<Begin Segment 36>

DG: Now, what is this minimum code? What did that say?

TH: Well, minimum code, I think when they came in, had a minimum of floor space. Like the hotels, they had to have so many hundred square feet per occupant or something. And like one example was the Publix Hotel. I think their room was around 80 square feet and the code says 100 or something, 110. I don't know exactly, but we had to ask for a variance on that. And then they had one toilet and one bath for each ten rooms or ten occupants or something. Then a lot of hotels maybe had one bathroom, one toilet on a floor or two toilet maybe, and maybe it was one in fifteen or one in twelve had to ask (for) variance and that certain building they would approve without putting in another bath or toilet.

ET: Stairway had to be enclosed.

TH: Stairway had to be enclosed for fire safety and they had to have a outlet, electrical outlet, in each room besides your lighting. You could have a drop cord or anything lighting the room, but where you plug in things, it had to be a separate outlet. You couldn't take it off the same thing. A number of things.

DG: Now, we're talking about 1970?

TH: 1960s and '70s.

ET: Gee, I had a gas line so they could cook with gas, but they weren't too strict on that point.

TH: No, but it was the electrical outlets.

<End Segment 36> - Copyright © 1998 Densho. All Rights Reserved.