Samson Short, originally of Tioga County, Pennsylvania, was an
entrepreneur and capitalist that contributed to the growth of North
East in the nineteenth century. At the age of sixteen, Short left Tioga
for Potter County to work in the lumber industry. Eight years later, he
opened his own saw mill in Potter County, which relocated to Elk County
in 1857. At that time, Short was the owner of one of the largest lumber
operations in the entire state of Pennsylvania. The demand for timber
increased dramatically in the 1860s at Drake’s Well in Titusville,
Pennsylvania. Short delivered large amounts of timber to the site,
which was being used for oil drilling operations and the construction
of various structures. The Civil War also stimulated Short’s sales,
prompting him to sell his lumber mill to his son, Albert, and expand
his entrepreneurial ventures to North East.
When Short arrived to North East in 1867, he purchased lots on Wall,
Clinton, and Pearl Streets near the railroad. He also established the
Short Manufacturing Company, Samson Fertilizer and Chemical Company,
U.S. Canning Co., and Short Banking Company. Short built the Palace
Hotel, also called Short’s Hotel, in 1877. Situated one block from the
depot, the hotel was bound to attract travelers. He outfitted each room
with running water and marble fittings, and provided leisure activities
for his guests. Connected to the hotel were annexes to an opera house,
barber, and pool room. Outdoor amenities included a park and free
livery stable.
After Short died in 1899, his son was given ownership of the property.
Eventually, the building became a banquet hall and ballroom in the
early 1960s. In 2016, the building is used for apartment units. The
interior of the structure has changed substantially, yet the exterior
remains undisturbed.
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