Maxwell House Hotel and Noelle Hotel

The Maxwell House Hotel site and the Noelle Hotel were common destinations for businessmen and politicians of the city at the turn of the twentieth century. These establishments were part of the historic Men’s Quarter, which ran the entire block along Fourth Avenue North. Businesses in the Men’s Quarter catered to professional men as it was near the state capitol and banking district, but the area also included less virtuous enterprises. Both the Maxwell House (yes, like the coffee!) and the Noelle Hotel were near the city’s horse racing track and were part of the saloon and gambling scene. Such activities marked Fourth Avenue as off-limits for “respectable” women, causing the Maxwell House to create a separate entrance for its women on Church Street.

Prohibition took a toll on the historic Men’s Quarter. With the repeal of the Eighteenth Amendment in 1933, the area roared back to life. By the end of World War II, both the Maxwell House and the Noelle Hotel were known as prime places to party. Moreover, an investigation by the American Social Hygiene Association in 1945 found the Maxwell House to be a popular rendezvous for pickups and soldiers. If a soldier or army officer was in need of “female attention,” bell boys were happy to procure a suitable date for a reasonable price. The Noelle was found to have similar “accommodations.” 

Continue north on Fourth Avenue North for half a block before reaching your next stop. On your right is the site of the former Climax Saloon.