The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1912-01-23
HOTEL Harrington"
The PalatiaI Structure that Mr. r.. 8.
Hall Will Make of the Montezuma
= Hotel Property


= Mr.. R s Hall has bought the Mon
tezuma hotel from Mr.. Guy w Toph
The Star has known since Saturday
that the trade was on foot but it was
not closed until last evening, and we
were asked to refrain from giving il
publicity
When interviewed at his office this
morning Mr.. Hall gave out the follow
ing as his plans for the improving Of
the property.
Architects will be put to work al
drawing plans for the proposed i'm
provements. II will take some time TO
get these ready TO submit TO contrac-
tors. The plans will cover the expen-
dnure of approximately $4,000 and
actual work Of putting them into effect
will not commence much under ninety
days.
The hotel will be closed while the
work is going on. for nearly every
thing inside the outer walls will come
out or be entirely changed. About so
bedrooms will be built. all having pri-
vate baths, toilets, telephones and hot
water.
The dining room and cafe will be an
elegant one and the hotel will be OPP
Grated on the European plan. The
dining room, office. lobby and parlor
will all be on the ground floor and the
space now occupied by the par1or will
be converted into bedrooms There is
much lost space as the hotel is now
built, but this will all be remedied.
The office and lobby will have tiled
floors and marble wainscoating.
To gain the space that will be neces-
sary for the remode1ing of the ground
floor, the store rooms on the Main
street side down to the saloon will be
torn out and added to the hotel proper.
The stores on the Fort King side will
be remodeled and improved and the
space between the main building and
the wing will be built in solidly.
The stairway Will come out and only
a small one for emergency use will be
constructed and an up-to-date electric
passenger and freight elevator will be
Installed.
The house when completed will he
under a new name and new manage
ment and will be extensively advertis-
ed as first class and some of the
tourist business that We are so we'll
entitled to will be brought TO Ocala
The Star is informed that Mr. Hall
will rename the hotel after Harring-
ton, his youngest son.
With our matchless golf links, beau
tiful roads and drivewavs. Silver
| Springs the excellent shooting and
pretty scenery that have about
| Ocala, and a first class hotel to accom-
| modate the visitors. the fact need only
be advertised and they will come The
property. as it Is, pays a good interest
on $4,000 valuation. but will pay a
| =
| building Is complete.
| Mr. Toph has done wonders with the
hotel and has made it a most popular
resort for the public and especially for
the travelling men. He is a prince of
| good fellows and while it was his
first venture as a hotel man, he has
more than made good and every man
who has ever stopped with him praises
him and his house Mr.. Toph has
recognized the limitations of the house
however, better than anyone and knew
that to do It justice it would have to be
practically rebuilt and at great cost
We trust that Mr.. Toph will not leave
tOcala. Here every person is his friend
land he and his family would be sadly
imissed.
| Several years ago it was feared Mr.
Hall would leave Ocala and go t.
Jacksonville, where, as we'll as in Tam
pa. he has very extensive investments
This report became much more than {
rumor and Mr.. Hall seriously contem
plated the move, as many of his bust
ness associates were in Jacksonville
and much of his interests centere'
there.
Mr.. Hall began soon after that tim
to make other investments in an
about Ocala, and soon gave over tn
idea of moving. He built one of tn
most palatial home in the city to b
found in the state. This residence
with it's magnificent furnishings, spa
cious and beautiful grounds is one o
the prides of the city.
He took over majority of TIL
stock of the Citizens Gas Compan
and financed the Improvement of tia
valuable local institution. He has
large interest in the Marion Hardwar
Company, owns personally one of III
finest and largest farms just beyon
the city limits on the Silver Spring
road, and extensive interests in tn
Marion Farms. Several residences an
brick business houses in the city an
numerous other interests in and aboJ
Ocala that we are not familiar witt
and the purchase Of this valuab,
property gives Mr.. Hall still create
interests in Ocala. The fact is that +
is becoming so deeply interested
the business welfare of the city give
a big and healthy boost to every il
terest here. When such men as NJ
Hall invest their money and lend the
influence to community it has a f,
ture.
The entire city is to be congratula
ed upon this trade and the fact tn
- Mr. Hall has purchased the proper
-, and will do with It what he plans
20 accomplish.
n
ar. Mr.. e ". Easterling, who vert
We his old home in South Carolina sor
on weeks ago. TO undergo treatment {