From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Dec. 22, 1986:

Local developer Rob Phillips had a New Year’s resolution to open the Eldridge House hotel on Dec. 31. “These projects can drag on forever if you don’t set some deadline,” he said. Plans for the Eldridge included 48 suites, a 200-seat banquet hall, an 89-seat restaurant, a 90-seat private club, conference rooms, and exercise facilities. Hotel manager Nancy Longhurst said that 12 suites on the fifth floor, the lobby, the restaurants, and possibly 12 more suites on the fourth floor would be open on New Year’s Eve. To meet this end, an average of 65 workers were to be working seven days a week, nearly 24 hours a day, over the next two weeks, with some working on Christmas Day.