HOWARD BOONE, ELEVATOR OPERATOR

This week we’d like to feature an Albion person who had an unusual occupation here. Howard Boone (1894-1973) was a long-time employee of the Parker Inn Hotel in Albion, from February 27, 1927, to February, 1970.

He was born in Naples, Ontario County, New York on September 1, 1894, the son of Frank F. and Eva (Boone) Harris. After 1900 his surname, as well as that of his sister Fannie (1888-1970) (later Mrs. Chester Carney of California) was changed to Boone due to family reasons. During World War I Howard served in France in the U.S. Army 77th Division Company I, 307th Infantry. Before and after the War, Howard worked for the Wismer Grape Products Company. Looking to the future, in August, 1926 he completed a 15-assignment course in Railway Mail Service from the Knights of Columbus Correspondence School. At the time he was living at the Canandaigua Hotel in Canandaigua, New York.

Perhaps the hotel life impressed Howard, for in early 1927 he made the decision to come to Albion, where he began his long career as bellhop and elevator operator at the Parker Inn Hotel. The Parker Inn had just opened the previous year in 1926. For 42 years Howard faithfully fulfilled his duties at this once-elegant "full service" hotel located at 301 E. Michigan Avenue in Albion on busy U.S.-12 between Detroit and Chicago. His profession certainly had its ups and downs. Howard lived in an apartment at the Hotel.

Howard was active in the Albion Post No. 3672 Veterans of Foreign Wars, and served in various positions in that organization, including vice-commander. He never married. He died here in Albion on January 15, 1973 at the age of 78, and was interred in Riverside Cemetery. His sister Fannie Carney had died just a few years earlier and was interred in San Bruno, California.

From our Historical Notebook this week we present a 1953 photo of Howard Boone by the Parker Inn elevator. How many of our readers remember Howard?

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