Category:Waidelich Building, Allentown, Pennsylvania

The Waidelich Building, 627-629 Hamilton Street is named after Jacob B. Waidelich, a native of Lynnport, Lynn Township, who had operated a pharmacy, the American Medicine Company at 643 Hamilton Street, a few doors west next to the Hotel Allen on Center Square. Waidlich was better known at the time as a major figure in the Lehigh County Democratic Party. From 1901 to 1904 he was Lehigh county sheriff.

The structure was built during 1925-1926 as a multi-function office building, replacing an 1870s structure known as the "Peters and Jacoby Building> When opened it was initially called the "Stag Hotel" building. The hotel was initially a men's-only hotel on the upper floors of the building. It also had various offices on the lower floors facing Church Street, and the main floor as a retail store. The first tenant as the American Medicine Company, owned by Jacob Waidelich.

Waidelich died on March 13th, 1927 and his ventures were taken over by his sons Harold, and Frederick. The American Medical Company went out of business during the Great Depression in 1932 along with the Stag Hotel. The hotel was sold to Gilbert Miller and Gilbert Shirk, who owned the Home Restaurant just south of Center Square on 7th Street. They renamed it the Hamilton Hotel in September 1932 and the hotel was opened to women. In addition, a restaurant, The Subway Grille, was also added in the basement. The building was subsequently renamed as the Waidelich Building.

The main floor remained a pharmacy/drug/sundries store, primarily being the Sun-Ray Drug Store until the chain went out of business in 1957. It then became the Emil E Otto women's store, selling fine women's clothing until 1996 when Otto retired.

Over the years the hotel fell into disrepair and was taken over by the Allentown Housing Authority in 1982. Today known as the Hamilton Street Apartments, offering low-income apartments for senior citizens. The main floor is used by a commercial buisness.