Omaha daily bee., 1888-11-04
AN OLD LAND MARK CONE.
The Pacific Hotel With It's Forty
Years Of Local History.
CLOSING OF THE "~ RACES
Ed Rosewater Cuts His Record Down
Fatal Accident at the Dummy
Depot-serviccs IN the Churches
. . L.u ~.
The WOldN Pacific House.

The work OF tearing down the old Pacific
house has commenced, preparatory TO the
building upon the site of a large business
block to be occupied by Eiseman & Co., Of
the Peoples Store.
The old Pacific house. is one of the most
notable Of the ancient landmarks. II has
stood during the most remarkable period Of
this city's history. 1t has seen the BIRTH Of
Omaha, has seen its wonderful growth, has
been here during all the remarkable changes
in Council Bluffs, and lived long enough to
see the wedding of the two cities. The last
meals served were for this great celegration
the opening of Broadway bridge. Then 1t
seemed that the old pile Of brick was content
to say: "Now let thy servant depart in
peace"
up in 1853 by Samuel S. Bayliss. Mr.. Bay
liss was a remarkable man in many respects.
At that time he owned nearly all of what is
now the central portion Of the city. The
beautiful park which bears his
sss cit located will in ev ta' f ssas' its Gs
his memory fresh. He passed away fifteen
years ago. One daughter, Mrs. Parks, still
lives here. Another daughter lives in
Kansas and a son in California.
From &. h. Stone-'S1uire Stone, as he
Is Familiarity k~nown-learned something of
the early history of the Pacific house. Mr..
Stone arrived in Council Bluffs November
10, 1853. With his family he stopped at the
City hotel, IA log building occupying the site
of the present Ogden house. AT that time
the walls Of the old portion Of the Pacific
house were up, and the building about com
pleted. Mr.. Bayliss at that time had for his
residence II log cabin, on what is now
Scott street, and about where Bray's stables
are now. The business houses of the Bluffs,
log ones mainly, were on Upper Broadway,
in the vicinity of the present Methodist
church. The Pacific hotel was built almost
in a cornfield. Frank Guitar, who still
lives here, had a log store corner of Maine
and Broadway, where the express Office now
is. II was in one corner of q great corn
a,ld.
The Pacific house was practically the first
brick building erected here. While 1t was
being put up q small brick building was
built on Broadway. just west of the pres
ent government building. II was torn down
a year or SO ago to make room for the new
postofice. Another building-two stories
of brick, was put up by Colonel Rabbit. just
west Of where the Everett block now stands,
on Broadway. These buildings were started
about the time Of the Pacific house, but be-
ing smaller structures, were completed
sooner.
The Pacific house was opened about the
1st of January, 1854, but it was not fully pre-
pared in all respects. A little later n frame
addition was built on, containing a dining
room and kitchen. This was built of green
cottonwood. On the 22d of February, 1851,
there was a grand ball given here ana the
feet of many dancers whirled over the rough
flooring, and beneath the rude roof. wall
lowers had not advantage of even plaster on
the walls.
Mr.. Bayliss kept the hotel for a year or
more, and then leased it. Marshal Turley,
an old resident, was for a time the landlord.
For several years it was leased by Mr.
Sears, an uncle of Elias Sears. 1t was here
that Colonel Poppleton, the well known at
torney of Omaha, met, wooed and won his
wife, the daughter of the landlord, and the
wedding ceremony took place beneath this
roof.
After MI. Sears gave up the hotel, several
different parties served as landlord, each foI
a short time. Among these was John Jones
who was recently clerk in the hotel, and who
of late was engaged in the mail service. j,
M. Palmer, for a few months, ran the hotel
ia company with H. ID. Washburn. Tha,
was about 1850. Afterwards MIR. Martin wa
landlord, and later DR.. Bragg.
MIR. Bayliss resumed charge of the
hotel himself, and a fire having done
| some damage to the building, he not only
repaired the damage, but enlarged the hotel
| greatly, expanding about $4,000 in doing so
He remained as landlord as well as owner
until his death, which occurred beneath the
same roof.
For thirteen years G. w.: Ferguson 6
Son were the proprietors. They recently
removed to South Omaha. They were very
successful as well as popular, ana the Pacific
house was one of the Z .-ief resorts of the city
The old building has furnished shelter t.
many notables, most prominent amon}
this city early in 1850, just before his noni
nation. He remained several days looking
after some private business. He had Loaned
money on some land here and came here Il
| settle business connected with that.
The old Pacific was in the early years tn,
| headquarters for the Western Stage com
pany. Some of the officials connected with
it have since become very prominent in con
nection with the railways which have sue
ceeded the stage coach.
Mr.. Bayliss had built a large barn on Scot
street, on the site of his little log cabin, ant
afterwards it was replaced by a brick one
This was used by the stage company, who's,
Office was In the hotel.
The hotel used to rent for 5000 q year
and the store building, barber shop, bar, etc.
brought 10 enough for years so as to leave
the landlord free of rent entirely. 1t wa
the leading hotel of this part of the countr.
| for years.
The old hotel has seen great changes an,
as it is being removed from the sight of tn
old citizens, many OF them cannot but see |
go with regret, although gratified at tn
prospect of so much more worthy u building
to take its place.
those prepared last Tuesday by the Woman
Christian association for the benefit of thei
hospital. 1t seems BETTING that the last us,
OF the old building should be for philan
thropic purposes. In the earlier years it ha
been the resort of the cruder and in man,
cases the more vicious elements of society
in the days of frontier life, when there wa
more freedom of rollick, and more boldnes
in bunko. 1t has survived the primitiv
period of the westward march of civiliza
ton, and having witnessed the happy an,
peaceful wedding of two thriving and cul
tured cities, it's last offering was to tn
purse which is held open by christian W.
manhood for the relief Of the suffering an
needy.