Van Gilder Hotel – Boom and Bust in the Seward Frontier

Almost $200,000 worth of building activity was underway in Seward in May of 1916, including excavation for the basement of the Van Gilder. A businessman from Idaho, E.L. Van Gilder wanted to invest in the last frontier. He decided to build a modern two-story office building with a meeting hall for organizations.

During construction, Van Gilder was convinced to add a third story, and the extra costs of its quality construction combined with a slower-than-expected economy forced him to sell the property. Charles Brown of Brown & Hawkins purchased the Van Gilder just months after it was completed in late October.

Business enterprises often switched hands quickly in Seward’s early years. The Gateway newspaper was started by Charles E. Herron, then sold to Bernard Stone in May 1915. On its tenth anniversary in September 1915, the Gateway was Alaska’s second largest newspaper. It was the only even-column, four-page newspaper published in Alaska, and the second Alaskan paper to join the Associated Press.

In January 1917, Frank L. Ballaine and Harry Hoben purchased Stone’s interest and continued publication with E.O. Sawyer, Jr. as editor and R.G. Chambers as business manager. Lowell Creek flooded the basement of the Van Gilder building in September of 1917, and with it the offices of the Gateway.

In early 1921, the Van Gilder building was converted into apartments, with Joe Badger as manager. Badger was part of the 1900 Nome gold rush, where he operated both commercial and mining enterprises. Badger mined in the Hope-Sunrise area around 1914, then came to Seward and formed a partnership with Harry Kawabe in a dry-cleaning business.

By September of 1921, Joe Badger owned the building and had it extensively altered to serve as a hotel, with a large lobby and forty-three rooms. Badger owned and operated the Van Gilder until his death in 1938. Some suggest Badger had a gruff manner, others report he was a man of generous spirit and well liked in the community. During his ownership the Van Gilder was considered by many to be the finest hotel in Seward, catering to the wealthy passers-through, as well as visiting dignitaries, travelers, and explorers.

In 1950, Burt Lewis sold the property to Emma Renwald who renamed it Renwald. On September 10, 1964 the property changed hands again from Bill and Frances O’Brian to Norman and Jean Rinehart. At that time, the Van Gilder returned to its original name and hotel was rehabilitated as a registered historic building.

The Van Gilder Hotel has had many different owners and uses including serving as the women’s dormitory from 1972-1987, and, if rumor is true, a brief period when it was run as a brothel.