Submitted by:
Terri Lewis-Sander

WHENEVER I think of the old Davenport hotel I always think of my sister-in-law, Chris Lewis (Bidwell), who died of Brain cancer at the age of 32 in 1982.

    We grew up together. Every summer Chris came and stayed with her Gramdma Costello, in the same block where my family lived. When she came one of our annaul trips was downtown to the Davenport hotel. We were about 10 years old when we visited there. We would walk through the main lobby and look at all the glitter and glamour. We talked about how we would stay there, with our husbands, when we became adults. We would stay in the finest room and have dinner there.

    Chris was always dressed in a frilly little dress with patent leather shoes and I was always dressed in my brothers hand-me-downs or if lucky a pair of girls shorts and rubber thongs. We always tried to go beyone the main lobby and see the rooms in the floors above. Rarely were we successful as they had elevator operators that stopped us. I do remember one time making it to the resturant which I believe was on the second floor. I think we walked the stairs to get there. We got to the entrance of the restarant and there were lots of ladies in all there finery having lunch around the pool (if my memory is correct). I was frozen in my tracks. Chris of course wanted to go there for lunch. She had a couple of bachelor uncles who kept her in spending money. I was lucky to have a quarter in my pocket. I was paniced about sitting there. I don't remember if we were escorted out or if we left on our own but I will always remember the elegance we got a snapshot of.

    When the Davenport reopens I plan on my husband and I going there to stay to honor my beloved sister-in-law Chris!