The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1913-07-10
Passing of AStor House Recalls
Some Memories,
Many Celebrated Caravansaries of the
Past Where Entertainment and
Epicurean Delights Were Fur
nished Old Time Commands.

New York-In obedience to the
same law of progress that brought
about the tradition smashing advent
of the Aston house in 1886, that hotel
closed forever the other day to make
way for the subways. The passing OF
the hotel has opened the f1oodgates OF
sentiment and has sharpened the MEM
cries of old-timers concerning hotel
life on Manhattan island so and more
years ago.
Among the hotels whose patronage
the Astor came to dispute was the
City hotel in Broadway, occupying the
block between Thames and Cedar
streets. It's register carried the names
of most of the prominent people of tho
day and 1t was the most celebrated
house of entertainment in the city. A
plain, white structure, with curtain
less windows and inside shutters. 1t
was owned by Jennings & Willard,
who operated it on lines designed to
attract the ultra fashionable OF the
day. Among the innovations attempt
ed by them after the arrival from Eu-
rope of a fastidious customer, whose
fancy had been taken with the idea.
was the three o'clock dinner. The IN
novation gave rise to dissension and
put many of the hotels patrons into
the mind that drove them to the Astor
as soon as it opened.
Also patronized by fashionable peo-
pie of the day was the Washington,
occupying the mansion at Washington
and Marketfield streets, that had been
the home of Sir Henry Clinton, noted
in his day for generous hospitality.
A popular eating place when the
Astor opened was the dining room OF
the United States-better known as
Hall's-hotel at the corner of Water
and Fulton streets, with rear en-
trance on Pearl street. 1t was the
chosen stopping place of whaling ship
CAPTAINS. who liked to run down to
the metropolis from New Bedford,
Nantucket, Sag Harbor and New Lon
don between their long cruises. On
the cupola was a semaphore, known as
the marine telegraph, which an
nounced by the varying positions of
it's arms the arrival of vessels In the
bay.
The Auction hotel, at Water street,
near Wall, SO named because OF its
proximity to the we'll known houses
of John Haggerty & Sons and Will
merding & Co., was started by Honest
Teorge Brown, following his failure
rs a merchant. After season OF I'M
brecedented success Honest George in
yited all his creditors to banquet in
an upper room of the Auction. Each
found in his napkin check Tor the
principal and interest OF his claim.
One of the celebrated houses of it's
day was Riley's Fifth Ward hotel, at
the corner of West Broadway and
Franklin street, which contained mu-
scum famed as a repository of relics
with historical associations, pictures
Of statesmen, uniforms OF soldiers OF
all nations and personal belongings CT
celebrated men. Other exhibits ranged
from Indian war implements to two
headed calf.
In Franklin street before Riley's door
for years stood all that remained OF
the white marble statue of the earl OF
Chatham civilian Pitt after 1t had
been dragged from its base in Wall
street. For 40 years the battered
statue had lain covered with debris
in the corporation yard until Riley
found it and honored it with a place
before his hotel door. It is now in the
rooms of the Historical society, where
it was taken after Riley's death.
The Province Arms, erected In 1906
1t Broadway and Cedar streets, on
The site of Lieutenant Governor De
Lancey's house, at which the nonim-
portation agreement in opposition to
the stamp act was signed in 1776, was