Oil was booming and the city needed a hotel. A hotel committee was formed and capital was secured. All four banks of the city were on board with the project as well as H.J. Goetzke, Harry Ekdahl, C.L. Freeland, A.A. Rollestone and E.H. Rollestone - each of these interests sharing equally in the financing of the building.
Opening day was Oct. 25, 1923 with a banquet, program and a dance. Dignitaries from all over the state attended.
The 3-story fireproof hotel had 75 rooms on the upper floors with space for businesses and offices on the ground floor. It boasted a coffee shop, dining room, banquet hall, ballroom, barber shop and cigar stand.
Through the years it housed the Chamber of Commerce, Petroleum Club, The Record newspaper, photography studios, grocery store, pharmacy, insurance, land and oil companies, dance studios, beauty shops and many others. The Rotary, Jaycees, Lions, Elks, B&PW, Boy Scouts and numerous other groups held meetings there. Governors, congressmen, movie stars and sports stars as well as businessmen and Route 66 travelers all graced the Roland.
The Roland was a social center for years and with the advent of the radio station KFRU and subsequently KVOO was the scene of many noted civic and social events.
Today, the Roland building still houses many businesses and apartments.