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The Westin-Poinsett Hotel celebrates 100 years

The Westin-Poinsett Hotel is one of the oldest in Greenville, and we’re taking a look at some of the history.

GVLtoday Westin-Poinsett

There are rumors that the historic hotel is haunted. | Photo by James Simpson Photography

You don’t look a day over 99. The Westin-Poinsett Hotel celebrates its 100th birthday on Sunday, June 22. President of the Greenville Historical SocietyJohn Nolan will give a presentation + Mayor Knox White will speak. The event is free to attend, but registration is required.

Before you don your birthday hat, let’s take a look at the Westin-Poinsett’s history.

  • 1925 | The Poinsett Hotel was constructed a few feet away from the former Mansion House Hotel downtown, which was demolished the year before. The ~$1.5 million hotel was named after Joel R. Poinsett, an SC politician who was the Secretary of War under President Martin Van Buren.
GVL Today Joel Poinsett Statue

Joel Poinsett, the hotel’s namesake, sits right next to it. | Photo by GVLtoday

  • 1930 | The hotel makes a profit after J. Mason Alexander took over. Fun fact: He was known for his “four C’s” hospitality policy: cleanliness, cooking, competence, and courtesy. He even made the bellhops memorize each guest’s name. It’s giving Carl Sobocinski.
  • 1975 | The hotel closed its doors in 1975.
GVLtoday Westin p;

Did you dine in this dining room? | Photo by Asheville Post Card Co. via Wikimedia Commons

Asheville Post Card Co.

  • 1977| The building was acquired by a developer who turned it into a retirement home. In 1987, it once again closed its doors due to a foreclosure and a failure to pass fire code inspections.
  • 1997 | Steve Dopp and Greg Lenox purchased + renovated the vacant building. Dopp reached out to Mayor Knox White, who said it was a “miracle” that he could potentially buy the hotel.
GVLtoday The Westin Poinsett

During the filming of the movie “Leatherheads,” a set was built in front of the hotel. | Photo via newspapers.com

The rest, as they say, is history.

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