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The Hotel Holland
it's a shame about the Hotel Holland. Fire in the early morning hours last Tuesday destroyed the Rouses Point landmark. In recent years it had been unoccupied, and, prior to that, it had been used by a television company.
If you had never been in the Hotel Holland in its heyday you really missed something. I was just seven years old when I first stood in the lobby of the hotel, but I have never forgotten it. You see, the owner, Bertha Jillson, was a best friend of my grandmother, Alvina Gagnon. On a particular evening during a visit to Rouses Point, my grandmother insisted that we go see Bertha at the Hotel Holland. There was something special that she wanted to show us.
So, my Mom, Dad, little brother and I got into the family Pontiac Star Chief and drove the two blocks to Lake Street. I couldn't believe my eyes when I walked into the Hotel Holland. Standing in the lobby, I had never seen a room so big. Large overstuffed chairs, the smell of cigar smoke, a crystal chandalier. It was almost like it didn't belong there. It was like a New York City hotel in tiny Rouses Point.
Bertha greeted us in the lobby and brought us into another room, the lounge. A few men were at the bar with brown bottles of Genesee in front of them. Bertha pointed upwards and there it was -- the first color television I had ever seen. Even my father was amazed at this new item! It held us spellbound, so different from the black and white televisions we were used to.
I'll never forget that the Arthur Godfrey Show was on. And there he was with orange hair! It looked so bright. It almost glowed off the screen. We all watched in awe, as Bertha and my grandmother chit-chatted about whatever older ladies chit-chat about. We stayed about half an hour and then Bertha brought us into the kitchen and offered my brother and me homemade cookies.
It was a routine that through the years I would repeat often. Visiting the Hotel Holland with my grandmother and sitting in the lobby, in those overstuffed chairs while my grandmother and Bertha traded stories about people and events. I remember seeing Hank Jillson behind the registration desk, usually with a cigar in hand. And usually there would be men in the lobby, all dressed up in ties and such, reading the newspaper. Any minute now, you almost expected a movie star, maybe Bette Davis or - - dare I say it? -- Marilyn Monroe to walk down the stairway.
Then, before we'd leave, a trip to the kitchen was mandatory. There was always some kind of great dessert. Maybe strawberry shortcake this time. Or chocolate cake. And always homemade cookies.
The Hotel Holland was a one-of-a-kind place for the North Country. To my knowledge even the big city of Plattsburgh didn't have such a beautiful hotel. It's too bad that with the passing of time things have to change. The Hotel Holland, with its beautiful lobby, spacious dining room, mahogany bar with the color television and, of course, kitchen with all the goodies, should have lived forever. Rouses Point will never see such a sight again.
Comments
Has Tom-A-Hawk come up with a thought provoking idea about the hotels lost to fires? I think not. This is on everyone's lips anytime a structure such as the Cumberland or Holland are lost. Even the call firemen say the cause is usually of a suspicious nature.
To call these structures "landmarks" is a little far off. Fort Ticonderoga or Kent DeLord house are landmarks. The Holland was a run down old building with a lot of good memories for some folks.
And for the RP call fireman I can only say that your efforts are greatly appreciated. Most of you are places other than sitting around the firehouse watching TV. You have to get to the fire station, assemble the team and then go to the fire. Because of the delay, most structures can not be saved.
But if you weren't there when the Holland was fully involved, RP probably would only be a memory since most structures in the area are basically the same material, age, etc. Thanks guys/gals.
Posted by: Jack Wilson | June 13, 2006 6:14 PM
One can only wonder why the hotels in Rouses Point all come to the same fate. The Anchorage as well as the Saxony each met their fates at the hands of the flame. The grim reminder still sits on the corner of Lake Street and Route 11 as the remains of a popular watering hole. And the Cumberland in Plattsburgh was also destroyed by fire. Are these accidents or insurance ploys, or are those men with the cigars and too many bottles of beer in front of them the cause.? Maybe we need more paid fire fighters. One has to wonder--tbi
(Foxy's note: We haven't heard from Tom-A-Hawk lately, but he has made his return with his usual thought-provoking ideas. Welcome back!)
Posted by: Tom-A-Hawk | June 13, 2006 9:18 AM