The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1890-02-16
THE OAKS HOTEL.
1 STRIKINGI.Y BEAUTIFUI,
RNIATION.

A Splendid ana Valuable Aslsli-
ton to the First Class Hotel
Facilities of AsheviIle, and one
That Will be Popular.
The Oaks hotel, at the corner of Wood
fin and Oak street, is now so far COM
plete as to be opened for the reception of
guests and adds another star to tn,
bright galaxy of Asbevillc first class
houses.
The situation is an extremely familiar
one to the people of the city and to many
in the habit of visiting it in connection
with certain annual ceremonies. 1t is on
the site of the original boarding house OF
the Asheville Female College, and is in
fact SO changed, enlarged and improved
as to suggest no memory of what i,
once was. The old structure forms only
foundation for the new. or nucleus for
adjournment and convenience. Out of very
modest architectural claim has grown
combination of such utility, size and pict-
urcsque effect as to fix the most impassivc
eye. From among the surrounding oaks
and against the background OF the glis.
tening masses Of white pines arise or
stand the long towering mass of build
ings with their projecting porches, theil
long colonadcs, and the tower crested
,attlements, crowned with the tall as.
piring pinnacle of the main tower; aud
whether viewed close at hand, or from
some distant point of view where per.
spective lines run tavorably to group thu
whole into clustered mass, the effect is
fine and beautiful.
The hotel building itself is 16O feet
long, and including the basement, which
IS all above ground, is five stories high.
As we have said, little of the old building
remains. Addition has been made to the
length and to the height, and the exter-
nails are entirely altered. Access to the
principal floor is had by magnificent
projecting portico reached by flight ol
stairs ofcasy ascent opening out in every
Erection. From this is entered the OF.
flee or reception room, the old Literary
Hall of the college, but changed to ac-
;ommodatc it to its present uses. on OF
his opens an ample. most beautiful par
lor, handsomely furnished. Through
each story run long and wide passages
or halls, along which are the chambers
Of good size, well furnished, well lighted
md ventilated, and furnished with all
he comforts Of CRATES, gas lights, elcc-
trio bells, etc. There is uniformity OF
on all the floors, even to the
mansard, in which the height of the
rooms is eleven feet four inches. On each
IT the floors, and at convenient distances
from each other, are bath rooms and
closets, the baths being either hot or
cold; and through the house is conveyed
abundance of water forced by pressure,
md readily available for personal Use or
safeguard against fire. a double series
pt staircases make easy access from story
to story, cnsuring privacy to guests. and
also ready exit in case Of fire; and in this
respect the facilities are admirable and
worthy of imitation; for not only is es-
,ape made easy by these starrcases, but
here is nowhere that the broad vcran-
las around every story would not be
available with independent communica-
Iion with the ground. Going through
MI the stories, which are alike in the
main, we ascend to the roof through n
vcstibule in the main tower and find
ourselves sixty.scven feet from the
ground with the magnificent panorama
Df mountain scenery around us. We will
not. however, dwell on this, thrice
told tale to us ut home. but none the
ess admirable to strangers, who, from
any point in this hotel from the roof. |
rom the verandas, from the windows,
IAN enjoy prospects that will never
weary. In this tower, the pinnacle Of
which reaches the height Of 40 icct, is
IN Hric, an outlook, 100 feet from the
ground. The roof is so arranged with
stepping pieces that it can be traversed
with ease and safety from one end to the
other, and will without question prove
|, very popular part Of the establish
vent.
Descending to the first floor, we find
first the Offices of the proprictors, very
pleasant and cosy rooms, then tie
kitchens which are temporarily occupied
until another building is specially pro-
,idcd for them, and then the dining
room, improved by the addition of a
double row OF columns down the centre. |
In all there are one hundred rooms in
The hotel, about cighty.fvc of which are
guest chambers. They are well furnished
and all light and airy. All are lit with
gas made on the premises, and the gas
fixtures are very elegant.
The situation Of the hotel is one Of its
features; without the advantage Of a de.
tachcd elevation, 1t is still elevated
,nough to give it commanding views in
very direction. Its own ample grounds
are covered with grass, and shaded with
ine oaks, and attached to it are the fine
grounds OF the college, comprising thir-
teen acress of well shaded ground, over
which the guests of the hotel may ram
Bile, aud enjoy all the luxurics Of fresh
orcst atmosphere and the hcalthlu odor
,f the turf and through part of these
grounds they may shorten their distance
TO the city; or il they prefer to ride, the
electric railway runs at the very doors