Albert Bilicke
Albert Clay Bilicke | |
|---|---|
| Born | Error: Invalid birth date for calculating age Coos Bay, Oregon, U.S. |
| Died | May 7, 1915 (aged 53) |
| Occupation(s) | Entrepreneur, hotel developer |
| Known for | Hotel Alexandria, Cosmopolitan Hotel (Tombstone), Bilicke-Rowan Fireproof Building Company |
Albert Clay Bilicke (June 22, 1861 – May 7, 1915) was a prominent millionaire entrepreneur and hotel developer based in Los Angeles. Alongside his father, he managed the Cosmopolitan Hotel located in Tombstone, Arizona, which succumbed to a devastating fire in 1882. After this event, Bilicke moved to California where he constructed the Hotel Alexandria in 1906 and held the position of president at the Alexandria Hotel Company. In collaboration with Robert Rowan, he established the Bilicke-Rowan Fireproof Building Company, a construction enterprise responsible for erecting the Alexandria Hotel among other ventures. Bilicke was believed to have perished by drowning when the Lusitania was torpedoed near Ireland; his spouse Gladys survived the tragedy.
Originally from Coos Bay, Oregon, Bilicke was born to parents who had emigrated from Germany. His father was proprietor of the Cosmopolitan Hotel in Tombstone. Bilicke had connections with Wyatt Earp and provided testimony during Earp’s trial related to the shooting at the O.K. Corral. Following the destruction of the Cosmopolitan Hotel by fire in 1882, Bilicke initially intended to rebuild but ultimately chose to relocate westward.
In 1893, Bilicke took ownership of the Hollenbeck Hotel in Los Angeles. His business alliance with Robert Rowan resulted in notable development projects, including the Alexandria Hotel. The Rowan Building in Los Angeles bears the name of his business partner.