The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1878-11-21
TIE NER AMERICAN HOUSE.

building, and since that time the present hand
some structure has been completed. The ofhce
and dining room are the most cheerful and ele-
CANT rooms OF the kind In Northern Ohio With
a full and unObstIueted southern view, that great
est and cheapest OF luxuTieE, sunshine, 30 seldom
found inhomes and more seldom found Ia ho'
tells will food the rooms at the American. The
finishing is walnut magnificent, plain and rich.
The carpets are all Brussels Of elegant pattern,
and the CRATES and fire places are unsurpassed In
beauty In the many private mansions In Canton.
Everything shows the superb taste OF the ener'
getic proprietor and host. AS 10 the menage, that
Of the old American left nothing TO be desired,
and an improvement could hardly be suggested.
Last night the light gymnastlc toe tried the new
floors in an attempt to shake down the grand sup
per that was served between eightand ten o'clock.
1t gives dietist dreadful pain TO think Of the
awful consumption which took place at the
American House last night
We have said nothing about the success OF the
house-that was assured before Mr., Hipp ever
thought Of building it, He always had full
house, and even during the past summer, when
cramped for room and able TO pay but little
attention to his guests every room at his scommand
was occupied. Napoleon's wise remark that "the
nearest way to mans heart is through his stom'
ach," explains It. Only the addition sneed TO be
made that the shortest way to his heart is also the
shortest way to his purse
We append history OF the stand as furnished
by DR.. Susser
For more than half a century the site Of the
New American Hotel has been occupied and used
for hotel PURPOSES longer period in the same
continuous business than has any other house or
lot In Canton.
The first building upon the .lot--a' two-story
frame, IA part Of which was moved to the rear
and is still occgpied) was erected in 1923, by Jo'
seph Musser, a wheelwright. He occupied the
building year or two as a shop and residence
and then sold out to Jacob BuGher. Bucher made
some additions and rented II ito Aberham Hahn
for tavern stand. Hahn retained possession
year or two, removed to Bucyrus, and Andrew
Hantz became proprietor. 1t was then, the
Sign Of the Bell. Hantz made more out Of the 10.
cal patronage Of the Bar than of the travelling
public. It must be understood that at that day
Saloons were unknown, and that taverns were Ii
censed by the Court to sell intoxicating drinks.
The Bar was made an attractive feature; whisky
two cents drink, cigars four for a cent
In $780, George Augustine was the landlord. He
kept the house several years. He was followed by
several different persons Kittlewell and Gibbons
neither of whom retained the house long, 1t was
about this time that the sign Of the house was
changed from the Bell' to the Bulls Head. There
were at that time four taverns on East Tuscarawas
street within three squares, "The Rising SUM-"
Bulls Head" "Cross Keys" and Travellers
Rest" s. X. Slanker was proprietor Of the house
between '35 and 49, and 1t was during his admin
istration that 1t was named the American House,
Slanker wassomething of character and amo Dg
his intimate acquaintances went by the name Of
"Absalom Salts" which he obtained from habit
he had of always recommending EPSON Salts as a
sovereign remedy for all ailments, and persisted
in calling In AbsdlOm instead of EPSON Salts
John Black was proprietor of the house for a
number of years. He had some peeuliarities no.
tceable by all his acquaintances-that Of giving
his nose a twist and scratching himself before he
could reply 10 a question. He was popular
landlord. Joseph Helm ran the house short
season and sold out to Miller, known in Canton at
that time as the "Duke of York"
After him came Samuel Slower. When Slower
left to take charge Of the Webb House in
MassillOn, John D. Snyder succeeded him. This
was along about 1886 stover returned in year
or two, purchased the property of Bucher
made some improvements, and again became
landlord. stOver continued proprietor several
years, then rented 1t to Mr.. Hipp After
ward Mr., Rothacker had 1t several years, and on
his taking charge of the Ogden House, Mr., Hipp
again became proprietor. Meanwhile Mr.. Hipp
became the owner, removed the old building, and
erected in its place the magnificent structure now
standing In Its place,
In the early history Of the house, before the day
of railway travel, hotel keeping was very differ
| emily conducted from what 1t is at the present
day. Then, the customers we're teamsters, foot
men, parties travelling horseback, in private car
rlages and by public stage. The bar.room was
the common sitting room. Teamsters carried
their own beds and slept on the bar.room floor (;
their teams standing In front of the house. Tray
elers occupied beds in common with strangers,
there being usually several beds fin room. Fire
in your room wsa a luxury unknown in those
days. In the morning you washed your face and
made your toilet at the pump, where there was q
stand with tin wash dish, and q towel hanging
on roller near by upon which all the guests
wiped. There were very little ceremony at the
table, Every dish prepared for you to eat was
placed before you, and you were expected to pitch
in and help yourself Napkins, bills Of fare, sill.
ver-tined forks and that kind Of paraphernalia,
were not then in vogue The discovery Of gold
in California and oil in Pennsylvania have pro-
duced these modern inventions.
But, 1t may be truthfully said that hotel accom-
modatlons only keep pace with other improve
menB. Compare the style Of living In private
families to what 1t was fifty years agoI
You can have at the New American House q
warm, comfortable room, nicely carpeted lux
urous bed, dressing case with a mirror so large
that you can easily admire your whole person
marble top wash.stands, with hot or cold water at
your pleasure a warm bath, and cuisine that
should satisfy the most fastidious. Mr., Hipp has
always been very accommodating landlord, and
is now In a condition to give entire satisfaction to
all who call upon him. We bespeak for him a
liberal patronage, which he will doubtless re-
ceiVe.
/ Ssks-