photo credit: R. C. Gleason
WOW: animation: RAISING OF THE IMPERIAL!
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Not
many people are left who can remember this huge, beautiful building, known originally
as the ROCKWELL HOUSE. Those who do, however, describe
it as nothing less than an absolute marvelous palace. The hotel, which was located
on West Main Street, was constructed between 1880-81 by S. J. Rockwell, who
then named it the Rockwell House. He remained the proprietor for a only
a few months. (This picture was taken July 4, 1898.
Smethport made all of their hotels and other places of business look marvelous
with ribbon and flags on the Fourth of July.)
Following Rockwell were
three other proprietors, and then the hotel was purchased by H. B. Vincent,
who renamed it the Chautauqua House. The first advertisement for it appears
in the February 5, 1886 of The McKean County Miner, whereit's listed
as the Chautauqua House with proprietor H. B. Vincent, J. L. Thomas, and then
Burgess Daniel Bacon became proprietors after Vincent. Originally, it had three
floors. Later, there was a fourth floor added to the building.
The Opening of the Rockwell
McKean County Miner Feb. 10, 1881
We understand that the Rockwell hotel or rather the “Central Hotel” as it has been named will be opened to the public about the first of March. It is a well arranged house and is being finished in good style. The painting and graining are especially fine. The graining was done b Mr. Humes, of Williamsport, and is one of the finest jobs of the kind we ever saw.
The Best Hotel in Smethport
McKean County Miner Feb. 8, 1895
Do you know that there is no better hotel in Smethport to stop at for a day or week, than the Chautauqua House. The table service is excellent, and there is no more accommodating host than Dan Bacon. Try the Chautauqua House when visiting Smethport and you will be satisfied.
See Location in 2001
photo credit: James
Freer
