Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-02-28

story and located at Twelfth and Jack
son streets. As before stated Twelfth
street was looming up as the business
center. with Farnam street beginning to
take notice OF things This primitive little
hotel was erected by the Nebraska and
Council Bluffs Ferry company and was
first occupied by William p. snowden
and family Mr.. Snowden was known as
Uncle Billy Snowden. He served as
city marshal and died during the last few
years. That was nearly sixty years ago,
tho beginning OF Omaha history. A few
of tho pioneers remember the old st.
Nicholas hotel.
After the construction OF the Herndon,
the Grand Central hotel, which occupied
the present site Of the Paxton, was the
next hotel OF any pretensions. The hotel
was built on a quarter OF a block. was
four stories and OF brick II was COM
menced in 1871 and the money was raised
by stock subscriptions among 100 indi-
viduals and firms. It was completed and
opened during the fall OF 1873. 1t was first
named the Pullman, but after many pro-
tests wero made the name was changed
TO Grand Central, The cost of this build
ing exceeded first expectations. so loan
OF $4,000 was secured from Edward
| Creighton. A. J. Poppleton and others. In
1875 the hotel was sold to Augustus
Kountze under foreclosure proceedings
for $4,000. George Thrall then took the
lease and he was succeeded by Charles
w. James D. and Richard Kitchen. The
Kitchens installed an elevator. the first
! in any Omaha hotel,
Then Came the Paxton.
1 At $50 D. m. OF September "a, 1873, fire
was discovered in the elevator shaft OF
the Grand Central. The building was to-
tally destroyed and five firemen lost their
lives The Paxton was built on the site
OF the old Grand Central and the ISItch-
ems have maintained proprietorship ever
since that time. The site cost $4,000 In
1878
Omaha once upon a time had a steam
boat hotel Inya pamphlet entitled
Omaha City, the Capital OF Nebraska
James NJ. Woolworth stated in 1857: "a
company OF twelve gentlemen, largely
interested IN the town. have recently pur-
chased for $4,000 steamboat OF the first
class--the Washington Cly-which is
moored at the landing and used as a
hotel. Cheap and comfortable accom-
modations are thus afforded to go per
sons. The necessity OF large hotel ao-
commodations may be inferred from the
fact that there are now 1000 people in
Omaha over our population of last
March. II is reasonable TO expect this
number win be considerably increased In
two months"
Hamilton House.
Notable among the early hostelries OF
the early days was the Hamilton House
built In 1855 on Douglas street. between
Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets. by G
n. Smith, c. w. Hamilton and II. NJ
Judson. Mr. Burnham was the first
proprietor. Mr.. Judson bought his furni-
ture In ST. Louis and accompanied II by
steamer. bringing six negro servants
! with him. Among his regulat boarders
were United States Marshal b. p. Rankin
Governor Cunning. Governor Richardson
J and John M. Thayer. The upper part O.
the Hamilton was arranged so that 4
might be cleared IN short notice for bal
room PURPOSES. The music was furnishes
, by Byron Reed. Aaron Calm. Frederick
. a. Schneider and Washington GRIFFITH