Coronavirus Claims Famous Boston Hotel

BOSTON — The Kenmore Square hotel where a bookmaker conspired with Chicago White Sox players to throw the 1919 World Series is another local casualty of the new coronavirus pandemic.

The Hotel Buckminster, which was built in 1897, confirmed it canceled all reservations and will not reopen, even when the pandemic subsides. The hotel suspended operations March 20 and said in a Facebook post it was not planning to reopen.

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In addition to being the place where gambler Joseph "Sport" Sullivan hatched the idea for throwing the World Series with Chicago White Sox first baseman Arnold "Chick" Gandil, the 132-room hotel was a favorite of Babe Ruth, who had a room on the top floor that overlooked Fenway Park along the Brookline Avenue side.

Comedian Andy Kauffman lived there while attending the now-defunct Grahm Junior College, a two-year school, in the late 1960s. What is now WHDH started broadcasting as a radio station from the hotel's basement in 1929.

During World War II, the hotel was used by military police to hold Italian prisoners of war. A nightclub located in what is now a Pizzeria Uno hosted acts ranging from Charlie Parker to the Violent Femmes.

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Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).