Mary Willis Cantrell recalls: The first time I ever went inside the Colquitt Hotel was the Annual Staff banquet in 1953 or 54. The splendor of the lobby, that high ceiling and all the marble and brass… it looked like the inside of an MGM movie set! In the early 2000s, a mixed-use renovation of this structure was done, which compromised some of the interior architectural details but allowed the landmark to remain vital to the downtown historic district. It was renamed the Colquitt Tower at that time.
I’ve been unable to confirm the identity of the architect, but the building originally feature a recessed balcony and a Victorian-style turret at the left front. In photos I’ve seen, it seemed very out of place.
Moultrie Commercial Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
The first time I ever went inside the Colquitt Hotel was the Annual Staff banquet in 1953 or 54. The splendor of the lobby, that high ceiling and all the marble and brass… it looked like the inside of an MGM movie set! I also remember the menu — a roasted half chicken on each plate. I had no idea how to go about eating such an impressive offering — but I found out quickly that a knife and fork can be a real challenge. Darned thing skittered across the table and hit somebody else’s plate! He graciously returned it to me.