Anniversary Events

1940 Buick Dealers Convention

I'm a vintage Buick enthusiast and obtained this photo from
an ebay auction last year. Those are new 1941 Buick's in the photo.

Regards,
Steve Hartwich
Kansas City, Missouri

Larry the Lifeguard

I am Larry, "The Lifeguard," who worked from 9:30 am to 10:00 pm, seven days a week. I had a local to help each summer - Don Berry in 1957 and Max Bittiker in 1958 and 1959.

The Summer of 1960, the hotel changed ownership and I moved on to work at Malibu Beach, CA and the Bilmore Hotel in downtown Los Angeles.

If you visisted the Elms during those summers, we met and had a good time. The hotel was full with guests from Chicago, St. Louis and SW Kansas City area. The marjority of the guests were average age of 30 to 45 in age and they brought their children. Their kids were mostly girls between ages of 8 to 17. The Jewish were the dominate group and it seemed they had the most fun.

As you can figure out, the group was mostly young and were there to enjoy themself swimming. We had a tennis court, archery range, and shuffle board. During my time the stables were not used much. There were dance lessons on Saturday night and I would talk up the lessons and then the instructors let me take the lessons free. After a while I learned my right foot from my left.

The chip and put golf court was there and very few used it. Most stayed around the pool sunning their bods and adding to their tans. Just one big family outing it seemed. Every one knew others before they arrrived so a good time was set.

There was a baby pool up the steps under the tree of paradise that had lots of blooms that kept the pool full of tree leaves. It is now buried under lots of concrete. The pool area was open without lots of concrete, fences and gates. Just lots of green grass to lay out on or in the lounge chairs the hotel furnished. The bar was just inside the doors that lead to the pool from the hotel lobby.

I taught swimming lessons to both young and old and all were successful except for one named Alvin who I had to give up on teaching. My charge was $2.50 a lesson. I taught lifesaving to the area boy scouts in the summers I was there, swan on my college swim team the three years and when in the Army I swan on the Fort's swim team. Thank you Elms for the summers of swimming, it paid off for me in college.

Robert Mullins, the manager, was a great boss. He said that he would take care of everything inside the hotel and I would take care of the pool. He did not want me in the hotel and he said he would not be out at the pool. That was true, he never went swimming and his wife I remember went once or twice and their daughter Monica went swimming maybe twice in three summers. I had one occasion in three summers where one guest would not behave and I have to tell him to leave the pool area. Mr. Mullins supported me 100 percent and I never forgot that support for his employee.

The salary wasn't much but with two meals a day, teaching swimming, and occasional tips it did not cost my parents anything durning the summer. And on top of that they knew where I was at least half the time. If they wanted to see me they came to the hotel and had a drink at the pool. Nice way to work in the summer.

The hotel had vines all over the outside walls which made the hotel beautiful. One time Herbie, the bartender, knocked a black snake from the top floor window that faced the pool that was noticed by a guest. That was about the only exciting wildlife story for those three summers.

There was a guard stand with an umbrella and a diving board. Both are gone now.

Now things I found in the mornings when I cleaned the pool before opening could have been embarassing to who every lost them that night. Also I am glad cocktail glasses did not break when tossed into the deep end of the pool. They just drifted down to the bottom and was easy to see and pick up in my morning. So you can see, the swimming pool area was he fun time both morning noon and night.

So where ever you are now, come back to the Elms. The rooms are up from the $26.50 they charged when I was there but I understand the rooms are fewer dollars higher due to rooms being made bigger. Give me a small room, cheap prices, a good pool with less concrete and fences, a friendly lifeguard, lots of sunshine, and fun loving people would be the Elms as I knew it over 50 years ago.

Larry Eiker
Kennett, Missouri

"Pork Chop" the Waiter

I remember going to the Sheraton Elms in the late 50's through the 60's every 4th of July. Those were happy times as a child. At that time there was no air conditioning in the hotel. I remember the huge fans at the end of the hallway and a screen in front of our door to the room, that is how the we kept cool. The cocktail lounge was a big thing for me, as I would always have a kiddy cocktail and dance with my parents. I thought I was so grown up. There used to be a bowling machine I believe in the lobby, where I would be playing most of the night. I loved the huge pool, and the stables where I would ride the horses. The elevator had an elevator operator who at times would let me run it up and down when it was slow. I loved the small quaint town with the antique stores. I also remember the small thin dinning room hostess that was always so nice to us. The only waiter I remember was nick named "pork chop". I am planning a trip back to the Elms in October 2008 with my girlfriend to relive my fond memories. I cannot wait to see how Excelsior Springs has grown and the hotel I loved.

Roberta Ross
Bolingbrook, IL.

Lifeguard in the 50s

My name is Sara Jo Shettles, maiden name Eiker. I worked at the Elms Hotel in the l950's. First, I was a Social Hostess Assistant. We planned activities and conducted events for the guests. At that time many folks travels from Chicago, St. Louis and parts beyond to enjoy the baths at The Elms. I also worked as a Lifeguard at The Elms in the l950's. My brother, Larry Eiker, was the pool manager. One of the side benefits of working at The Elms was free horseback riding. On my day off I would take off on horseback for hours at a time. We would ride out to Lake Mauer, or just through the woods near the hotel. What a great benefit. There are many stories to tell about my summer jobs at The Elms, however, some will never be committed to print. Great idea to celebrate 120 years. The Elms is a truly a legend. Sara Jo Shettles

Close Friends Meet for the First Time

My friend in the photo and I have worked together due to the association of our bosses for the last two years We have grown very close in our correspondence. We realized, although we share family photos, stories, current happenings, we had never actually met in person. This was a treat from our bosses. They bought us the girlfriends weekend package and we met there on June 28th. The service and atmosphere made it so easy to feel like there was never any logistical distance! We are so thankful to the elms for giving us this time together!!!

Mineral Water Bowl and KC Star

I was speaking with Bill Richardson, who was with the Kansas City Star, during one of the Mineral Water Bowl games he covered, & he indicated that he stayed the Elms Hotel in 1948 while on his honeymoon. While here, the Kansas City Star asked him to cover the Mineral Water Bowl game, at that time a high school game, for the Star. He covered every Mineral Water Bowl game through 2006 for the newspaper.

Dennis Hartman

Family Memories

Our family stayed at the Elms this past 4th of July and so enjoyed the beautiful pool, the fabulous dinner, the friendly staff, and the next day, the incredible wine & craft festival.

The fireworks in front of the Elms were great too!

It brought back many fond memories of several dances I attended there during the late 60’s.

Growing up in Excelsior, and my mother being the night auditor from 1957 until 1970, and I was fortunate enough to host a few incredibly fun slumber parties at the Elms for my girlfriends. Also the Elms has been an elegant & beautiful setting for our (class of ’72) reunions!

Congratulations on your 120th anniversary!

Billey Moody Davis
Olathe, Kansas

120th Kick-off Weekend

Thank you to everyone who attended the festivities this past weekend, July 4-5th. There were approximately 200 people for the July 4th anniversary celebration which included Harry and Bess Truman (impersonators), birthday cake, proclamations and fireworks. Then there were over 700 people for the Missouri Wine Festival the next day on July 5th. Everyone we talked to had a great time and enjoyed the entire weekend. We think we did the hotel proud with the weekends activities and great attendance. Thanks again for the support of our guests and the community.

1950s Elevator Operator

My first job ever, was as an elevator operator at the hotel in the late 1950's. We had to wear horrid uniforms, almost military in appearance. I loved the atmosphere though and had fantasies of becoming one of the rich, elegant ladies I squired from floor to floor. My most memorable event took place in an elevator when I allowed it to be over loaded. The brakes failed and the car slid to the sub-basement, bouncing a couple of times as it rebounded off a large spring at the bottom of the shaft. It didn't fall.....it just slid past where were supposed to stop at the lobby door. No one was hurt but you can bet we were all pretty shaken up!

Happy 120th Anniversary Elms!

Patty Lowe-Koetting
ESHS, Class of 1961

When I was 5 years old...

Back in the 40's my grandmother and mother took me to the Elms, I was five years old. It was there that I met Barb from Moline, Illinois, also five years old, and her parents. We became friends that first stay at the Elms. Our friendship has lasted throughout these years, and only for a period of three years did she live in the St. Louis area. I remember we bought "tricks" at the magic store in Excelsior Springs and would pull them off in the dining room. For many summers our families would meet at the Elms as we planned our vacations at the same time. We also were always involved in the "entertainment" in the dining room either dancing, singing or baton twirling. The gift shop in the corner of the lobby always had us as customers and I still have a cloth doll that was bought there. Barb and I would "run" the elevator, be the first ones in the cocktail lounge to get gardenias and kiddy cocktails while our parents got ready for dinner. Now Barb and I are grandparents and I hope we can have a reunion sometime in the near future. She taught me to swim one summer there which we still laugh about.
She lives in Virginia and we're still in St. Louis. Some of my happiest memories are our trips to the Elms as a child and I get nostalgic just seeing pictures of the hotel. My mother, now almost 90 years old, still fills me in on details that I forget about our trips. We came by train until I talked my Dad into driving there, got off in Henrietta and were driven to Excelsior Springs. I remember the "stinky" waters and learned to swim at the public pool, that was before the Elms put in their own pool. The cabanas where adults could sunbathe privately I remember. Perhaps the fondest memory I have is a very nice lady who was the dining room hostess, Sparkie, a waiter, and Billy Smith, the bellhop.

Georgia Rankin

Surprise Guest

While spending our wedding anniversary at the Elms, my wife and I went into the workout facility and started up a conversation with a nice gentleman who looked and sounded familiar. I just could not remember how I knew him. After he took his had off and I saw the mohawk, I realized he was "Mr. T". He was very nice, we talked for a long time and really enjoyed his company.

Bill Schwarz
Kansas City MO

Uncomfortable Class Reunion

My most interesting (maybe not favorite) situation occurred in 1985, when the ESHS Class of 1975 held their 10-year reunion in the Imperial Ballroom. Nearby, in the Continental Ballroom, my mother's class, the ESHS Class of 1935, was holding their 50-year reunion. Definitely limits how much fun you can have (or trouble you can get into) with your mother right next door!

Dr. Steven L. Popejoy
Harmon College of Business Administration University of Central Missouri

Share your Elms Memories

Starting July 4, 2008, we will kick-off a year-long celebration of our 120th Anniversary and we want you to help us celebrate. We are looking for your Elms memories and photos. Click on the Submit a Story above or email them to dos@elmsresort.com. Start sharing your past memories today.