1900:  AFTER THE FIRE

photo credit:  Dona Fizzell Cooper Collection
After the 1899 fire the Grand Central was rebuilt but it would never have the same prestige as its pre fire days.

Following the Grand Central fire of 1899 the Imperial replaced the Grand Central as the premier hotel in Smethport.  In this photo, the Grand Central, without its distinctive Mansard roof is on the right and the Imperial, now 15 feet higher after it was lifted is on the left.  Smethport still had dirt streets in this early 1900 photo.

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