Almira Hershey

Almira Hershey (Born 14th November 1843 Died 6th March 1930)
Almira was the fourth and youngest daughter of Benjamin Hershey (1813-1893) A Lumber and Farming Magnate. She never married and worked for her Father in the family Lumber business. Almira was left a substantial legacy by her Father when he passed away.
She moved to Los Angeles at the end of the 19th century and commissioned the building of European style mansion in the Bunker Hill district of Los Angeles. Bunker Hill was the prime residential district of that time.
Sometime around 1906 she took a horse & buggy ride to Hollywood visiting the Hotel Hollywood. She was so impressed with the new Hotel she decided to buy it. It turned out a great asset as the fledgling movie Industry was fast developing and the Hotel Hollywood became the temporary residence of almost all the top actors and movie moguls. So much so that Almira had the Hotel extended so that it took up the complete block on the north side of Hollywood Boulevard between Highland & Orchid Avenues. She added beautiful gardens to the frontage and inner courtyard. The Hotel became a favourite tourist attraction on the famous Balloon route trolley car service.
She went on to build two more Hotels; The Hershey Arms Hotel on Wilshire Boulevard which was the first Hotel built on this famous avenue. She also built a Hotel in the Naples area of Long Beach which was called the Naples Hotel. She sold this Hotel just before the great financial crash of 1929 and before any guest had entered its foyer.
She spent her twilight years at her beloved Hotel Hollywood with friends, sometimes in melancholy for the more genteel days of her early years at her Hotel-home.

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