The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-02-28
IT WAS A FAMOUS HOSTELRY.
THE STORY OF TIE STEVENS HOUSE.
OECE RIVAL OF THE Aston.

gts Fs.oss Gsssts. It's Bsr-os. Political
Flights, lts Old.tins finery. IT'S ssdiords.
Esd its Long. srv:nS Employees.
With tho closing Of tho doors OF tho Stevens
House last week the career Of the Oldest hotel
Of prominence In this city cane to an end.
There aro still many men alive In this city who
can recall tho time when the yellow brick
building on Broad way was famous hostelry.
and whom some OF the best-known mon OF the
country stopped there. 1t was here that the
elder Delmonlco first won fame. and when Jen-
ME Lind thrilled New Workers at Castle Gar
den with her angelic voice the Stevens House
was her home. 1t would be difficult for the
Now Yorker OF to-day to realize that this was
once one OF tho finest hotels In the city. and
that Il far outshone Its rival. the Aston House.
Yet It Is a fact that while the Stevens House
was at the holght OF its prosperity the Astor
House had to close its doors because OF lack
OF custom and accumulation OF debts. Tho
triumph OF the lower hotel. however. was
short lived, and the upward march OF the city
soon took away Its best patrons
The Stevens House was opened early in 1912
BY the elder Delmonico 1t was in this year
that John Jacob Aston began building the
Astor House. Before the Aston House was
ready for occupancy the Stevens House had
already won tho reputation of being u great
New York hoteL The Stevens House was the
first New York hotel to be run upon what is
known as the European plan. Early In tho
fities Demonico sold out to the OGrady
brothers. Michael and John. who were we'll
known In New York and had great many
friends. The next proprietor was G. X. Chase.
who renovated the hotel and reftted 1t at great
expense Up to the time that the Sheriff camo
into possession OF tho hotel some OF the furni-
ture then bought still remained there. Every
pieco on the lower door was OF solid. heavy
black walnut we'll upholstered. and with q
monogram Of the original owner engraved In o
prominent place.
After Chase came Je.seyman. tho original
proprietor OF Taylor's Hotel In Jersey City,
Ho ran the hotel during tho war; when II
achieved Its greatest prosperity. and at the
close OF tho war sold out to Allen l. Dodwell
This arm had a great deal Of enterprise. and
advertised extensively In Europe The result
WIS that great many foreigners stopped at
the Stevens House. Allen Il Bodweil puid
S00.OOO for the furniture and good will Of tho
hotel. During their rime the big rival ut Bar.
clay street and Broadway was being run by tho
Stetsons. II lost n great deal Of patronage
and finally had to close its doors. Tho Aston
estate ofrerod to lot Allon 4 Dodwell have tho
Lease OF tho hotel at a small flguro. but the
@ aSns sSs SoSa %a,
yard became the biggest bonanza n ths Ge!s
A SSsrss seas Saa aesss
ed some reputation as a politician. tut no did
not make a shining success NJ bOniface. and
aftor one years occupancy he sold out to Will
non h Steward.
Mr., Stewart was In ono sonsa tho beau idenl
Of hotel man. He was moro than popuiur
with his gucsts. AMI ran tho hotel on magnil'
cent scale. Tho furniture purchased i,y Mr.:
Chase Tor the sleeping rooms and which had
been the pride q sucGeading proPrietors was
most Of II aside and purchased new. The OK:
Gense incurred in THIS way. however, INVOLVED
Steward became very despondent at his Ill
success: and one day his friends in New York
Nsw6urGh. Broaiiiend 4 Hnes next succeed.
Cd to the propriato,s ship This firm, came int,
successfully, Tor seven years. Then Mr.. Broad
head retired and John T., Ames. bis partner
sole posssssor Ne had previously been con-
nectsd with tho Maine Steamship Company