The History of the Yakima Valley, Washington, Comprising Yakima, Kittitas and
Benton Counties, The S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1919, Volume II, page 396

JOHN J. KOWALSKY.

One of the hospitable and really accommodating hostelries of Benton county is
the Palace Hotel of Prosser, which has gained its reputation largely under the
able management of its present lessee, John J. Kowalsky. It is a favorite
stopping place for all those who come to the city or pass through here and many
make it a point to enjoy its homelike comforts even if only for a few hours. It
is thoroughly modern in all respects and provides everything for the convenience
of guests that may be expected of a good hotel in a small town. The building was
erected in 1909 by George Finn, who in 1916 sold out to the Prosser Investment
Company. In 1914 the hotel was leased by John J. Kowalsky, who has since
remained its able manager and who in 1917 also leased the Kemp building. The
hotel now has sixty rooms, all modernly furnished and fitted with up-to-date
conveniences for the guests. In connection with the hotel he conducts a first
class cafe, which enjoys quite a reputation for its high class cuisine. While
offering his guests the best food obtainable, Mr. Kowalsky has succeeded in
keeping down the prices within a reasonable limit, contenting himself with a
moderate profit, and thereby his dining establishment has gained a large
patronage.

Mr. Kowalsky is a Wisconsin man, having been born in Milwaukee in 1879, and is a
son of John Frank and Mary Kowalsky, who were among the pioneers of Milwaukee.
The father, who was engaged in a private banking business, has now passed away,
but the mother still survives. Mr. Kowalsky of this review received his
education in the public schools of his native city and subsequently was
connected with the jewelry business. Later he studied medicine for a time and
then decided upon a trip to Australia but while on the way to the Antipodes
stopped off in Washington. Being very favorably impressed with the
opportunities offered in this new state, he remained in Seattle for three years
and then went to Alaska, where he spent one year. He has traveled all over the
western coast and also over Montana and Wyoming and has done much work along the
line of advertising western lands in the east. Upon coming to Prosser he leased
the Palace Hotel and has been here ever since. Under his able management the
hotel has become widely known and it now furnishes him a gratifying source of
income. He is a man of pronounced business ability and well understands the
wants of the public, having acquired broad experience owing to his wide
travels, and makes an ideal host to all who partake of his hospitality.

On the 2d of July, 1915, Mr. Kowalsky was united in marriage to Miss Bertha
Cutting and they have a daughter, Margaret Mary. He is a member of Yakima Lodge,
No. 318, B. P. O. E., and also belongs to the Seattle Chamber of Commerce and
the United Commercial Travelers. He has always taken a most active part in the
growth and development of the city which is now his residence and in many ways
has given positive evidence of his interest. He laid out the high school park
for Prosser and was among the most ardent of those who promoted the movement for
its establishment. Mr. Kowalsky has some highly improved land near Prosser and
also owns an attractive garden in the city. In his political affiliations he is
a republican.

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Submitted to the Washington Bios Project in December 2007 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the subject of this article.