My father owned the Leland Hotel in the sixties. I would like to see more about that time and what the Leland used to be. Anyone have photos? I remember “the bean soup comittee’, My father Raymond “mike” Johnston used to run with Maureen Reagan and others. Anyone with old articles comment here about where I can find them. Warm smiles,
Tamara S Johnston
Your dad did not buy The Leland until very late 1969. My father ran The Leland from 1948 until the time that Mike Johnston bought it. My sister and I were raised in the hotel and lived there from 1953 until 1970. What eventually happened to the interior of the hotel was very sad, particularly loosing the Red Lion Tavern and the Crown Ballroom.
I am to very intrested in the Leland hotel past history my grandfather, Joe Schweska was chef ther fron the mid 20’s till late 40’s if anyone has old photos of the hotel or any memorabilia form this time please let me know
Hi Julie!
I worked as a busboy at Mansion View Restaurant back in 76 and we served a Horseshoe sandwich there too! Two slices of toast, meat and cheese sauce covered in french fries! It was Great! I can remember trying to figure out how they made the cheese sauce and being told by Milly the salad lady, that it had a secret ingredient…
Actually, I think it was made with beer! haha Sorry Milly the secrets out!
Now that open faced sandwich had to be a major icon loved by Springfield, but anyone who knew Milly understood she was the true icon adored by Springfield!
The Horseshoe and Ponyshoe sandwiches originated at The Leland and were served in the Red Lion Tavern the entire time that I lived there. It was Joe Schweska who originally developed the recipe and, yes, the cheese sauce contained beer as well as Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard and cayenne. My dad always said that you had to make it with real cheddar cheese, not anything processed. There were many types of horseshoes, not only ones with hamburger patties. I remember chicken horseshoes, shrimp, egg and tomato, ham, turkey and there might have been others too.
Brings back memories! I worked at the hotel in laundry in the late 60’s and my Father Bob Houston was also a chef there for years and years until it closed. He sent this article to me and I just wanted to comment on some of the great times we had there.
Whe my ex-husband graduated from St.Police acadmy in 1958 we had brakfast at the Lehand Hotel and being from a small town in Southern IL it was my first big Hotel and thought it was so great and beautiful, and never thought to do day my companion now would be the chef, Bob Houstnn that cooked my breakfast.
Mr Bollinger – I came to Springfeild two weeks ago there was man from Germany named Stanley Moskwa, staying at our hotel who your father had sponsored into this country after your Dad met him overseas during the war. He had come to town to visit your Dad’s grave and meet his family. DO you have a realitive named Ceclia? I understand Stanley lived and worked at the hotel…
I loved the Red Lion. I was a young girl and my Dad took me there for dress-up dinner nights. Elegant Supper Club.
Can you please contact me. KC Schneider … ComicChaos@aol.com (469) 766 -1666
I am looking for information on my Grandmothers. I do believe she and other family members worked there at the Leland. They were from Lithuania, It would of been 1950’s 55-58? area The name would of been Poudzunas or Voysilas Nellie first name.
Was there another hotel that was close by that was popular or was this the main one downtown? Any information would greatly be appreciated. Thanks Stacy
Stacy, the Leland was a major hotel, but there was also the Abraham Lincoln Hotel one block west on the SW corner of Capitol Avenue and 5th Street. It was demolished around 1978. The St. Nicholas was also a major downtown hotel at 4th and Jefferson. Many would consider the St. Nicholas to have been the premier downtown hotel. Today it is an apartment building.
Thanks, Scott
It was the Abraham Lincoln that she worked in. I am trying to find out about a Chef or Cook Named Charles Lamar not sure if the spelling is exactly right might be LaMarr etc.. I did try to do some searching at the Prarie Archives downtown before. If anyone knows anything on that name or Chef I would appreciate it! Again it would of been 1955-58 area. I am trying to do some family searching.
Yes, there were the three major downtown hotels, along with the smaller Hotel Governor next to the St. Nick. Although very much biased, I disagree that the St. Nicholas was considered “the premier downtown hotel”. Its lobby could in no way compete with the beauty and size of the ones in the Abraham Lincoln Hotel or The Leland. The St. Nick’s ballroom was larger, but not grand as was The Leland’s and the Abe Lincoln’s. Neither of them could compete with The Leland’s food and beverage operations that included The Red Lion and the Sunbrella, both of which were sizeable and attractive. In its heyday, The Leland was packed for lunch each weekday.
As an aside, The Leland was the Republican hotel, while the Democrats claimed the St. Nicholas. My dad was friends with the Democratic governors though and Adlai Stevenson ran his campaign from the Crown Ballroom of The Leland.
You are 100% right. I worked at the LELAND FROM 1948 TILL IT CLOSED.I worked for your dad all those years. I knew your mother,and later Poly. You and your sister TAMMY? WERE LITTLE KIDS THEN. I remember lots of good times there. Truly yours . BOB HOUSTON
take a look at the 1950 building on what is the 6th street side where the sign was and take a look at the more recent picture and you can still see where the sign sat, as there is some burn marks where the neon sign was place
My father owned the Leland Hotel in the sixties. I would like to see more about that time and what the Leland used to be. Anyone have photos? I remember “the bean soup comittee’, My father Raymond “mike” Johnston used to run with Maureen Reagan and others. Anyone with old articles comment here about where I can find them. Warm smiles,
Tamara S Johnston
Tamara Johnston | Feb 6, 2008 | Reply
Wouldn’t awnings look great on this building!
liz cadwell | Jul 23, 2008 | Reply
Your dad did not buy The Leland until very late 1969. My father ran The Leland from 1948 until the time that Mike Johnston bought it. My sister and I were raised in the hotel and lived there from 1953 until 1970. What eventually happened to the interior of the hotel was very sad, particularly loosing the Red Lion Tavern and the Crown Ballroom.
Jim Bolinger | Dec 21, 2008 | Reply
I am to very intrested in the Leland hotel past history my grandfather, Joe Schweska was chef ther fron the mid 20’s till late 40’s if anyone has old photos of the hotel or any memorabilia form this time please let me know
thank You Tom Schweska
tom schweska | Jan 20, 2009 | Reply
As a young woman I remember eating horseshoes at a restaurant in Sprinfield, was it here?
Julie | Feb 3, 2009 | Reply
Hi Julie!
I worked as a busboy at Mansion View Restaurant back in 76 and we served a Horseshoe sandwich there too! Two slices of toast, meat and cheese sauce covered in french fries! It was Great! I can remember trying to figure out how they made the cheese sauce and being told by Milly the salad lady, that it had a secret ingredient…
Actually, I think it was made with beer! haha Sorry Milly the secrets out!
Now that open faced sandwich had to be a major icon loved by Springfield, but anyone who knew Milly understood she was the true icon adored by Springfield!
Giuseppe | Feb 8, 2009 | Reply
The Horseshoe and Ponyshoe sandwiches originated at The Leland and were served in the Red Lion Tavern the entire time that I lived there. It was Joe Schweska who originally developed the recipe and, yes, the cheese sauce contained beer as well as Worcestershire sauce, dry mustard and cayenne. My dad always said that you had to make it with real cheddar cheese, not anything processed. There were many types of horseshoes, not only ones with hamburger patties. I remember chicken horseshoes, shrimp, egg and tomato, ham, turkey and there might have been others too.
Jim Bolinger | Mar 2, 2009 | Reply
Brings back memories! I worked at the hotel in laundry in the late 60’s and my Father Bob Houston was also a chef there for years and years until it closed. He sent this article to me and I just wanted to comment on some of the great times we had there.
Robyn P | Jun 2, 2009 | Reply
Whe my ex-husband graduated from St.Police acadmy in 1958 we had brakfast at the Lehand Hotel and being from a small town in Southern IL it was my first big Hotel and thought it was so great and beautiful, and never thought to do day my companion now would be the chef, Bob Houstnn that cooked my breakfast.
Margaret N. | Jun 2, 2009 | Reply
Mr Bollinger – I came to Springfeild two weeks ago there was man from Germany named Stanley Moskwa, staying at our hotel who your father had sponsored into this country after your Dad met him overseas during the war. He had come to town to visit your Dad’s grave and meet his family. DO you have a realitive named Ceclia? I understand Stanley lived and worked at the hotel…
I loved the Red Lion. I was a young girl and my Dad took me there for dress-up dinner nights. Elegant Supper Club.
Can you please contact me. KC Schneider … ComicChaos@aol.com (469) 766 -1666
KC Schneider | Sep 19, 2009 | Reply
I am looking for information on my Grandmothers. I do believe she and other family members worked there at the Leland. They were from Lithuania, It would of been 1950’s 55-58? area The name would of been Poudzunas or Voysilas Nellie first name.
Was there another hotel that was close by that was popular or was this the main one downtown? Any information would greatly be appreciated. Thanks Stacy
Stacy | Dec 9, 2009 | Reply
Stacy, the Leland was a major hotel, but there was also the Abraham Lincoln Hotel one block west on the SW corner of Capitol Avenue and 5th Street. It was demolished around 1978. The St. Nicholas was also a major downtown hotel at 4th and Jefferson. Many would consider the St. Nicholas to have been the premier downtown hotel. Today it is an apartment building.
Scott | Dec 18, 2009 | Reply
Thanks, Scott
It was the Abraham Lincoln that she worked in. I am trying to find out about a Chef or Cook Named Charles Lamar not sure if the spelling is exactly right might be LaMarr etc.. I did try to do some searching at the Prarie Archives downtown before. If anyone knows anything on that name or Chef I would appreciate it! Again it would of been 1955-58 area. I am trying to do some family searching.
Stacy | Dec 20, 2009 | Reply
Yes, there were the three major downtown hotels, along with the smaller Hotel Governor next to the St. Nick. Although very much biased, I disagree that the St. Nicholas was considered “the premier downtown hotel”. Its lobby could in no way compete with the beauty and size of the ones in the Abraham Lincoln Hotel or The Leland. The St. Nick’s ballroom was larger, but not grand as was The Leland’s and the Abe Lincoln’s. Neither of them could compete with The Leland’s food and beverage operations that included The Red Lion and the Sunbrella, both of which were sizeable and attractive. In its heyday, The Leland was packed for lunch each weekday.
As an aside, The Leland was the Republican hotel, while the Democrats claimed the St. Nicholas. My dad was friends with the Democratic governors though and Adlai Stevenson ran his campaign from the Crown Ballroom of The Leland.
Jim Bolinger | Dec 27, 2009 | Reply
It was usefull to me, Thank you
Eddy | Apr 9, 2010 | Reply
You are 100% right. I worked at the LELAND FROM 1948 TILL IT CLOSED.I worked for your dad all those years. I knew your mother,and later Poly. You and your sister TAMMY? WERE LITTLE KIDS THEN. I remember lots of good times there. Truly yours . BOB HOUSTON
Bob Houston | May 24, 2010 | Reply
take a look at the 1950 building on what is the 6th street side where the sign was and take a look at the more recent picture and you can still see where the sign sat, as there is some burn marks where the neon sign was place
ed kienzler | Jun 8, 2010 | Reply
I believe Sangamon State had downtown classes there where people could take a “lunch-time” class….can anyone verify this?
Mike | Jul 1, 2010 | Reply