Beyond the architectural splendor, interiors, appointments and room comfort, the heart of a hotel must surely be the people who create, staff, and visit from inception to closing. It is their memories that live on after the hotel is gone. We can just imagine the collective sigh across the city of Rocky Mount on Sunday morning, November 24, 1963, when the headline in The Rocky Mount Telegram, read…Ricks Hotel to Close Today After 54 Years. An obituary would read….The Ricks Hotel, Rocky Mount NC, born 1909, died 1963. Cause of death, end of useful years. This thought appeared in a news clipping from the Telegram on Wed., Dec. 4, 1963. I loved the clipping’s description of the hotels contribution to society. “A grand lodging for travelers for many years, home of some citizens, home of civic clubs, site of banquets, dances and other festive occasions, landmark for Rocky Mount and Eastern Carolina, meeting place for conventions and site of many events, which have given wonderful memories to those who knew it.”
The original structure of stone and pressed brick cost $135,000. Success prompted a second phase built in 1915 at a cost of $40,000. The Ricks was located opposite the Atlanta Coast Line Passenger Station on the corner of S. Main & Hammond streets. The additional plans were drawn by John Stout, Rocky Mount’s foremost architect who deserves a blog post of his own. For now, know that he is credited with the superb architecture of residences of J.C. Braswell, D.D. Cuthrell, F.S. Spruill, Capt. J.D. Bullock, Jr. and Isaac Levy. He also drew the plans for the First National Bank Building, the Phillips Building, the Epstein Building. Does anyone remember the old ballroom on the 4th floor, the scene for parties like the Carolina Cotillion Club’s Christmas dances?
A quick tribute to Robert Henry Ricks (1839-1920) He became a director (1889) and then president (1899) of the Rocky Mount Mills, the second oldest cotton mill in the state. In 1894 he was named director and vice-president of the Bank of Rocky Mount and in 1902, vice-president of the Washington Cotton Mills in Virginia. In Rocky Mount he established the Ricks Hotel firm and the Thorpe and Ricks Tobacco Company and was involved in many other smaller business enterprises.
I hope those of you with memories of The Ricks Hotel will leave them below in the REPLY section to further enhance this post. Thank You!
Main Street Rocky Mount 
My Maternal grandparents celebrated their 50 th Golden Anniversary there in the grand ballroom at the Ricks Hotel! I was about 8 years old at the time and I remember how excited I was to wear my first formal long evening dress! We have a large family and all our relatives and guests were in formal attire! I believe ice sherbet was served as dessert in the shape of a golden high heel shoe! What a wonderful , gala celebration this was… As a child then, it was one of my most wonderful memories!!
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The hotel also had a Western Union Office. As a young child, I suspected that my father, Randolph Moore, a railroad engineer, was complicit in the telegrams I received from that office. The Easter Bunny wired that he would be delivering me candies, and Santa Claus telegrammed that he would be bringing me presents. I was pleased that the two were anticipating giving me goodies but confused if they had sent the telegrams or if they were from Daddy.
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What a fun think for a Dad to do, sending his daughter telegrams from two important figures in a child’s life. Thanks for sharing this story.
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Very interesting. I love your passion and knowledge about Rocky Mount. Thanks for sharing.
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Thank you, Deb. An endlessly fascinating subject to research and write about.
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I have certainly enjoyed these articles about the Ricks Hotel, thank you!
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Close your eyes, pretend….meet me in the lobby at 4:00 this afternoon and we will wander the public rooms. Maybe others will show up and tell us their stories of The Ricks Hotel. Would love to know more, wouldn’t you. Thanks Craig for leaving a comment. Delighted you enjoyed the two posts.
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there was also a barber shop & shoe shine in the basement on the right side of the picture, haircuts were .50 cents for a trim, there was also a hotel down the block from the ricks.
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