Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-10-12
1T HAS A BIRTHDAY
The Morton IS Celebrating Its
Nineteenth Anniversary.
WAS OPENED ocToBEa II. 1874
by A " Psntlisd and Farnham Ls,,n-
Various Matters az insere-t Con-
n.csed with fts Career.

This i Tho Morton's birthday. The
hotel u exactly nineteen years old
slmost old enough 10 vote. Anybsdy
noticing an unusually beatifie SMILE
playing about the face Of j. Boyd Paat-
lind today may know the reason.
II any Of the guests who Registered in
the hotal October Il 1874. and heard
Mr.. Psntiind ask. baggage. sirs" were
10 drop in today. they would not reoog-
niie the hostelry. for IL has been i'm
proved and remodeled until il il really
another house.
The original Morton house Was built
by Gen. l. G. Smith and George h. Nor
ton on the site Of the Old Natioral.
which burned. The new hotel was
named in honor Of Mr.. Morton. The
house was rented and furnished by A.
V. Pantlind and +. +. Pickering. Before
il Was ready 90 open. Farnham Lyon
bought Mr.. Piekering's interest The
firm name was Pantiind 4 Lyon. J.
Boyd Pantiind and his brother. Will
Pantlind, nephews OF the senior proprie-
tor. were behind the desk Five years
later j. Boyd Pontiind purchased Mr.
Lyons interest and the present propri-
etors assumed management Of the house.
When il was opened the hotel was
four stories high and contained seventy
five rooms. Guests who had rooms on
the top floor were permitted TO climb
the stairs. Still, at that stage OF the
city's growth, it was considered good
botel. As Grand Rapids has improved
The Morton has kept little ahead OF
the procession. and today it's probably
the best known hotel OF its size in the
vest. II not in the country.
Additions and Improvements.
Pantlind 4 Co added the fifth story
10 the structure at their own expense.
Two stories were added TO the part now
occupied by the bar-rOom and lava
tories. and the six-story addition on
lonia street was built by A. V. Pantlind
two years ago. In addition. the house
has been replumbed. redecorated and re-
furnished Now Mr. Pantlind is pre-
pairing 10 retit the office. by tearing out
the G.. X & |. and Michigan Central
Offices at either side OF the doorway. He
hopes to have the work accomplished
before spring.
A. v. Pantiind. the senior proprietor,
Is the oldest hotel man insAiichigan. and
one OF the best known in the country
He has been in the business for nearly
halt century. He began with the
Dykeman house at Paw Paw; managed
the Bond house at Niles. The Vaughan
at Eaton Rapids: had control OF the
Michigan Central eating houses at Ann
Arbor. jackson, Niles and Marshall;
managed the Bancroft house in Saginaw
in lS66-61.6S, aud at the time he pur-
chased The Morton was running the
Hubbard house in jackson. Mr.. Pant.
lind retired from the active manage
ment Of The Morton several years ago;
but he Is still familiar figure about the
Office and lobby. and is known person
ally by two-t thirds Of the hundreds OF
guests who stop al the hotel.
Everybody Feels mt Home.
j. Boyd Pantlind. who now manages
the hotel. began the business twenty
seven years ago at Marshall, where he
was employed by his uncle in the Michi-
gan Central eating house. He after
wards went to the Bancroft house. and
was clerking in the Hubbard house in
jackson before coming 10 Grand Rapids
10 go behind the desk in The Morton.
IL u tuipfODdutc tHht lncIe ~ any Otner
landlord on earth who has more warm
friends in every walk in life than j. u.
Pantlind. Max O'Rell paid him pretty
compliment year or SO ago, by saying.
"lie always makes man feel as il be
were home
There are several employees now in the
house who were there when the hotel
opened. Miss Hne, the house keeper,
has boon in the hotel for seventeen years.
and Gustavus Nicolas. the chef. came
there fully fifteen years ago Arthur
Grant has been behind the desk
for seven years. Sidney Steele the
other day clerk. came from Sweets two
years ago. Charlie lngalsbee, the night
clerk. chased bells for Boyd Pantlind.
back in the '70's. All Of the help is
experienced and competent.
The Morton will not make any par
ticular celebration in honor 81 its birth
day: but IL will be pardoned il il feels on
very good terms with itself for the next
eighteen hours Evcrybo else feels
on very good terms with IT,