Historic Name

Short's Hotel (Palace Hotel)

Address

90 S Pearl Street

Municipality

North East Borough

Tax Parcel

35010045000300

Historic District

Classification

Class 1 (Definitions of Classes)

State Key Number

50944

Historic Function

Domestic - hotel

Style

Italianate

Built

1877

Architect

Builder

Barn Type on property

Last Entry Update

7/24/2016

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.

Sources: Northwest Institute of Research, Historic Survey 1982

Short's Hotel (Palace Hotel) National Register nomination

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Photo courtesy, Erie County Assessment Office