The Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool. The Adelphi Hotel in Liverpool (See photo: #1) is arguably the most famous in the whole city, having played host to many dignitaries and starts of stage and screen. Guests at the hotel have included world leaders, such as Ulysses S Grant, Franklin D Roosevelt, and Sir Winston Churchill. Artists appearing at the nearby Empire Theatre have also used the hotel, including Frank Sinatra, Laurel and Hardy, Judy Garland, Roy Rogers, and even his horse Trigger. Although originally built in 1826, the Adelphi was replaced with the present building between 1911 and 1914 by The Railway Company. When opened, it was regarded as the most luxurious hotel outside London. Due to Liverpool being a major arrival and departure point for ocean going liners during the early 20th Century, the Adelphi served as the most popular hotel in the city for wealthy passengers before they embarked upon their journey to North America. The RMS Titanic was registered in Liverpool (though it never visited the port) and the Sefton Suite in the hotel, is an exact replica of the ill fated liners First Class Smoking Lounge. And yet, we of the 290 Foundation have another connection with this great hotel in that not one, but both daughters of James Dunwoody Bulloch, spent their final years living at the hotel, indeed their room is, as far as we understand, still there. James Bulloch had two Daughters, Jesse Hart born in New York around 1860, and Martha Louise, born in Waterloo Liverpool in 1863. Jesse Hart Bulloch married Maxwell Hyslop-Maxwell, and, upon his death in 1937. Jesse moved into the Adelphi Hotel with her sister Martha, who never married. (See photo: #2 of Maxwell and Jesse, taken in the 1890s). Jesse Hart Maxwell died at the hotel during World War II on 19 September, 1941 and Martha Louise Bulloch, (See photo: #3), also known by all as Lu, passed away on March 7, 1947, also at the Adelphi. The youngest Bulloch offspring was Stuart Elliot Bulloch who emigrated to Australia in 1897. Prior to Martha`s death in 1947, she was communicating with Stuarts son in Australia, Stuart himself having died in 1939. When the family in Australia first made contact, I was shown a letter written by Martha to her nephew James. In the letter, she spoke about post-war conditions in Liverpool. As I remember it, the letter was written in late 1945, or early 1946. Martha commented about how the people were struggling, and queuing up, ration books in hand to get some food, although she did say that they remained cheerful, despite the difficulties. She also mentioned the large number of bombed out buildings. (I can testify to this myself as, in the early 1950s when I was a very young boy, my Grandmother would take me to Liverpool to visit her husband in Hospital. The trip required a train ride and tow-journeys on buses. To this day I can still picture the devastation of bombed out houses, and factories, it is a sight that you never forget). The family in Australia was also able to supply a photo of Stuart Elliot Bulloch and his sister Martha. The quality is not great, but here it is anyway (See photo: #4). In November 2015 we, the 290 Foundation will hold our Final Salute Commemorative Dinner to celebrate the return of the CSS Shenandoah at the Adelphi Hotel adding another piece of history to a great Liverpool hotel. Roy Rawlinson Hon. Vice-President, 290 Foundation (BVI) Inc.
Posted on: Thu, 05 Jun 2014 22:07:01 +0000