The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-01-01
Hotel Eltons $ I946 Plans Stir Memories
Iiusoric lIonlesseads Replaced by Hotel, New Church

 A whtefbuflans Join fellow cita- nsns ok Che world in this period of Heminlscence end contemplation lt 's interesting to nots how local events og recorded history as well ma those viewed in contemplation blend Into the colorful picture of oTle 0z New England's outstanding hos- 1elries, the Elton Hotel.
 For over 70 years 1t has played Q leading part in the social, fraternal and general communal life of Wa terbufy. Its prestige and popularity arc fnr-llung. It lives daily in the memories of thousands of vacation tsts and tourists who have fiocked to New England where they gained their first view Of the scenic Naug- atuck Valley enroute to The Elton and their initial glimpse of the nitchfield hills and the Berkshires after leaving the Brass City.
 Future Plans
 In the contempiated plans of 1046 arc found provisions for enlarging, renovating and rnodernizing The Elton. Formal announcement is ex- pected shortly. The actual needs for future service and accommodations have been carefully and expertly studied and included in pros- pectus. Only recently incorporation papers were filed with the secretary of states office in Hartford, so the necessary financial means for years to come have been also considered. The Elton will maintain it's place with the leading hotels of the New England sector and the march of progress will continue under the able guidance of Clyde Jennings who has owned and operated the hotel since 1886,
 The past history of The Elton is hs an interesting and as fascinating as contemplation of it's future career. To dad and mother, perhaps more than to the teen-agers of to- day will stories of The Elton appeal flor they revive memories of Strolls along the elm-shaded West Main street and they were giant elms in those days; evening strolls around the green while Fulton's band seated in a permanent" band stand played the popular medleys of the day. The City Hall building was just across the green, with its Colonial annex, with entrances from Leavenworth street. From City Hall lane, now Lewis street, one could enter the City Hall or on the left of the thor 0ughfare another hotel that looms conspicuously in the city's history, the Scovill House destroyed by the Big Fire of 1902. With the fade-out Of the Scovill House the curtain rose on Act No. l which resulted in the actual planning and erection of The Elton.
 Civic Pride
 The destruction of the popular hostelry left an urgent need for modern hotel accommodations. The necessity became a matter of civic pride and with the result leading manufacturers, bankers, business men and other leading citizens join ed in a movement that led to the organization of the Waterbury Hotel Corporation in 1903. The names of the incorporators listed in papers filed on February 2, 1905 included .. s. Elton, H. H. Peck, E. l.. Frisbie, 2. Richard Smith, George L. White, Otis s. Northrop, Irving H. Chase, George E. Boyd and Cornelius Tracy. A few out of town persons interested in local business or fac- tories were permitted to purchase stock. The enterprise was purely one of local interest from the start.
 The first meeting of the corpora eaon was held February 5, 1903 at ta1e office of the American Brass Company, IA Bank street. The fol- lowing directors were elected: J. s. Elton, E. L. Frisbie, Jr., J. Richard Smith, George L. White, H. H. Peck, Otis s. Northrop, Cornelius Tracy, D. s. Plume, Irving H. Chase, Will Ham E. Fulton, Frederick B. Rice, and Arthur O. Jennings.
 within three months plans were completed. A down payment of $4S,- 900 had been made to Ellen H. Sco- VII for the purchase of the old Ecovill homestead on the northeast corner of West Main and Prospect streets. Other sites had been con- sidered, including the Old Scovill house destroyed as stated by fire in 1902. The choice of the directors eventually was the Scovill home stead at the price of e70.0OO.
 Bodditch and Stratton of Boston and Griggs and Hunt of Waterbury were chosen as architects. The gen- erai construction contract was awarded to the Tracy Brothers Company.
 On May IS, 1903 it was voted to name the new hotel ''The Elton" The only other name given consider ation ssThe Mattatuck," name which also gave way years previous to Waterbury when the founding fathers desired permanent name for the community destined to be- come the Brass Center of the Uni verse.
 m 1904 Aimon c. Judd was chosen as manager and he was engaged Tor 6 period Of i've years. The hotel formally opened May 27, 1905 and st was an event of great interest and given considerable space in papers throughout the state as well as New England.
 m 1909 MT. Judd suggested an arrangement whereby he leased the hotel for a flye-year period. In ISIS he acquired ownership of the estab- iiehment and the corporate exist ence of the Waterbury Hotel Com pany was terminated.
 Under MF, Juad's expert manage meEt the hotel became an imme' Aiate success. Among his many piani which brought tourists, including many notables of worldwide fame t0 Waterbury, Was the sponsorship ok Ideal auto tours which originated fn Virginia or New York and ended somewhere in Maine, but plans wefs taken that the route passed through WateKnHFv and that the oflicia zaa~ s1r.s4a "a sEnrn nf fha fatlFfafa foa