Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-16
WILL SET THE PACE.
Allegheny Promised the Greatest
Hotel in the Two Cities.
THE CENTRAL TO BE TRANSFORMED
Stories Of Lease That Will Expire on the
First Of Next April.
A BUILDING THAT SEEMED H00D0OED

In another year the Allegheny Central
Hotel will be known only in history. 1t is
not probable that the present building will
be torn down, but the present intention is to
transform the building into first-class
hotel, equal to any in Pittsburg. From the
ground up the entire building will be
changed in appearance, and it is estimated
500, 900 will be used in making the change.
1t is expected to reopen early in 1892 as the
leading hotel in the two cities. 1t will be
under new name and new management.
The cause of the change is that the pres
ent lease expires on April 1, 1891. The
ground was leased from the Shields estate p
years ago. The history of the establishment
since that time has chain of interest, since
nearly every one who touched the property
went into bankruptcy. ..s.
The ground was originally leased from
Mr.. Shields by John Euwer in 1865 The
site had frontage of 60 feet on Federal
street, and extended back along North Dia-
mond street clear to East Diamond street.
Mr.. Euwer intended to erect magnificent
hotel, but the project proved too large for
him, and he released to Frazier Brothers,
then prominent contractors, and to Barr &
Moeser, architects.
A PECULIAR ATTACHMENT. a
In 1870 new leases were made out for q
years. Frazier Brothers took the front part
and Barr & Moeser took the space on which
the five storerooms are standing, next to
East Diamond street. Mr.. Shields reserved
30 feet between the two leases, but the en-
tire building was put up at one time, at a
cost of about $S0,000.
The part erected by Frazier Brothers was
6ox10o feet. It was made for hotel, with
three storerooms in front The rooms were
built on liberal plan, and are each about
% feet square. In this'lies the cause Of the
hotels want of prosperity. In the whole
hotel there are only "a rooms, where there
should be $50, in order to allow of profit. It
has always been impossible to secure in AL
legheny the amount that rooms of suoh q
size would be worth.
The hotel was opened in 1871 by q man who
had leased from Frazier Brothers. He found
the hotel an elephant and broke up. Frazier
Brothers soon shared the same fate, and the
hotel was bought in by ohnfAlexander, a
lumber merchant of Philadelphia, who now
owns the property.
Soon after this Barr & Moeser dissolved
and c. c. Boyle bought Mr.. Barr's interest,
while Henry Moeser still retains his inter-
est. The hotel past, however, has been con-
tinually changing proprietors. Several men
lost their all there, and then Colonel r. E.
Robinson, who founded the old Robinson
House on Seventh street, Pittsburg, took
charge. He conducted the place for some
time and then went to Haysville and opened
q summer resort.
CHANGE AFTER CHANGE.
Then the hotel fell into the hands of A.
L. Pierce, but his life there was short, and
he was succeeded by Mr.. Bailey, who left
the old St. Clair Hotel-now the Hotel An
derson-to take charge of the Allegheny
venture. It is alleged he made money and
he then started hotel near Philadelphia.
Mr.. Bailey was a brother-in-law of Colonel
Robinson. The latter had lost money ON
his Haysville enterprise, so Mr.. Bailey
once more installed him as proprietor of the
Central Hotel. This was the
climax of his misfortunes. He was
succeeded by a man named Rhoades,
the hotel was turned over to Mr. Dallas.
he buried $3.50 a month for a time, but in
February, 1888, he was compelled to give
up. Then F. Mccoy, the present proprie-
tor, took charge, and has been the only
man who was able to make both ends meet.
His method was given by himself yesterday
afternoon.
"When took hold here two years ago."
said he, "the place had the name of q cheap
boarding house. I decided to place the
hotel on q better basis, although it is hard
to get the prices the rooms are worth. I
have been partially successful.
EASY TO EvADE.
"Another thing was that Mr.. Alexander,
in his lease, stipulated that anyone selling
liquor on the premises would be fined S., 900.
L do not sell any on the premises, but I
rented the part of the building owned by the
Shields estate, knocked out the wall, and
opened bar, from which have been pay
ing Mr.. Alexander his rent. It is not on his
premises and he cannot do anything"
Recorder Graham, who has charge of the
Shields estate, was asked about the new
project. He said: "The lease expires next
April. By its conditions the build
ings belong to the estate. We intend to
take charge, and will probably make it
hotel. That is our intention at
present, and, if we do not do that, we will
alter the building TO suit some other busi-
ness. For myself, favor the idea of
hotel. A really good hotel would pay there
as well as in Pittsburg. The smaller hotels
have demonstrated this fact, and don't see
why big one would not pay" :