The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-12-02
THE PUTNAM HOUSE SOLD.
Florida Land Improvement Company
Sells the Big Hotel to L. H, and
w. A. Merryday.
The House Will Be Opened as Soon
as Necessary improvements
Con Be Mode.

Between the hours OF two and
three O'Clock yesterday afternoon, in
the office of Congressman ROb't. w
Davis in this city, the papers We're
signed and the money passed, trans
ferring the Putnam House property
from the Florida Land Improvement
company of PHILADELPHIA to L. H.
and w. A. Merryday of palatka.
Representing the Philadelphia
company at the sale were Congress.
man Davis and II r. Hessingpr, sec
retary Of the company. The Messrs
Merryday Were present, with their
attorney, Col. fl. f. Merryday, and
Col. Fl. NJ. de MOntnUliin, who ne
gotiated the deal
1t is too early for the new owners
of the big hotel to give definite plans
for the future, but they have init
mated to the News their purpose of
opening the house to the public lust
as soon as It can be put in shape to
be opened right They are now go
ing over the property thoroughly.
seeing what necessary repairs are
needed and making calculations as
to time required to make them, and
probable cost If it is possible to do
50 the hotel will be opened this win
ter and within the the next 45 days.
l.. H. and w. a. Murryday are
among the most prominent of Pal
atka's 5 business men. Two years ago
they transferred their big business
to stock company in which they
are leading officials, but not in active
management For the past %
months they have been travelling in
Australia, New Zealand and other
antipodeam islands, the Hawaiian is
lands and California.
They returned to PaIatka less than
Il month ago. They are enterprising
men, and in several conversations
with the News since their return,
have not failed to make known their
faith in the future Of Palatka and
their conviction that our city is just
now awakening to a season of great
prosperity. They believe that there
is Il tide in the affairs of men, which,
taken at the food, leads on to for
tune, - that this is the time of Palat-
ka'a flood tide, and they are acting
accordingly
The fire that swept Palatka on
Nov. 7th, 1854, destroyed the entire
business section. 1t was too late
in the year to rebuild it's hotels ard
take care Of the big tourist travel that
then visited this city annually in the
winter season.
In the following year (lSS5) the
Putnam House company was formed
and the present big hotel projected
S. } Kunnely was its president.
The hotel was built at cost of over
5000, 900, which included lot, building
and furnishing. 1t was built and ocs
cupied in 81 days from the time work
began. 1t was opened for business
in the middle of January, 1856.
The first manager of the present
Putnam House was Oscar q Barron
OF the White Mountains. He ran
the house five years and was sue
ceeded by w. r. and Edward Orvis,
and they in turn were succeeded by
Chas. F. BOardmau, who had VIM.
Cato, Il still later Lessee, as night clerk.
For the past five years the house has
been closed.
In its early days the Putnam was
one of the great hotels of Florida,
and if opened now would not rank
far under the leaders. The hotel
covers an entire city block and can
comfortably shelter and provide for
from 500 to 800 guests.