The Chicago Great Western Railway reached Oelwein in 1887, and beginning in 1893 they started to expand their operations in the city.

Because they moved their shops here, Oelwein experienced a building boom, including this hotel.

[2] St. Paul businessman Michael Mealey, whose son James was a local merchant, was responsible for organizing the hotel.

The Chicago architectural firm of Marvel & DeMoney designed the building, and Thomas Fitzpatrick of St. Paul was the contractor.

This article about a property in Fayette County, Iowa on the National Register of Historic Places is a stub.