The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1910-12-15

ing houses for the entertainment of
its visitors. And it was around the
leading boarding house of the city
that the hotel was erected. This was
the old Chase mansion, thought to
have been built by Colonel Chase sew
eral years before the war that the
new hostelry was built. This old
building was situated on the northeast
corner of the Escambia hotel lot, cor
ner Palafox and Wright streets, the
latter being named for Colonel Chase.
For several years the old mansion
had been abandoned by its owners
and it was occupied as a boarding
house, Mrs. w. L. Criglar was the
proprietor and for years operated the
house as one of the most up-to-date in
this entire section. It being the near
est semblance to a hotel, attracted
practically all of the transient trade
and much of the tourist patronage.
The old Chase mansion was also at
one time the center of the social life
of the town. It's location was then in
the heart of the best residence Sec
ton and across the street from it
were the Mallory, Perry and other
mansions, the two former of which
are still standing.
in geight and was at that time one
of the finest homes in the south. Its
appointments were those Of the old
Colonial mansions of the best type
and in it the true hospitality was dis
pensed for many years.
ERECTION OF HOTEL.
With the formation of the stock
company to build the hotel it's cree
ton was begun. The contract was
awarded to A. V. Clubs. The plans
called for three-story building with
basement, a west wing and north
wing, the entire building to comprise
fifty rooms. The work was pushed
and in remarkably short time it was
completed.
To make the best hotel in the south
was the object of it's founders and &C
cordingly nothing was left undone to
fulfill this plan. With its completion
1t was furnished with the best and
most modern furniture obtainable, it
being either rose wood or mahogany.
The firm furnishing the furniture was
the Robert Mitchell Company of Gin
cinnati.
d. K. Hickey, one of the best no.
tel men in the south at that time, was
retained as manager, and for many
years he presided over the destinies
of the hostelry.
The building was not equipped with
ball room, as were but few hotels
in the entire country at that time.
But the large dining room was so con-
structed that it could be easily con-
verted into an ideal ball room
Hence, practically all of the balls,
the larger social functions and state
occasions were held in this apart
ment.
In it many of the big events of the
time were held. The balls to the off
GERS of the battleship fleets. for which
Pensacola was then noted. took place
in this hotel. Receptions were held
in 1t for many prominent men, includ-
ing every distinguished visitor SO hon.
ored within the period of its exist
ence.
LEGEND OF BRICK HovEL.
But in the history of the old hotel,
or even the Chase house, its prede-
cessOr, nothing is more interesting to
recall than that Of the present brick
howell standing on the northwest cor
| ner OF the lawn and which for many
years was used as the Smoke
house" for the Chase mansion, the
| Criglar boarding house and also for
the Escambia hotel. Legend has it
! that this old building, now in a state
OF dilapidation. was the cffice and
headquarters Of the British occupancy
and was used as such by the last Brit
lsh governors. 1t is only a small
| howell now, and while it is improbable
that it will be leveled with the hotel
proper, at least not at this time, a few
more years will see its total ruin in
| the course of natural events.