Historic Bentley Website Open for Business
Although the Hotel Bentley may still be closed, it certainly isn’t far from the minds of many local preservationists and historians, including Dale Genius, executive director of the Louisiana History Museum in Downtown Alexandria.
The website contains some incredible photographs and postcards, as well as a detailed history of the hotel and its role in Alexandria civic life.
Unfortunately, there are those who have branded Joe Bentley as the “Paul Bunyan” of the south, and the man who built his hotel because another, lesser hotel, refused him when he applied for service. This type of aggrandizement detracts from a creditable legend. While local tradition puts some faith in the second claim, where he was probably looking too much like Paul Bunyon, the first is based primarily on someone’s fantasy. Further, to say that Joseph Bentley and E.W. Zimmermann introduced Rapides Parish to the lumber industry is a gross misstatement, but their place in the history of the local lumber industry is well established.
Pictured below, Joseph A. Bentley.
Isn’t there anything that can be done to have Bob Dean return the stained glass windows? They belong in the Mirror Room….no where else.
Cathy, from what I understand, the stained glass is currently in storage and will be returned to the hotel once it is reopened.