how great this guy was. Talk about an absolute treasure trove of North Florida history and stories. His stuff is so enthralling that you almost wonder how he worked for the Times-Union.

This link has the five stories he was most proud of:

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/020401/nef_5302814.html

Question for the long-timers here in Jacksonville. When did the T-U really start going down the drain as far as being a quality newspaper goes?