The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-08-10
PARK HOTEL.
]. J. KELLEY, MANAGER.

The Park hotel was built by the Hon,
Paris Gibson, one of the founders of the
city of Great Falls, and Mr.. H. o.
Chowen. The site occupied was select
ed as being especially suited for the
purpose of a first-class hotel. The build
ing occupies 2ooxI5o feet on Central
avenue and Park drive, the 200 feet be,
ing on Central avenue, the main bust,
ness street of the city, and the $50 feet
being on Park drive and overlooking a
beautiful park. The house is four
stories in height, is surrounded on two
sides by broad piazzas and is lighted by
gas and electricity, and heated by steam.
There are $50 guest rooms, single, en-
suite and with baths, all supplied with
electric return call bells. The office,
reading and writing rooms are large,
while the bar and billiard rooms are UNI
surpassed for elegance by any in the
state.
In August, 1892, the Park came under
the management Of Mr.. ]. J. Kelley, one
of the most experienced and popular
hotel managers in the northwest. Mr..
kelley's knowledge of the hotel business
has come from long and intimate en-
perience with its details. In 1866 he
was assistant steward of the old St.
Lawrence hotel at Montreal, Canada,
from 1860 to 1875 he was steward of the
old Southern hotel of St. Louis, Mo-,
from 1875 to 1870 he was at the La Clcde
OF St. Louis, in 1870 he went to New
York and during the years 1880, 81 and
81, alternated between the Grand Cen
trail of New York city, and the Manhat-
tan Beach hotel of Coney Island. In
1855 Mr.. Kelley again turned his face
westward and accepted a position as
room clerk of the Neil House at Column
bus, Ohio, where he remained until the
following year, when he went to Chicago
and accepted a like position with the
fremont House where he remained UNI
til the winter of 1855. In 1886 and 81
he was with Hotel Anderson, of Pitts
burg, Pa. In 1883 he went to the Paci-
ilc coast to accept a position as manager
of Hotel Stewart of San Bcrnardino, Cal.
In 1900 he became manager OF the
Grand Pacific of Tacoma, Wash. In
August, 1901, he accepted a position as
manager of the celebrated Norris Gey-
ser hotel at the National park, and a
year later, as previously stated, became
manager of the Park hotel at Great
Falls. Mr.. Kelley is a pleasant and
agreeable gentleman to meet and is
master of the keeping of a frst-class
American hotel.
Mr.. {. NJ. Clifford, chief clerk of the
Park, is quite as well known to the
travelling public as Mr.. Kelley. He be-
gan his hotel life as clerk at the 10y
House of Findlcy, Ohio. He was next
in succession at the Glenham, and the
Albert of New York city. Returning to
Ohio TO accept a position from the we'll
known boniface, II. l.. Rocktield, as
clerk Of The Arcade at Springfield,
Ohio, he remained in MIR. Rocktield's en-
ploy eight years, during which time he
was in turn, clerk of the Arcade, the
Nicollettc at Minneapolis, Mimi. The
Burnett at Cincinnati, Ohio, and the
Nelson at Rockford, III. Mr.. CLIFFORD
came to Great Falls in May of the
present year to accept the position he
now holds with the Park hotel.
Many tourists and travellers would
find this sketch incomplete if we omitted
to mention that George Naupcll, the
prince of French hotel cheff's who has
for the last six years been with Nh. Kcl-
ley, is still at the head of his chosen
department. Add to this the fact that
MIR. Kelley is his own buyer, and the
travelling public will need no further as
urancc that in stopping at the Park
they will be well served with the best
the markets afford.