The above image depicts a group crowded into the entrance of the Idelman Building avoiding a passing rain and flooded street. To the east in the distant through the rain may be seen the Burlington Station. Toward the viewer On the southeast corner of 16th and Capitol is the Normandie Hotel (formerly the Phoenix Block now the Wrangler Building). In the center of the block is the Atlas Building. The shadow of the Tivoli Saloon may be seen on the lower right-hand side of the image. In the one city block bounded by Capitol Ave., 16th Street, and 15th Street shortly after the beginning of the Twentieth Century were the leading hotels of Cheyenne. In addition to the Interocean hotel, Other leading hotels included the Metopolitan on the southwest corner of 15th and Carey, the Hotel Becker originally situated at 1506-1510 Capitol Avenue operated by Henry Becker which after being jacked-up and physically moved southward became the Albany. Charles Becker in 1910 constructed a replacement on 15th Street one-half block west of the railroad depot.

The Burlington arrived in Cheyenne from Colorado by way of Carpenter in 1887. To provide a station the Burlington purchased the Emporium. Thus, the above photo would date to prior to 1888.

The Phoenix Block originally housed commercial stores on the ground floor, offices and rental units on the upper floors. It, as discussed further below, became the Normandie Hotel.

Gradually the rental units were converted into hotel rooms so that by 1889 the hotel advertised that it could host 150 guest at $2.00 and $2.50 per day, competitive to the Inter-Ocean which advertised rates of $2.00, $2.50, and $3.00 per day. The Hotel was conveniently located, only one-half block from the Union Pacific Depot and immediately across the street from the Burlington station. With plumbing in each room, the hotel was regarded as "upscale" By 1911, the Normandie, the Becker on 15th Street, the Metropolitan on Ferguson south of the Tivoli, and the Albany south of the Normandie were popular with visitors to the city. Ranchman Mark M. Coad (1831-1911) was a regular guest of the hotel. Code was one of the pioneers in Western Nebraska. His ranch formed the basis for the giant Bay State Cattle Co. After selling to Bay State, he created a new ranch in Fremont County Nebraska which was famous for its Percherons and coach horses. In Wyoming, he formed a 12,000 acre ranch near Horse Creek. On January 4, 1911, Coad returned from a business trip to Denver. For several days previously, a swarthy a small sheepherder from Coad's ranch at Little Horse Creek had been inquiring for Coad. The sheepherder, Francisco S. Garrido, had previously been a Roman Catholic divinity student in Spain. and apparently been discharged by Coad's foreman. As Coad was sitting at the writing desk in the hotel lobby, Garrido appeared and apparently demanded his pay. Words were exchanged. Four shots were fired. Coad staggered to the cigar counter and fell to the floor dead. Garrido fled into the railyards south of the depot, firing shots at anyone he saw. About an hour later, he was captured by city police and sheriff's possemen in a cattle pen in South Chyenne. he was sent to the State Penitentiary where he committed suicide.