California Biographies, San Joaquin Valley

Transcribed by Peggy Hooper

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

Source:
History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin 
Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from 
its earliest settlement to the present time.
Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905
Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176


FRED DODD. As owner and manager of the Hughes Hotel at Fresno, Mr. Dodd has become known not 
only as the youngest hotel man in the state, but as one of the most successful. This popular 
establishment is the largest hotel in the San Joaquin valley, and no town in the state can boast of a 
hostelry that is more modern or better equipped. A native of England, Mr. Dodd was born in 
Manchester, a son of Frederick Dodd, who was also a native of the same city. 

Fred Dodd was reared in the town of Manchester, where he remained until 1892. That year he went 
to South Africa, locating at Johannesburg, where he was living at the time of the Metabele uprising. 
After spending two years in that country he came to California, arriving here in 1894. Going at once to 
Fresno, he became identified with its business interests, and in 1897 purchased the Hughes Hotel 
property, taking possession on his twenty-third birthday, at the time being the youngest hotel man in 
the state. Since becoming the owner of this well known hotel Mr. Dodd has spent $50,000 in 
remodeling and refitting it ; $30,000 of this amount was spent in 1904. In addition to being the largest 
hotel in the valley, it is also one of the largest buildings in the city of Fresno. Nearly two hundred 
sleeping rooms are furnished with all modern improvements, thirty having private baths, while all are 
equipped with a private telephone. Every comfort possible has been installed by Mr. Dodd, the entire 
building being lighted by electricity, while the sanitary arrangements are the best that money can 
procure. As an addition to the hotel and for the accommodation of the general public, this progressive 
business man started an up-to-date steam laundry, which was one of the first of the kind to be 
erected in the valley. He is also interested in several outside business ventures, including the 
manufacture of sand-lime brick, which is being put on the market by the Golden Gate Brick Company, 
of which he is a director and manager. 

Mrs. Dodd, formerly Miss Irene Hawkins, is a native daughter of the Golden state. Active in his own 
affairs, Mr. Dodd also takes a deep interest in matters pertaining to the general welfare of the city, 
being one of the progressive members of the Chamber of Commerce. In fraternal relations he is 
associated with the Elks. The progressive spirit shown by Mr. Dodd in the past in connection with the 
hotel business in Fresno is fully appreciated by the traveling public and the business men of the valley, 
who realize that they may always depend on him to keep abreast of the growing commercial or tourist 
trade that must in the near future pass through Fresno, the gateway of Nature's wonderland, the 
Yosemite valley, as well as Kings river canyon. 

Plans are already formulated to build a two-story addition to the Hughes Hotel, and equipping it in 
every way for a tourist hotel to give every comfort to the most exacting tastes of the traveling public.