Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1891-01-01

"Who'er has trayelrd Iife's dull round.
Where 'er his stages may have been.
Nav sigh to think he still has found
The warmest welcome at an inn.
About 200 persons attended the Clar-
endon Hotel opening, on Christmas
night. Throughout the afternoon there
were indications of storm, and con-
sequently the attendance from neigh
boring towns was smaller than it would
otherwise have been. At 6 o'clock the
storm was on in all its fury, and contin
ued until midnight, piling the snow
waist-deep in places in the street.
The company was good one,
and in the spacious, well-lighted, and
comfortable hotel, was Indifferent as to
the situation without. The time was
spent in pleasant social intercourse, oc-
casionally enlivened with vocal music,
with piano accompaniment. Three ia
bles were served, at 8,9 and 10 O'Clock,
and then followed toasts and responses.
Mr.. n. X. Kennon was Toast master,
and introduced the toasts and speakers
in a happy manner. The addresses will
be found below.
THE NATIONAL HOTEL,
Upon whose site the present splendid
structure is built, was erected in 1919.
1t was famous hostelry in its time, es-
pecially while under the control of the
late Thomas johnson. Mr.. johnson
took charge of it late in '30s, coming
here from Jefferson county, and he and
his family were identified with the house
for about thirty years. Many years it
| was stage station, when the National
Road was in its glory, and every few
hours its hospitable doors opened to the
jolly passengers who tumbled out of the
coaches for meals, to stretch their legs
while teams were exchanged, or to
swallow glass of grog. Many famous
men were entertained under its roof,
and around its wide fire place on win
ter evenings
'sVfllage statesmen talk ID with looks profound,
And news much older than their ale went round.
What music there was in the mellow
horn of the stage driver, in the crack of
his whip, and in the laugh and conver-
sation of the jolly passengers. The gild-
ed railway cars have taken the place of
the stage coach, but for real pleasure
and sociability no other means of travel
ever equaled it.
In the winter of 1889 80 the property
was purchased by Mr.. A. H. Mitchell,
who negotiated the building Of a new
hotel on the site it occupied. The title
was conveyed to Mr.. Thomas E. Clark,
and April the demolition of the old
building began, and where it stood the
splendid
HOTEL CLARENDON
was erected, having a frontage of 66
feet on Main street and 100 feet on
Marl<et,- -and--thrse-- stories -hish.-The-
fronts are of pressed brick and Freeport
stone. The building is heated with
steam and lighted with gas, and conse
quently the corridors are as comfortable
and CHEEKY as the rooms.
The Office is large, airy, and we'll
lighted 1t is finished in oak, as is Che
entire building. The dining room com
.fortably seats sixty people, ,and the ladies
ordinary sixteen. Both are very pleas
ant rooms, and handsomely furnished.
The kitchen and pantry are roomy, the
former provided with one of the best
cooking ranges procurable. Across the
corridor from the office are two spacious
reception rooms. The parloIs are on
the second floor. At the south end of
the second floor is bath room, and near
by water closet. There are forty-two
sleeping rooms.
The carpets and furniture of the hotel
are rich and tasty, and its appointments
generally excellent. Some additional
conveniences will be put in at no dis
tant day.
The investment represents an outlay
of $4,000.
Business has started well, and if sat
isfactorily managed will steadily grow.
The people of st. Clairsville are proud
of their new hotel, and feel deep inter
est in its success.
Below will be found the addresses
delivered on the occasion:
TOAST MAsTER:-Ladies and gentle
men: Seventy-one years ago this Christ
mas night was gala one in the old
National. Our grandmothers and grand
fathers were there, but they were not our
grandmothers and grandfathers then. In
appreciation and encouragement of the
enterprise that has builded upon the
corner stone of the old National the new
Clarendon, we are gathered tonight and
in the enjoyment of a Christmas evening
Our landlord, our host, is our guest to-
night To the toast "The Clarendon"
the response will be by the Hon. J. W.
Nichols. (Applause)
Mr.. Nichols in response spoke as
follows:
Worthy Toast Master, Ladies and Gentlemen:
Some one one suggested here this even
ing as definition of Banquet, that it is a
good thing that ought to continue two or
three days. Another suggested that a
Banquet is place where they invite
fellow to big supper, and then take
his appetite by telling him he is to respond