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

- years ago. Il reminded his
EIfIM callers OF the lines Of James
- whitcomb Riley AS one
who cons az even time DER an album. all
alone. and muses. upon the faces Of the
lends thath has known"
Mr.. Allan IL the son OF the lote J. T.
Allan. proprietor Of the old Herndon
House. omaha's leading hosiery when in
its heyday The son has preserved an
old register bearing the dates OF fifty
years ago The names are OF persons
who have since gained prominence IN To-
cal and national affairs. and some who
mounted the heights OF worldwide fame
There are some living in Omaha today
who can close their eyes and in fancy go
back half century TO the days OF the
citys genesis. The forthcoming opening
OF omaha's palatial hotel brings back to
mind the many changes In hotel affairs
since the time the steamboats, siren
aroused the hotel men Of the city TO a
state OF anticipatory giee.
hack 90 old Days.
IL IL, indeed. a far cry from hotel life
here fifty years ago 10 the present-day
sumptuousness Of the big hotels. To got
an Intelligent retrospection OF hotel life
IN Omaha fifty years ago. II must be re-
membered that there we're no railroads
into the city. Such accommodations as
TELEPHONES. steam heat jltncy buaes
running water In rooms and elevators
were not TO be had. This city was Just
getting start The steamboat landing
was a short distance south Of the Hern-
don House, at Ninth and Farnam streets.
The postoffice was at Fourteenth and
Fafnam. next door east OF the present
Union Pacific city ticket office. Twelfth
street was the principal business
thoroughfare. The steamboats, delivered
both passenger and freight. Freighters
took their supplies from here overland in
wagons as far as Salt Lake city and
Virginia City. Tho town was rather
western" Gold dust was received IN
payment for supplies Indians were IA
miliar sights on the streets
Donald Allan was born in the Herndon
House during his fathers management of
the place. lie Is storekeepcr for the
Union Pacific, and resides at SIT Thirty
seventh street. An hour or 30 spent oven
the old register he cherishes yielded
many "reminiscences OF historical value
steamers Register.
An interesting entry on the old Herndon
register reads; steamer Deer Lodge. for
Fort Benton, Monday. 9th. 2 D. m
steamer Benton, for Fort Benton, Tues
Gay 18th, 10 a. m Steamer MONTANA, for
~. Louis, Sunday, 2sth, b. M" IL was
the custom for hotel clerks to note the
departures OF steamers for the informa,
tlon OF the public There was much
river traffic those days between ST. Louis
and 81. Joseph and Omaha
turning over the pages OF the register
the maine OF C. T.. Yost IL noted under
date OF March 70. 1866. The signature 1,
much the Same as that OF today. :. S
Caldwell father OF Victor B. Caldwell
president OF the United States Nationa
bank. registered on the day mentioned
lie brought his bride here from the cas-
and stopped az the Herndon for quite I
while. Victor b. Caldwell was bos.. a
the Herndon.
Brother OF Mrs. Cleveland.
b. II. Folsom was guest during Marcl
Of 1866. lie was brother OF Mrs. Grove
Cleveland. The Folsoms had property in
terests here Against the registration o
William Wallace. at present an offiosl
OF the Omaha National bank, was tn
word Fire" meaning that he wanted
IN those haicyon days consisted OF
wood fire and the cost was extra. It wa
something OF a luxury. II. c. C1owr,
registered AZ captain and acting quarter
master. u. s. ", 81. Louis. He since ros
70 the head OF tho Western Union Tele
graph company and IL well known here
The names OF Henry Fontenelie of Deca
tur, Nebraska Territory: Joseph Lefleche
Whirllng Thunder and white Breast ar
also seen IA the old book
other guests at that time were j. Il
BOYD, since governor OF Nebraska. ap
builder OF the theater bearing his name
Horace a. Boies OF Iowa, c. childs. MI
ton Barlow. 81, A. ID. Balcombe an
General }. NJ. Thayer. later governor q
this state.
First u. y. Engineer.
The name of Peter A. Dey OF Iowa Cts
Ia. recalls an incident. Dey was th
first chief engineer OF the Union Pacific
His original line OF survey included N
present Lane cat-off. and II is said ths
ne resigned because the company woul
not accept his Lane cutoff idea. Til
cut-off was accomplished IN recent year
General G. NJ. Dodge Of Council Bluff
Is authority for this bit OF historical Il
formation.
Another entry IL that Of +. l. couldocl
who was principal agent for the Yank'
Robinson show. Harry Fuller signed 4
principal clown OF the show, and Yanl'
Robinson was here IN person.
j. J. Ingalls, OF Atchison. Kan. VIII
wrote tho immirtai poem. opportunity.
signed his name on this resister- II
names Of Y. Estabrook. Lorenzo crouns
Lieutenant Colonel s. s Curtis, Mai'
General :. r.. curyis. Ben Gallagher.
~. Hitchcock. Thomas c. Durant Of Ne
York. ID n. Wheeler OF Pawnee Agenc