THE NEW CORTLAND HOUSE

The Cortland House was located at Groton Ave. and Main Street. The Opera House was adjacent to the hotel on the far left in this picture postcard.

 

The Cortland News, Friday, March 14, 1884.

The New Cortland House.

   Mr. Delos Bauder has procured from Archimedes Russell, architect, of Syracuse, plans and specifications of a new hotel, which he expects to build on the site of the old one, only to cover all the ground to the sidewalk as now laid both on Main street and Groton avenue. On the former the building will have a frontage of 136 feet and 78 feet on the latter street, and will be four stories high throughout, with a tower in the corner, in which will perhaps be put a four-dial striking clock. On the first floor will be the ladies' parlor, office, bar-room, baggage-room, porter's room, wash-room, and in the corner looking south and east the reading-room, and all so conveniently arranged that a person at the desk has an unobstructed view of the whole.

   Fronting Main street and north of the ladies' parlor are three stores, each 20x64 feet inside, and on Groton avenue west of the office two stores each 20x64 feet inside. On the second floor are the dining-room—38x35 feet, and the kitchen, pantry, closets, etc., and suites of rooms facing on both streets. On the third floor, suites in front and bed-rooms on the west side. On the fourth floor, bed-rooms in front, with servants' rooms, etc., on the west side. In all, 75 rooms.

   The height of the ceiling from the first and second floors will be 13 feet; from the third floor, 10 feet; and from the fourth floor, 9 feet, The basement will be partitioned into rooms for the laundry, wine cellar, water-closets, furnace, boilers for heating the building throughout with steam, etc. Water tanks and closets are conveniently placed on every floor.

   The inside wood work will consist of pine, with cherry trimmings, the ceiling of the dining-room to be of white-wood laid in handsome designs. The entire building will be of brick, with cut-stone pillars, and terra-cotta trimmings, in attractive design.

   Over the entrance on Main street will project a porch, about 30 feet in length, and over it from the second floor a piazza, and over the corner window of the reading-room a balcony will ornament the corner, which is to be diagonal in shape. The roof will be mostly flat, but slanting near the front, so that the windows of the fourth story will slightly project.

   On the whole, it is safe to say that the Cortland House will arise from its ashes in shape and style superior to any hotel in Central NewYork—a building that the people of Cortland can point to with pride.

   Proposals for building are now open to bidders, the same to be opened next week, when it is expected that the contract will be let.

 

Cortland Water-Works.

   To correct false reports in regard to the Water-Works Company, and to furnish needed information in regard to their plans and system of operations we are authorized to state:

   The Company is a private corporation, and by its charter and general taws of the State is given the right to lay mains, pipes, and place hydrants in the village of Cortland. It furnishes its own capital. The village is in no way holden or called on to contribute to the cost of construction or maintenance of the works.

   It has entered into a conditional contract with Messrs. Hinds, Moffat & Co., of Watertown, to construct a system of waterworks on the following plan: First, to erect at the Otter creek springs "Worthington" pumps of sufficient capacity to force 1,200 gallons per minute to the top of court-house hill, on which will be placed an iron reservoir 40 feet high and 40 feet In diameter. Main pipes 10 inches in diameter will be run from the reservoir down Prospect street to the Messenger House, to the Wickwire factory at the U., I. & E. depot, Port Watson street across D., L. & W. R. R. track, Main street to Grant, and along the principal streets on each side. Forty frost-proof hydrants placed as the trustees may direct. Gates inserted at available places, so that pipes may be repaired without shutting off the supply from the reservoir.

   The enterprise is simply a matter of business. Its patronage is compulsory on no one, and its success depends entirely upon the public, whose patronage can be expected only through satisfactory service. The village can at any time compel the works to be transferred to the corporation upon an appraisal of their value. The $2,000 to be voted upon next Tuesday can be held until the works are shown to be successful. The amount asked for is less than other villages of this size pay, and if the appropriation is carried, a contract for a term of years at the same rate may be made if thought desirable. The fulfillment of the contract depends upon the village voting the sum named.

 

CORTLAND AND VICINITY.

   All the appropriations called for were voted at the Homer charter election on Tuesday. The president and board of trustees were re-elected.

   Rev. George Adams will deliver his second lecture on "Immortality" in the Universalist church next Sunday evening, March 16. Special question, "With what body do they come?" Morning subject, "Our Duty to the Church." Let all Come and hear.

   A fox-chase will be given by the Cortland Sporting Club at the Fair Grounds at 1 P. M. to-morrow, March 15. The purse is $12, to the first, $6, second $3, third $2, fourth $1. Entrance fee, $1, to be paid to George J. Miller at the Fair Grounds. Dogs start at 1 o'clock sharp. There will be a shake purse afterward.

   On the 10th inst. the Elmira, Cortland and Northern Railroad was incorporated, articles being filed in the office of the Secretary of State, with the following directors: Austin Corbin, Islip; Rogers Maxwell and Henry W. Maxwell, Brooklyn; Jas. Armstrong, Frederick W. Dunton, William G. Wheeler, Charles Bruff, Gilman S. Moulton, Thos. F. Ward and John P. Dosh, New York; James K. O. Sherwood, Oyster Bay; Archibald A. McLeod, Elmira; James D. Campbell, Davenport, Iowa. The capital is $2,000,000, in 20,000 shares of $100 each. Austin Corbin subscribes for 9,989 shares and J. Rogers Maxwell for the same number.

   The Homer Cornet Band will, beginning Tuesday evening, April 8, 1884, give in Keator Opera House, Homer, an entertainment continuing four nights. For this purpose they have engaged Mr. Charles Collins, the comedian, who will present on those evenings a military drama, employing forty actors and actresses, a farce, and there will also be character songs by well-known artists, and the " Squad, Jr.," will appear in their specialties. The Homer band is one in which  the whole county, as well as the village of Homer, feel a pardonable pride, and as the proceeds are to be used for their benefit in the purchase of new uniforms, they should and probably will receive liberal patronage.[Music Man 76 Trombones]

   At the February term of the Supreme Court Judge Martin found the courthouse out of repair, insufficiently heated and without ventilation, so much so as to render it an unsuitable place for the transaction of business and dangerous to the health of the judges, jurors, attorneys. officers and others and he therefore appointed Hon. R. H. Duell, Judge Knox and B. T. Wright, Esq., a committee to represent to the supervisors the facts in the case, in order that needed repairs may be made and thus obviate the necessity for the court to order the sheriff to do the work at the expense of the county. For this purpose a special session of the Board of Supervisors has been called for Monday, March 17.

 

Corporation Proceedings.

   Monthly meeting of the Board of Trustees of the village of Cortland, held at Fireman's Hall Monday evening, March 3, 1884, at 7 o'clock. Present—A. Mahan, President; D. E. Smith; Harrison Wells, G. W. Bradford, Theodore Stevenson, Trustees. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The following bills were audited and ordered paid:

A. Rittenhouse, lighting lamps. $12.50

G. A. Grossman, watchman……. 6.00

Lewis G. Darby, watchman……... 6.00

John Heber, engineer………….. 50.25

J. J. Davern, lighting lamps……. 12.50

L. D. Garrison, supplies for engine

House……………………………... 2.05

B. P. Bell, oil for engine house... 17.00

V. K. Knight, services as engin’r.. 7.50

W. B. Knapp, lighting lamps, etc...1.38

Calvin Priest, watch at fire………. 2.00

Cortland Machine Co., labor and

materials on steamer…………… 33.20

John Garrity, carting to Homer… 15.00

John Garvey, stone for culverts….4.60

Thomas Ellsworth, labor on engine

house……………………………….4.50

Thomas Donnelly, repairing tools..2.70

Bates A. Hollister, labor and material

on lamps…………………………. 18.80

Dr. C. E. Bennett, health officer… 6.75

Cortland Standard, for printing… 46.30

Stephen Simmons, lighting lamps 1.00

Peter Van Bergen, police………… 8.00

H. A C. Gas Co., gas for streets 121.25

H. A C. Gas Co., gas for engine house..16.50

H. A C. Gas Co., coal for engine. 52.86

J. B. Arnold, meals for Homer firemen…40.80

J. J. Davern, labor on streets…… 40.25

J. J. Davern, labor on wells………. 3.50

Patrick Kane, labor on streets….. 12.15

Chas. Grover labor at engine house.75

John Kane, labor on streets……….7.50

Andrew Stout, labor on streets……1.75

Andrew Stout and team, drawing hose

and steamer…………………………8.50

Patrick Garrity, labor on street…….1.75

   It was moved and carried that Messrs. D. E. Smith and G. W. Bradford, of the Board, be appointed a committee to settle with the village treasurer.

   On motion, it was

   Resolved, That from and after the 1st day of April, 1884, all riding of any bicycle, tricycle, or velocipede, or drawing, pushing or wheeling, of any cart upon any sidewalk of this village is prohibited, under the fine and penalty of five dollars for each and every violation of this ordinance.

   On motion, the meeting adjourned.

   F. HATCH, Clerk.

 

Editor’s note:

   The Cortland House or Cortland Hotel was purchased by the city from its owner in 1970 for about $300,000. The city paid a contractor about $300,000 to demolish it and turn the property into a parking lot. This information comes to us second hand. Please comment if you find inaccuracies.