Ed Ballard would be 150 years old today. Seems appropriate to mark the occasion, because this was a man who lived enough adventure for a few lifetimes.
Charles Edward “Ed” Ballard was born on June 28, 1874 and his legacy is immeasurable because, in large part, we have him to thank for the fact West Baden Springs Hotel still exists. Celebrating Ed’s 150th birthday with 15 fast facts about this larger-than-life character, hotel owner and business mogul:
- He attended school only through 4th grade.
Born a few miles west of French Lick and West Baden, Ed reportedly left school to become a pin setter at the bowling alley at West Baden Springs Hotel. He also helped deliver laundry his mother washed for guests of the hotel and was soon delivering mail on horseback.
- While still a young man, he owned the Dead Rat Saloon.
This was directly across the street from the entrance to West Baden Springs Hotel, and guests frequented the saloon as the hotel did not serve alcohol. The Dead Rat also helped Ballard establish a large clientele of gamblers to raise capital. Soon, Ballard expanded into purchasing real estate and creating new businesses.
- Ballard went to work for Lee Sinclair, who owned West Baden Springs Hotel.
Ballard’s drive and ambition caught Sinclair’s eye. In 1896 Sinclair invited him to manage the West Baden Casino (known as the Pasttime Pavilion) for him. It provided billiards, bowling, pool, shuffleboard and other diversions for hotel guests. Ballard did this while keeping his other enterprises rolling. Ed had a flair for the gaming profession, and the clubs and casinos he oversaw began thriving.
The former Brown Hotel in French Lick.
- He became a millionaire before age 30.
After Sinclair’s hotel burned in 1901, the owner of French Lick Springs Hotel came calling. Ed, just 26 years old, was asked by Tom Taggart to oversee the various gambling connections he had a hand in. Ballard took the job, which included running The Brown Hotel: the largest gambling enterprise in Springs Valley. Within three years, Ballard owned The Brown and the most real estate and land in the area. His millionaire status would be worth more than $35,000,000 by today’s standards.
Ballard's Beechwood Mansion still stands today, tucked into the trees along the highway through town.
- He built his Beechwood Mansion in 1914.
Ever wondered about that 2½-story mansion along the highway between French Lick Springs Hotel and West Baden Springs Hotel? That was Ballard’s.
Ed, his new bride Ada “Dolly” Ballard and newborn son Chad moved from a suite at The Brown into this palatial 21-room Georgian brick showplace. It was situated prominently in the middle of the community as Ballard was setting up to expand his empire and become the richest and most powerful man in the area.
- Next conquest: the circus.
Ballard began branching out beyond his gambling emporiums and delighted in taking on a circus and bringing it back to his hometown. By 1915 he was principal owner of the Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus, becoming the new P.T. Barnum of America — based in tiny French Lick and West Baden. In addition to Hagenbeck-Wallace, he purchased every major circus in the United States outside of Ringling Brothers. Within a few years, Hagenbeck-Wallace grew into the largest circus in the world.
- Ballard’s circus was big locally, too.
One of the biggest events in the community's history was when Ballard’s circus came to town. The circus also made its winter quarters here into the early 1930s as many circus buildings covered the land Ballard had purchased near Beechwood. Local residents could watch the circus performers and animals practicing their acts. Circus animals were put to work at the hotels during the winter — such as an elephant that helped move a steam shovel on the golf course. Performing animals also wowed guests during the famous 1918 Christmas circus performance in the atrium.
- In 1923, Ballard assumed ownership of West Baden Springs Hotel.
Lee Sinclair died in 1916, and with his family overextended financially after significant renovations from 1912-22, daughter Lillian Sinclair sat down with Ballard and began negotiations on what to do with the hotel. At first, Lillian hoped she could share ownership with Ballard. But the Sinclairs were deep in debt since Ballard had loaned Lillian and her husband $500,000 to make her grand renovations. Realizing she couldn’t pay Ed back, Lillian sold the hotel to him for $1 million.
- Ballard hired a strong team — mainly from other hotels he owned across the country — to help run West Baden Springs Hotel.
Ed shifted the focus of the hotel to convention business and spectacular entertainment. With booming conventions, circus acts and big-name orchestras spanning the atrium, Ed was able to attract the rich and famous to his hotel. By 1929 his circus, hotel and gambling businesses had made him one of the wealthiest men in the country.
Ed with children Mary and Chad on the hotel veranda.
- Big hotels were a big family business
Ballard’s younger brother, J. Logan Ballard, owned and operated Michigan’s famous Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island from 1918-32. Ed Ballard also owned Chicago’s Congress Hotel for a time, and he also owned the Colonial Hotel and Round Top Inn which were smaller boarding houses in West Baden.
- Ballard also extended an important public service at his hotel
Another of Ballard’s changes was on the sixth floor of the hotel. He set up a well-equipped hospital in the outer rooms and had the spa and its mineral baths moved to the inner rooms. Soon, patients came from all around the area to his hospital — and if they had no money to pay for their services, there was no charge.
Ed's wife, Ada "Dolly" Ballard and their children.
- Black Tuesday halted everything
October 24, 1929. The stock market crash that day didn’t devastate Ballard financially, but it effectively signaled the end of the roaring 20s for Ballard’s lively hotel. Convention business kept the hotel going for a while, but the hotel was never able to recover. West Baden Springs Hotel finally closed its doors in early July 1932.
- Ballard sold his hotel for $1
Not a typo. One dollar. After years of trying to sell his hotel— once valued at $3 million — Ballard finally gifted it for a $1 (to make the transfer legal) to the Society of Jesus in 1934. Initially, Ballard’s decision wasn’t a popular decision with local townspeople. They had hoped he could somehow keep the hotel open or utilize it in a way that would generate employment opportunities — rather than the private Jesuit seminary it became for the next 30 years.
Ballard's simple gravestone at Ames Chapel Cemetery, just a few miles from West Baden.
Just two years after selling West Baden Springs Hotel, Ballard’s eventful life came to a shocking end in Hot Springs, Arkansas. “Silver Bob” Alexander shot Ballard to death in a room at the Arlington Hotel during a dispute about a gambling club both had been involved in; Ballard had sold the club and Alexander thought he was owed a cut of the sale.
Ballard’s death made national news, with the Chicago Tribune featuring a headline “Gambling King Slain.” Hundreds attended Ballard’s funeral conducted in the atrium of his former hotel at West Baden.
- Ballard may be responsible for West Baden Springs Hotel still existing today
His gift of the hotel to the Jesuits likely allowed it to survive to see a rebirth. Without the caring ownership of the Jesuits and later Northwood Institute for a period of almost 50 years, the building would’ve likely fallen victim to disrepair or demolition. In the colorful life and times of Charles Edward Ballard, that moment may be the reason we’re still enjoying West Baden Springs Hotel nearly a century later.
