Meet Clem Long and Claudia Long-Miller.I think they are my soulmates.
They have been collecting old hotel stuff since the 1960's.
Dad Clem is 83 years old and was a former auctioneer and hotel liquidator. Daughter Claudia is a certified antiques appraiser who worked with her Dad in the 60's & 70's liquidating old hotels.
The stories they have. And they are telling them!
This father-and-daughter team has started a blog, I Love Old Hotel Stuff. Clem and Claudia started this blog last month to share their experiences of liquidating old hotels and the thrill of collecting antiques. From the wild to the wacky!
Take for instance, liquidating the Commodore Hotel in New York. A 2000 room hotel, which means 4000 beds, which means 8000 pillows. How do you sell 8,000 pillows?
They owned a hearse and an ambulance that they would drive to the various hotels with materials and personnel. Clem would contact the news media hoping they would be there to greet them. And they did. Apparently, the media was more interested in the hearse and ambulance than the hotel itself.
If the hotel was being razed, they would use the hearse to symbolize the death of the hotel. And if it was being refurbished, they would take the ambulance to symbolize the hotel was hurt and was to be brought back to health!
Clem's office had a large desk that was the one used by President Lincoln in his office at the Willard Hotel. The hardwood floor and arm wall came from the Gibson Hotel in Cincinnati. The chandelier was from the Commodore Hotel in New York City.This is just a tidbit from this fun blog. Please go visit I Love Old Hotel Stuff here for more fun & interesting stories! And be sure and leave Clem a comment!
photos from I Love Old Hotel Stuff
