Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1889-07-17
Buena Vista Hotel,


holders have looked forward to with such in
crest is about accomplished, as though some
Genie with the lamp Of Aladdin to assist had
evolved from the fastness of the mountain this
creation of modern art and civilized taste.
Situated on an elevated plateau. it commands
1 a birds eye sweep of the Southern half of the
city and far beyond it O range of panoramic
beauty that 1--WE dare say, unequalled in Vir.
ginia, Winding river and shining cascade,
towering mountains and level range Of verdant
| meadows and golden fields stretch away until
they melt into the blue of the overarch. North
| east of the hotel, the view is one of natures
| majestic ruggedness. but under 1t sleeps the
imprisone ed wealth of ores that makes the le-
| yer of commerce and OF nations the contrast
| of surroundings is at this time startling and
UNIQUE The hotel of course the pioneer build
I ing or edlfce of the coming city. Ia now envi-
| roned by nature in her primitive robing. To
find yourself In the midst OF mountains but
in palace with electric bells, hot and cold
bath on every floor, spacious bed rooms. either
single or en- suite. parlora furnished with satin
tbrocade-covered furniture. alternating with
l satin plush and French mirrors, Is Indeed an
odd blending of extremes. If some impatience
has been felt at the delay, 1t will be dissipated
at the result. The plan. additionally, Is
success. The impression on entering the ONCE
is most happy and is deepaned as you proceed
1t is thoroughly lighted and finished in
bright, native hard pine with rectangular
stairways leading to the floors above. The
rooms are all capable ofdirect ventilation and
are all spacious. The cooking department Is
supplied with The very latest improved range.
with capacious boilers ON each side for heating
water, the whole being separate from the
house by several Railways SO arranged as to
| utterly prevent the odor of the kitchen from
| entering any portion of 1t. The dining.room
/ is large and thoroughly lightei and the CELL
| ing lofty and supported by series of arches
also of ribbed hard pine. The whole effect of
| the building is delightful, glittering as 1t does
with the freshness and sheen Of a bran new
creation. Some anxiety was felt. and very
natural one. as to who could be found to man.
age this important first-born of the coming
| city. Men who have genius for hotel manage
ment are rare, but the directors were awake,
and promptly secured the services of Capt. j.
w. Tally under whose management more than
one Virginia hotel has acquired enviable re-
pute. That he has the faculty of pleasing peo-
| pie was evidenced by the fact of his haviL G
various applications from families in Kansas
| City, St. Louis, and other cities further west,
asking only if he could take them for the sea-
| son, with no inquiries as to locality or rates
or anything else. Where the wary seeker of
summer resorts shows this headlong anx.
iety to get under o landlords wing there
must be shelter there. That he is thorough
ly alive to the needs OF the business and
inst net with en- ergy is patent the moment
you see him. Taking the building in charge
while the capenters are still in the basement
on finishing touches, he is shaping everything
f,o tn ord viii foy
cry detail so that If there is anything in SANTA
tary conditions this will be the true Hygeia OF
Virginia.
Its water supply Is from a capacious reser-
voir high up on the mountain with an alti-
tude sufficient to give abundant fire pressure to
! the highest point i'm the building and coils
of hose lie at the extremities of every hail.
We cheerfully followed the Captain on his
tour of inspection, and all along we met de-
tachments of employees busting down, scour-
ing out corners. mailing down carpets and
bringing order and system out of chaos.
In this heavy task, the Captain Is wisely and
efficiently aided by Mrs. Talley, who, an &C.
complished and attractive lady, is as keen
ly al ert to the practical features of her depart
ment as himself, and whose influence will be
shown in the general air of homelike and re-
fined surroundindings that already seem to in
vest the establishment. Altogether. the hotel,
If an earnest of Buena Vista's future. is a
bright herald; and as we stood on the front pi.
azza, enchanted by the view with the brilliant
scarlet and white pennant of Captain Pete
Wilson's real estate office Haunting sauclly
from the towering staff, and outlining Itself
against the loftiest peaks, we saw. as in proph.
etic vision a Xerxean army of lot-purchasers
marshalling under its folds. eager and impa.
titut to begin the glorious work Of building up
the first manufacturing city OF Virginia and
the South.