Difference between revisions of "American House (Wooster, Ohio)"

Revision as of 13:09, 4 May 2022

About

Name

American House (Wooster, Ohio)

Accommodation and Food Services

Accommodation

Trading names

American Hotel

Services

Hotel

Facts

Founded

1837
^Wooster,Ohio

Date unknown

Founders

William ? McComb

Location

133 E. Liberty St., Wooster, 44691, Ohio Lot. no. 103, later changed to Lot No. 31

The American House was a longtime provider of respite for many passing through Wooster, Ohio between the late 1830s and 1960s. During that time it went through several incarnations. The original structure, which began operation as a hotel circa 1837, was built by William McComb and then leased to Jacob Maize to operate for several years. This structure was torn down to make way for an improved building by 1867. ^[1]

It was alternately known as the American House,^[2] the Yoder House, ^[3] New American House (part of the American House block), ^[4] Bechtel Hotel (part of Bechtel Hotels Inc), ^[5] Bechtel Hotel, ^[6] and finally as the American Hotel. ^[7] Along with the many name changes, the American House also went through a sizeable number of owners and managers as well as a rotation of businesses within its lower offices.

4 story brick, 60 x 180 feet building
30 apartments
1 restaurant
Facilities: 30 apartments, offices, dining room, culinary department, writing room, and 2 fine commercial sample rooms for traveling salesmen

Landmark

American Hotel building torn down Friday, December 5, 1969. [photograph] to make room for First Federal Savings and Loan ^[8]

Slogans

Timeline

American House, First Hotel 1837

1837 - built by William McComb and leased to Jacob Maize to operate as a hotel on the corner of E. Liberty and Buckeye Streets
1850 - 1850 Census, indicated 23 guests and employees lived at the hotel. Horace Howard, Landlord live there with his wife, Abigail, and their two sons. ^[9]

American House, Second Hotel 1867

1867 - Hotel torn down to make way for newer 4-story building, brick Italianate structure, arched windows, ground floor housed a variety of businesses. On the second floor a large porch with fancy iron railing and decorative columns covered the sidewalk along E. Liberty St.^[10]
1870 - 1870 census, listed John Koch, Hotel Keeper with his wife Lucie, along with 4 children. Additional residents included E. B. Eshelman, editor of the Wayne County Democrat newspaper and Matthew McClure, Hotel Keeper at another hotel in the vicinity. ^[11]
1873 - Commercial establishments included: bank, clothing store, boot and shoe, and a piano and organ store run by T. P. Baumgartner.^[12]

Yoder Hotel, 1892

1892 - Became the Yoder Hotel with building owner Catherine Imgard leasing it to Mary Yoder. ^[13]
1965 - Building sold to First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Wooster

City directory

Year	Page	Name	Proprietor	Notes
1850, 1852, 1853		American House
1856	34	American House	H. Houmard
1859		American House
1860-1861	628	American House
1873	13, 15, 17A	American House	Baumgardner
1884-1885	14	American House	T.S. Hamilton
1894-1895	83	Yoder House
1896		Yoder House
1900	98	Yoder House	S.J. Morris
1904	110	American House	H.H. Ziegler
1912-1913	147	New American House	H.H. Ziegler	American House Block
1915	127	New American House	H.H. Ziegler
1919	122	New American House	C.W. Kisling	American House Block
1925	211	American House
1928	65	American House	Ellis Lewis
1930	70	American House	Ellis Lewis
1932	71	Hotel Bechtel	Harvey G. Bechtel, Pres. and Mngr., Robert N. Bechtel, VP	Bechtel Hotels Inc
1934-1935	113	Hotel Bechtel	Harvey G. Bechtel, Pres. and Mngr., Robert N. Bechtel, VP	Bechtel Hotels Inc
1937	58	Hotel Bechtel	Harvey G. Bechtel, Pres. and Mngr., Robert N. Bechtel, VP	Bechtel Hotels Inc
1939	60	Hotel Bechtel	Harvey G. Bechtel, Pres. and Mngr., Robert N. Bechtel, VP	Bechtel Hotels Inc
1940	109, 153	Bechtel Hotel	Harvey G. Bechtel, Pres. and Mgr. Opr.	Bechtel Hotels Inc
1943	83, 138	Hotel Bechtel		Bechtel Hotels Inc
1946	311	Bechtel Hotel	Mrs. Fannie McVey, Asst. Mgr.
1952	85	American Hotel	Edw. Englander
1954	9-CL, 11-CL	American Hotel
1957	13, 205	American Hotel
1960	Alpha 2	American Hotel	Edw. Englander, Mgr.
1962	Alpha 3 Street Guide 3 Buyers Guide 20	American Hotel	Edw. Englander, Mgr.
1964-1965	Alpha 3 Buyers Guide 20 Street Guide 31	American Hotel

City Directories

1850, 1852, 1853 and 1859 City Directories
1859 - Williams' Akron, Wooster & Cuyahoga Falls Directory, City Guide & Business Mirror, 1859 by J. H. Baumgardner & Co.
1860-1861 - Ohio State Gazetteer and Business Directory for 1860-1861, Wayne County, Ohio / authored by George W. Hawes
1873 - Caldwell Atlas Business Directory
1884-1885 - Wooster & Wayne County Business Directory

Boarders

Sources to complete this table include:

1850 US Census for the Town of Wooster, Wayne County, Ohio p. 239B and 240A
1884 Wooster City and Wayne County Business Directory

Year	Last Name	First Name	Age	Birth Place	Occupation
1884	Ackerman	Frank			Barber
1884	Ackerman	John			Laborer
1850	Howard	Horace	63	NH	Landlord
1850	Howard	Abigail	49	PA
1850	Howard	George	18	OH
1850	Howard	Lewis	8	OH
1850	Weed	Jane	23	OH
1850	Wetwire	Jacob	25	Germany
1850	Miller	Jacob	16	Germany
1850	Cannin	Angeline	20	Unknown
1850	Lowry	Sydney	18	Unknown
1850	Reed	Rachel	30	Unknown
1850	First	Sarah	19	Unknown
1850	Crouse	Catherine	15	OH
1850	Crouse	Ann	10	OH
1850	Archer	Horrace	28	Home	Man of Leisure
1850	Hannah	John	34	MD	Broker
1850	Knepper	Samuel	32	MD	Merchant
1850	Carr	Hubert	30	Unknown	Trader
1850	Morehouse	Herd	21	CT	Clerk
1850	Kaufman	Samuel	24	OH	Telegraph Clerk
1850	Archer	William	26	CT	Merchant
1850	Allison	William	22	OH	Student
1850	Clendenon	James W	23	MA	none
1850	Turner	William	72	CT	Atty at Law
1850	Foreman	E	26	OH	Atty at Law
1850	Kreps	Daniel	24	Unknown	Clothier
1850	Kitchen	Simon	22	OH	Clerk
1850	Donnely	G W	22	OH	Atty at Law
1850	Hannah	William W	27	OH	Carriage Maker

Newspaper Article Citations

January 09, 1901: "It Is Again 'The American' How the Old Wooster Hotel Has Got Back Its Name at a Cost of $25.", Wayne County Democrat, p. 1.

August 04, 1966: "American Hotel, Soon to Be Torn Down, Has Noted List of Owners" by Unknown Author, The Daily Record, p..

December 05, 1969: "Old Landmark Is Down (and) Last Wall Comes Down" by Unknown Author, The Daily Record, p. 24.

August 04, 1966: "American Hotel, Soon to Be Torn Down, Has Noted List of Owners", The Daily Record.

December 05, 1969: "Old Landmark is Down", The Daily Record, p. 24.

December 05, 1969: "Last Wall Comes Down", The Daily Record, p. 24.

June 21, 2008: "American Hotel: Popular Place to Live and Work In" by Paul Locher, The Daily Record, p. 00.

Gallery

Letterheads

Logos

Photos

Image of the American Hotel before being demolished in 1969.

Maps

1856 - Baker's Wall Map of Wayne County

Ads

American Hotel Advertisement^[14]
ad, ^[15]

Newspaper Clippings/Full Text

Daily Record, AUG 4, 1966
Daily Record, DEC 5, 1969 p.24.
It is again "The American"^[16]
William Belknap obituary^[17]
William Belknap obituary^[18]
William Belknap obituary^[19]

You do not have permission to embed PDF files.|"First Federal Savings Buys American Hotel," Daily Record, 3 Dec 1965, p.1

Historical documents

Annual Business Review of Wayne County (1887)
- 1887 - T. S. Hamilton, Proprietor; Mrs. T. S. Hamilton, Clerk

The American House, under its present efficient management, has attained a large popularity as a desirable stopping place. The building is a fine four-story brick structure, 60 X 180 feet in dimensions,and has been refitted by its present proprietor and all departments placed in first class order. It contains 30 well lighted sleeping apartments, besides offices, dining room, culinary department, writing room, and two fine commercial sample rooms for the use of traveling salesmen. The tables of the American are noted for the excellence of cooking, and the general appointments and equipment are first-class. Mr. T. S. Hamilton, the proprietor, is widely known with the general traveling public, and has the assistance of Mrs. Hamilton as clerk ^[20]

References

↑ February 17, 2002:"Ask Genie- Keys to the Earliest Wooster Hotels" by Bonnie Knox, The Daily Record p. F1
↑ Reprint of 1856 Baker's Map of Wayne County Business Directory for Wooster p. 34
↑ 1900 Wooster City and Wayne County Directory p. 14
↑ 1912-1913 Complete Directory of Wooster and Orrville, Ohio and Wayne County Gazeteer p. 147
↑ 1932 Wooster City Directory p. 71
↑ 1940 National's Wooster Ohio City Directory p. 109
↑ 1952 Wooster, Ohio City Directory p. 85
↑ Old Landmark Is Down The Daily Record, December 5, 1969, p. 24.
↑ American Hotel Popular Place to Live and Work In. Paul Locher. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2008 June 21.
↑ American Hotel Popular Place to Live and Work In. Paul Locher. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2008 June 21.
↑ American Hotel Popular Place to Live and Work In. Paul Locher. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2008 June 21.
↑ American Hotel Popular Place to Live and Work In. Paul Locher. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2008 June 21.
↑ American Hotel Popular Place to Live and Work In. Paul Locher. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2008 June 21.
↑ Wooster Journal & Democratic Times, 29-NOV-1837 p.1
↑ The Wooster Journal and Democratic Times. Wooster, Ohio. 1838-02-28, p.4.
↑ Wayne County Democrat, 09-Jan-1901 p. 1
↑ Wooster Daily Republican, 27-Feb-1892 p. 3
↑ Wooster Jacksonian, 03-Mar-1892 p. 3
↑ Wayne County Democrat, 02-Mar-1892 p. 3
↑ Annual Business Review of Wayne County, O. 1887 p.5

What Links Here

[1] February 17, 2002:"Ask Genie- Keys to the Earliest Wooster Hotels" by Bonnie Knox, The Daily Record p. F1

[2] Reprint of 1856 Baker's Map of Wayne County Business Directory for Wooster p. 34

[3] 1900 Wooster City and Wayne County Directory p. 14

[4] 1912-1913 Complete Directory of Wooster and Orrville, Ohio and Wayne County Gazeteer p. 147

[5] 1932 Wooster City Directory p. 71

[6] 1940 National's Wooster Ohio City Directory p. 109

[7] 1952 Wooster, Ohio City Directory p. 85

[8] Old Landmark Is Down The Daily Record, December 5, 1969, p. 24.

[9] American Hotel Popular Place to Live and Work In. Paul Locher. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2008 June 21.

[10] American Hotel Popular Place to Live and Work In. Paul Locher. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2008 June 21.

[11] American Hotel Popular Place to Live and Work In. Paul Locher. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2008 June 21.

[12] American Hotel Popular Place to Live and Work In. Paul Locher. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2008 June 21.

[13] American Hotel Popular Place to Live and Work In. Paul Locher. Daily Record, Wooster, Ohio. 2008 June 21.

[14] Wooster Journal & Democratic Times, 29-NOV-1837 p.1

[15] The Wooster Journal and Democratic Times. Wooster, Ohio. 1838-02-28, p.4.

[16] Wayne County Democrat, 09-Jan-1901 p. 1

[17] Wooster Daily Republican, 27-Feb-1892 p. 3

[18] Wooster Jacksonian, 03-Mar-1892 p. 3

[19] Wayne County Democrat, 02-Mar-1892 p. 3

[20] Annual Business Review of Wayne County, O. 1887 p.5

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[16]

[17]

[18]

[19]

[20]

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 The American House was a longtime provider of respite for many passing through [[Wooster, Ohio]] between the late 1830s and 1960s. During that time it went through several incarnations. The original structure, which began operation as a hotel circa 1837, was built by William {{Surname|McComb}} and then leased to Jacob {{Surname|Maize}} to operate for several years. This structure was torn down to make way for an improved building by 1867. <ref> February 17, 2002:"Ask Genie- Keys to the Earliest Wooster Hotels" by Bonnie {{Surname|Knox}}, The Daily Record p. F1 </ref>
-It was alternately known as the American House,<ref> Reprint of 1856 Baker's Map of Wayne County Business Directory for Wooster p. 34 </ref>  the [[Yoder House]], <ref> 1900 Wooster City and Wayne County Directory p. 14 </ref> [[New American, The|New American House]] (part of the American House block), <ref> 1912-1913 Complete Directory of Wooster and Orrville, Ohio and Wayne County Gazeteer p. 147 </ref> [[Bechtel Hotel]] (part of Bechtel Hotels Inc), <ref> 1932 Wooster City Directory p. 71 </ref> [[Bechtel Hotel]], <ref> 1940 National's Wooster Ohio City Directory p. 109 </ref> and finally as the [[American Hotel]]. <ref> 1952 Wooster, Ohio City Directory p. 85 </ref>
+It was alternately known as the American House,<ref> Reprint of 1856 Baker's Map of Wayne County Business Directory for Wooster p. 34 </ref>  the [[Yoder House]], <ref> 1900 Wooster City and Wayne County Directory p. 14 </ref> [[New American, The|New American House]] (part of the American House block), <ref> 1912-1913 Complete Directory of Wooster and Orrville, Ohio and Wayne County Gazeteer p. 147 </ref> [[Bechtel Hotel (Wooster, Ohio)|Bechtel Hotel]] (part of Bechtel Hotels Inc), <ref> 1932 Wooster City Directory p. 71 </ref> [[Bechtel Hotel (Wooster, Ohio)|Bechtel Hotel]], <ref> 1940 National's Wooster Ohio City Directory p. 109 </ref> and finally as the [[American Hotel]]. <ref> 1952 Wooster, Ohio City Directory p. 85 </ref>
 Along with the many name changes, the American House also went through a sizeable number of owners and managers as well as a rotation of businesses within its lower offices.