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Third Brimfield Hotel |
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Original Newspaper Article July 1, 1898 BRIMFIELD'S FINE NEW HOTEL A Handsome and Commodious Structure Opened to the Public To-day The fact that Brimfield once more possesses a hotel causes rejoicing which is not confined to the inhabitants of that town, but which is shared by the people of neighboring towns and deeply felt by many who live in most distant places. The former hotel was destroyed by fire in the fall of 1890, and it is seldom that the loss of a building is so widely and deeply regretted; for the burning of the Brimfield hotel was mourned not only because of the seriousness of the disaster, but also on account of the associations which had centered there. The hotel was like a central home in a town noted for its hospitality. It had always been closely identified with the history of the town, and was cherished by the people as an essential part of their life and interests. The original building on the present site was put up in 1808 by Elias Carter for John Gardner. It was occupied by Squire Gardner until Marquis Converse, the second postmaster, took the stand and succeeding proprietors of the hotel have included other leading citizens of the town. In 1859 the property came into the hands of Silas C. Herring of New York, the well-known safe manufacturer, who spent his summers in Brimfield. Mr. Herring remodeled and fitted up the hotel regardless of expense, converting it into a structure which was the ornament of the village and the pride of the people during the twenty years of its existence. The landlord who longest occupied the hotel was Amos Munroe, and it is with the memory of Mr. And Mrs. Munroe that the old Brimfield hotel will always be associated. The character of the hotel as a temperance house was early established, and was especially maintained by Mr. Munroe, who talk pride in being able to say that he had never sold a drop of liquor in all his 40 years of hotel-keeping. The interests of the Hitchcock Academy and the Brimfield hotel were closely allied. Besides throwing open its doors on the public days of the school, the hotel offered to teachers and pupils the comforts of a home, and pupils driving daily to school from a distance were the recipients of numerous acts of kindness. Many alumni of the Academy cherish their recollections of the Brimfield hotel among their brightest school-day associations, and feel that the rebuilding of the hotel will contribute greatly to the future prosperity of the school. While in summer Brimfield naturally offers many attractions to visitors, in winter the hotel, with its fine ball-room and good suppers, was the favorite destination of sleigh-rides from the towns throughout all the country side. There are pleasant pictures in the memories of many people of the old-fashioned stage coach riding up to the hotel with its load of travelers or happy students, and of the lines of gay winter turnouts stretching far along the country roads, and it is a cheering prospect that such scenes are no longer to be pictures of memory. The history of the building of the present hotel in a town whose resources have greatly diminished during the last quarter of a century is interesting and significant, as it is the record of enterprising, persistent effort, public spirit, and cooperative labor … [missing] …long after Mr. Munroe's retirement from its management, the discouraging nature of the disaster was fully realized, as there was no outlook for rebuilding. The town had lost the wealth of former days, and its general prosperity had decreased for the same reasons that have caused the decadence of so many New England towns. Attempts to form plans for rebuilding the hotel proved fruitless, until the burning of the "Old Corner Store," which seemed to be the culmination of misfortunes, proved the occasion of a project out of which grew the present successful enterprise. The plan of undertaking to form a stock company was decided upon in a citizens' meeting, and after a creditable amount had been pledged by Brimfield people, old residents and other friends of the town were given the opportunity to assist in the enterprise. The response from outside was very encouraging, subscriptions to stock being received from people living in New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Washington, Worcester, Springfield, Newtonville, Palmer and Warren, all of whom are connected with Brimfield by family ties or other interests. Brimfield people have taken pride in raising the utmost possible amount however, and nearly three-fourths of the capital stock of $9000 is owned by residents and those holding property in Brimfield. The first meeting of the stockholders was held in April, 1897, at which the directors of the corporation chosen were J. M. Warren, C. S. Tarbell, G. M. Hitchcock, H. L. Converse and C. L. Gould. Dr. R. V. Sawin was elected secretary and George M. Hitchcock treasurer. There are the same officers at present, with the exception of C. L. Gould and Dr. Sawin, who declined reelection at the annual meeting and whose respective places were filled by Porter Parker and C. S. Tarbell. Thomas J. Morgan and the late Newton S. Hubbard were members of the original committee that obtained stock subscriptions, Mr. Hubbard being actively engaged in promoting the undertaking at the time of his death. The new hotel is erected upon the foundation of the former one with the exception of being set back ten feet, which gives a better frontage, including a grass plot sixteen feet wide. While the new building follows the same general design as the former one, it has the advantage of important improvements in the arrangement of rooms and the addition of modern conveniences. It is very attractive, convenient and well-appointed, and the workmanship and material which have entered into its construction are of unusual excellence. All the arrangements and details have received the most careful study and supervision in order to obtain the greatest possible amount of convenience and comfort. The hotel commands pleasant views in every direction, and the rooms are so arranged that each one has a fine outlook. The lower floor, which contains the parlors, office, dining room, kitchen and lavatory, is finished in ash and Southern pine. There are fireplaces with handsome mantels in the office and dining room. A beautiful staircase of quartered oak leads to the second story, which is finished in stained whitewood. The upper floor is finished in whitewood, and, besides sleeping rooms, contains a ball room which will accommodate 40 couples. The house is heated by steam and is furnished with electric bells. Especial care has been taken to have the best possible plumbing. The water supply is from springs on Haynes Hill. A commodious and convenient stable has been put up on the site of the former one. The contractor for the construction of the hotel was T. J. Hines of Monson, and the foreman of the building was Thomas Pardy of Worcester. The lumber was furnished by Keefe Bros. of Masshapaug, Ct. Advantage was taken of home talent by employing J. Wilson Brown of Brimfield, a student in the electrical department of Maine State College, to put in the electric bells, and Albert Brown of Brimfield to do the plumbing. Much gratuitous labor has been performed by citizens, all the work of grading being accomplished by citizens' "bees." A good illustration of public spirit and dependence upon native resources was seen in the setting of the curb in front of the hotel. When the improvement of enclosing a grass plot by means of a granite curb was being considered, the question arose as to how the extra expense could be met. A bed of gneiss on Haynes Hill was prospected and favorably reported upon, after which the services of men and teams were contributed for several days to draw the stone from the new "quarry" and put it in place. Perfect harmony of feeling and unity of effort have marked the enterprise which has been the center of attention in Brimfield for more than a year past; while the practical interest shown in the undertaking by friends outside has important significance, since it is upon such spirit of cooperation, however manifested, that the future of the old New England towns largely depend. Great credit belongs to those who have had the care and management of the enterprise, for its success has been due to their untiring effort and disinterested labor. The hotel has been leased to Charles N. Stoddard of Rochester, Vt., for a number of years proprietor of the Rochester House, and who continues the management of that hotel. The knowledge of the spirit which put up such a hotel as that in Brimfield entered into Mr. Stoddard's decision to lease the property; while the directors feel that they have secured a landlord who is especially qualified for its successful management. The beautiful, quiet town of Brimfield, with its high elevation and fine scenery, has many attractions for summer visitors, and Mr. Stoddard has had successful experience in a mountain hotel patronized by summer boarders and tourists. Previous to Mr. Stoddard's experience as a landlord, his life in hotels, when a commercial traveler, gave him a thorough acquaintance with the requirements of hotel keeping. Mr. Stoddard is furnishing the hotel very handsomely from the warerooms of Atkinson & Co. of Boston, and opened the house for guests to-day, the day of the Hitchcock Academy commencement. Brimfield people feel that the welfare of their town in the future depends upon the hotel, as it has done in the past. While it is probable that a more extensive business will be carried on than in former days, it is desirable that the essential character of the old hotel, with its home-like hospitable atmosphere, be maintained. Mr. And Mrs. Stoddard are in sympathy with this feeling and are heartily welcomed by the people of Brimfield. There will be a formal opening of the new hotel some time before long, the date not yet having been determined. | |
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