‘The leading hotel of Biloxi.’ The history of the White House Hotel begins in the 1800s

While most of the grand hotels of the early 1900s are no longer around, the White House Hotel in Biloxi is still standing strong and has quite a family history.

Its story begins back in the 1890s when Walter A. White purchased a beach-front plot of land in Biloxi that once housed the Gorenflo Oyster Co.

Walter would use thousands of oyster shells to fill in the swamps covering the land and would build a small hill on the property that would house his new dwelling. He also planted seven oak trees, which still shade the White House Hotel’s exterior to this day.

Walter finished construction of his victorian-era home around 1895, then began devoting most of his time to establishing his own law office. His wife, Cora White, would ultimately play a pivotal role in the hotel’s origin.

Cora was left to take care of the home, especially as it became a refuge for relatives and friends visiting the Mississippi Coast over the summers.

After several years of this, Cora grew increasingly annoyed by the constant cooking, cleaning and entertainment she was expected to provide for their familial guests. One spring, she decided to type up a price sheet for services and mailed it to their relatives living out of state, also asking that they make future reservations well in advance.

According to Walter and Cora’s great-granddaughter, Bettie Allen Fore, half of the relatives who usually stayed during the summer did not bother to reply or visit that year. With such a relief, Cora decided to establish her own boarding home for guests to stay throughout the entire year.

While Walter focused on his law practice and later became a Circuit Court judge, Cora began housing and caring for visitors to their home, which constituted mostly schoolteachers initially.

By 1904, the allure of Mississippi’s pristine beaches was drawing more visitors to the Coast and provided Cora’s Boarding House with steady clientele. By 1910, its reputation had grown rapidly and it was marked as “the leading hotel of Biloxi.”

Some famous individuals also stayed at the hotel during this time, including Theodore Roosevelt and, allegedly, Al Capone.

The property itself expanded as well, with the Whites acquiring several neighboring plots and homes. Two of these new additions were joined together and became the grand front lobby and dining room, complete with a generous front porch adorned with classical pillars and a second-floor balcony.

The Daily Herald newspaper reported in July 1915 that “an orchestra of talented musicians from New Orleans has been secured for the White House.” Going forward, Cora ensured that at least three musical performances were scheduled each night.

By the 1920s, Cora’s Boarding House was no longer a modest Victorian home, but had evolved into an elegant establishment attracting visitors from across the country. This earned it the reputation as the Gulf Coast’s crown jewel.

The commitment to quality was evident in every aspect of its operation, from fresh-cut flowers in the dining room, fresh poultry and eggs gathered from home-raised chickens, to the milk sourced from Jersey cows, all gathered from the backyard.

Their sons, Walter and John, also would help with the family business, eventually overseeing the construction of the white stucco structure that stands today. Although many assume that its name is inspired by the exterior color, or as an homage to the presidential residence in DC, the hotel came to be known as White House Hotel in honor of its original founders.

During this time, Walter also visited the General Electric plant in Lynn, Massachusetts, which inspired him to create his own color fountain in front of their Biloxi business. This fountain, which is now owned by the city of Biloxi, features cascading sprays of water illuminated by colored lights, captivating guests and passersby alike.

According to Tessy Lambert, the chief marketing officer for Lodging and Leisure Investments, there are plans in the works for the hotel to reacquire the fountain.

Famed architect George B. Rogers oversaw the addition of two Spanish colonial annexes in the late 1920s, which today form the Center and East Wings of the property.

Love ownership

Cora White passed away in 1934, and the hotel changed ownership to Jimmy Love, Jr. soon after. Under his lead, the hotel underwent several renovations and gained a swimming pool.

However, as the decades passed, the hotel continuously changed hands, losing its charm with each sale. At one point in the early 80s, a small, yet vulgar bar called Amelia’s became the center of frustration for the local community until the entire building was finally boarded up in 1988.

James S. Love III, the heir to Jimmy Love, purchased the hotel in 1989 with the intention of restoring it to its former glory, but several issues, including 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, halted the funding.

Over the years, the hotel suffered wear from the elements and plans were formulated to have the historic structure demolished.

Fortunately, the property was sold to Lodging and Leisure Investments in 2013 and extensive renovations culminated in the hotel being reopened in August 2014. The worn and damaged structure was repaired and its furniture was replaced, while the hotel gained another addition, Cora’s Restaurant and Bar, which is named in honor of the hotel’s original founder.

“Everybody that has touched that building has loved it as much as Cora and Walter White did,” said Lambert. “I think it is evident with how long it has stood the test of time.”

Today, the White House Hotel stands as a unique and fascinating blend between Coastal Mississippi history and charming modernization and restoration inspired by Walter and Cora’s original vision.