Canal Zone Memories: Hotel Washington
Take a look at this picturesque photo taken in 1948 of Hotel Washington in Colón, Republic of Panama.
Do you have any memories associated with this hotel? Did you ever go there for events? Did you ever have friends or relatives who stayed there? Did you or someone you knew work there?
Make sure to join us for the 2018 Panama Canal Society Reunion in Orlando from June 27 – July 1, 2018, where there will be an exhibit about popular culture in the Panama Canal Zone on display. See more information and register here: https://www.pancanalsociety.org/reunion.html. We hope to see you there!
12 Comments
Clea Efthimiadis
Who could ever forget its saltwater pool!
ufpcmcollection
That sounds amazing! Thanks, Clea.
Waldo B Gilley
CHS class of 1959 had Jr Sr prom there. Swimming class in salt water pool in 7 & 8 grade, 1953-1954.
Margaret Leigh
In 1956 Sue Pncus Smith, Sally Morland Williams and Margaret Leigh celebrated their 18th birthday at the Washington hotel with all their classmates 4 months before graduation. Had a ball!
ufpcmcollection
Thank you for sharing!
Scott Boykin
We moved to the Zone in 1973 to be stationed at Fort Gulick. They didn’t have quarters for us when we first arrived, so we stayed at Hotel Washington for, I think, about four weeks. It was a blast for me as a kid exploring the place and looking out at the bay. I remember there was a casino too.
ufpcmcollection
Very cool! Thank you for sharing, Scott.
Mimi Stratford Collins
CJHS 8th grade graduation, 1957! Sister’s 2nd grade spelling bee, same year! Loved the Washington <3
ufpcmcollection
Thank you for contributing, Mimi.
allan hawkins v.
For your records.
Saludos, Allan.
2018-04-23 9:18 GMT-05:00 The Panama Canal Museum Collection at UF :
> ufpcmcollection posted: “Take a look at this picturesque photo taken in > 1948 of Hotel Washington in Colón, Republic of Panama. Do you have any > memories associated with this hotel? Did you ever go there for events? Did > you ever have friends or relatives who stayed there” >
Cody Staples
I used the pool a lot when I was in elementary school and I believe that my kindergarten class was given swimming lessons in 1942
Carol Meyer
In about 1974, the Medical Association of the Isthmian Canal Zone (MAICZ) had a monthly meeting at the Washington. We usually met in the Gorgas Hospital Cafeteria or later at one of the Officer’s Clubs on the Pacific side. For this meeting most of us had the Governor’s car attached to the train and so rode across the Isthmus in style for the meeting. Some of my friends wanted to walk from the train station to the hotel but I advised against it. The next morning before we left the hotel a sailor (not USA) in a white uniform came up to the entrance with his back pocket slashed and bleeding from a wound inflicted by the “pick pocket”, emphasizing the
wisdom of taking a cab.