Mr. Joe Stein is looking for a suitable lot on which to erect a handsome three-story hotel. His lease on the building now occupied by the Greenwood Hotel will soon expire and he wants to erect a new hotel in keeping with the growth and progress of the city.
From the Greenwood Enterprise, March 24, 1906
Mr. Joe Stein, veteran hotel man, of this city, has been threatening for several years to build a grand hotel for Greenwood and we understand that it is now a certainty that we are to have this fine new hotel and that the building of the same will be begun in the near future. The site has not yet been definitely selected. Several pieces of property on Howard Street have been offered but no definite selection as yet made.
Mr. Stein has options on several lots and will select one of them. He states that he is going to build a mammoth four or five story hotel that will be a credit to such a progressive city as Greenwood. "A good one", as he puts it, and added, "I think it is going to be five stories."
From the Greenwood Enterprise, November 26, 1915
Mr. Joe Stein will build his new hotel on the lot on Howard Street, just South of Fountain's store. Architects are now working on the plans for the new hotel and it will be either a four or five story building.
From the Greenwood Enterprise, December 3, 1915
Mr. Joe Stein has purchased 69 x 137 ½ feet of ground on the corner of Howard and Church streets from Mr. Warner Wells, the consideration being $10,500.00-and Mr. Stein has also taken an option from Mr. Wells on the other 69 x 137 ½ feet just north of his purchase on Howard Street, and will very probably add that to his purchase.
Mr. Stein informed The Commonwealth this morning that he would let the contract and have erected on his splendidly located lots during the next six months a modern four or five story hotel building-one that will be a credit to any city-the best and most up-to-date hostelry in Mississippi.
We congratulate Mr. Stein upon his excellently located purchase and Greenwood upon the fact that such a magnificent hotel building is so soon to be erected within her prosperous limits.
From The Commonwealth, February 4, 1916
There was renewed talk of Mr. Joe Stein purchasing a site for his hotel and it was rumored that he had bought the Warner Wells property on the corner of Howard and Church streets. But the latest we could learn is that he and Warner are still trading, but had not traded.
From the Greenwood Enterprise, February 4, 1916
Greenwood residents and the traveling public coming to this city will receive the news, with much satisfaction, that Joe Stein, the capitalist, has closed a deal for the lot and will erect a new modern four-story hotel in Greenwood, just as soon as the details can be arranged and contracts for the building awarded.
Mr. Stein has purchased from the Wells estate, half of the block on Howard Avenue, at the corner of Howard Street and Church Avenue. Mr. Stein has also taken an option on the other half of the block and will determine later whether the hotel will cover the entire block, facing Howard, or just half of it. The price for the block is $21,000.
The hotel, when completed, will be one of the most modern and up-to-date in the state and the design will be of the largest creation in architecture. It will be modern throughout and have one hundred rooms, eighty of which will be modern sleeping apartments, with private bath and telephones in each room.
Mr. Stein is showing his faith in the future development of Greenwood
and everyone is predicting that the new hotel will not only prove a big advertisement for
Greenwood, but a splendid investment
for Mr. Stein.
From The Greenwood News, February 10, 1916
Mr. Joe Stein, who has been saying for some time that he was going to build a fine hotel in Greenwood, took the first steps for carrying out his project last week when he purchased one half of the Wells property on Howard Street and took a thirty day option on the other half. This property is 137 ½ feet square and will make an ideal hotel site. Mr. Stein states that he expects to exercise his option on the other half of the property and to erect a four or possibly five story building on the whole. He says that he is going to put up a swell hotel, one that will be a credit to the town. He is a veteran hotel man and knows that the hotel that gets the patronage is the up-to-date one, that furnishes the best accommodations and we expect to see a swell hotel go up on this property during the next few months.
From the Greenwood Enterprise, February 11, 1916
Mr. Joe Stein let the contract for the construction of the Hotel "Irving", Monday, July 3rd, to Mr. I. C. Garber, of Jackson, Miss. The contract calls for the completion of the structure within six months. It is expected that it will be opened for the entertainment of guests between January 1st and 15th, 1917. The location of the Hotel is on Howard Street, fronting 80 feet at the corner of Church Street, 127 ½ feet on Church Street. It is to be four stories in height with basement and as nearly fire proof as practical, brick, stone and concrete construction, 85 rooms, 40 of which will have shower baths. All outside rooms, telephones in every room. This will be a decided advance in Greenwood's hotel accommodations.
The entire cost of the hotel completely furnished will be in excess of $100,000.00.
Mr. Joe Harris secured the contract for plumbing, which amounts to $9,600.00.
From the Greenwood Enterprise, July 7, 1916
Mr. J. Kantor has purchased the old Wells house from Mr. Joe Stein and is having the same moved to his lot, corner Main and Church streets.
Mr. Utroska is doing the moving. He cut the house in two and is moving it in two sections. Mr. Stein's contract with contractors provides that they shall complete the hotel within six months from the day he delivers the lot over to them, ready for them to go to work.
From the Greenwood Enterprise, July 14, 1916
The second section of the old Wells house is leaving the new hotel lot this afternoon on its slow journey to the Kantor lot to join its other part which left last week. The lot is being cleaned off and will be ready to be turned over to the contractors Monday. They will then have six months within which to complete the Hotel Irving. Work will begin at once and Mr. Stein hopes to have his new hotel completed by the first of January, 1917. This will be a most valuable addition to this city.
From the Greenwood Enterprise, July 21, 1916
The new, hundred thousand dollar, Hotel Irving opened it''s doors to the public yesterday morning with all in readiness to care for, and to entertain, the traveler. Approximately one hundred and fifty guests were present at dinner yesterday evening and several rooms were engaged by traveling people last night. Scores of people were turned away last night due to the large number present for dinner.
The beautiful dining room was tastily decorated with pretty red carnations, and the elaborate dinner of several courses was faultlessly served to the appreciative diners.
Mr. Joe Stein is the owner and active manager of the handsome hotel and Mr. Harry L. Darden is assistant manager and will handle the desk. Mr. Darden comes to Greenwood from the Great Southern Hotel at Meridian and is an experienced hotel man. He is well and favorably known by the traveling public in Mississippi. Mr. Ben Jones, of this city, will be the night desk clerk.
Mr. Darden addressed the guests at dinner last evening, welcoming them to make the Irving their headquarters. He stated this morning that he regretted conditions which made it necessary to turn away dinner guests last evening and assures the public that they will receive the very best attention when they come to the Irving. Mr. Darden is a stranger and expressed his desire to meet and be friends with everyone.
The building is new throughout and very handsome and modern in every particular. The lobby and dining rooms are both very beautiful and attractive. Potted plants are used to an advantage in the lobby. A broad stair leads to the floors above and a modern elevator is also in operation.
Hotel Irving is a credit not only to Greenwood, but to the Delta and the State of Mississippi.
Mr. Jerry Foley has the cigar rights in the lobby and has arranged his corner most attractively. Mrs. Hattie Boyd will superintend the sales.
Guests were present last night for dinner from several of the nearby towns. The Big Six Orchestra played during the evening.
From the Greenwood Commonwealth, March 14, 1917
A gay crowd that surpassed in numbers even the most sanguine expectations of the management thronged the new Hotel Irving for the Opening Dinner Sunday evening at six o'clock.
The dining room was not sufficient to accommodate the crowd, neither had preparations been made for serving such a crowd. The Hotel was literally swamped and those who arrived early and secured seats at the first tables were all faultlessly served with a repast fit for a "king". Many who were not so fortunate had to wait for from one to two hours before they could be served.
The handsome new dining room was beautifully decorated and sweet music was rendered by a string band throughout the supper hour.
The new hotel has enjoyed a good business also during this, its first week. Many visitors from over the country who have come to town this week have stopped at the Hotel Irving for dinner or for super and the traveling men will give the new hotel a liberal patronage if the number registered there during the first days is any indication.
From the Greenwood Enterprise, March 16, 1917