06/16/2025
Monday Morning Musings:
1898-1899, two years that left their mark on Sullivan County. These must've been dry years in our corner of the world. In 1898 a fire ravaged Dushore that changed a block forever, and took a church. That same year, a fire struck Nordmont, leveling greater than half the town. In 1899, another conflagration in Nordmont, and the other half of the town burned, the community barely saved their covered bridge in both events. There was a forest fire near the tannery, that lit up the night sky for miles around.
In 1898, the LaPorte Hotel burned for the second time, it was a complete loss. LaPorte's largest and most important establishment was gone in the blink of an eye. There were other smaller hotels, Darby Kennedy and John Hassen Sr. both purchased hotels near that time. Kennedy purchased a part of Mrs. Lauer's Mountain House, the former Dr. Fleschhut's pharmacy, enlarged it and opened The Commercial Hotel. Hassen purchased another portion, the main building, and opened his hotel, later known as The Hotel Bernard owned by his son, John Hassen Jr. In 1898, Mrs. Lauer's Mountain House, only the former annex at this point burned, and the two neighboring establishments barely escaped the blaze. So LaPorte was down two hotels, one major and one minor, in the same year.
Francis Gallagher who owned a home on Main Street, and operated a Cafe and small hotel from there, must've had a banner year, earning the displaced guests from across the street. In 1899, he would become the owner of the new Laporte Hotel on the site of the old one. He purchased the lot and built a brand new structure.
Another entrepreneur who took advantage of the situation in Laporte, Thomas Beahen, opened his home as a hotel from the years 1898-1900. This small establishment, on the northeast corner of Main and King streets, across from Gallagher's home and cafe, took in displaced boarders and guests from The LaPorte Hotel. His hostelry, being located on Main Street and after the USS Maine event that kicked off the Spanish American War, and ignited patriotic fervor across the nation, named his place The Hotel Maine. For three seasons the Hotel Maine served guests in a more intimate and less refined setting than the fancy hotels nearby.
The home that became The Hotel Maine, was one of LaPorte's earliest structures. Isaac Lamerau, who helped build Meylert's Mansion, lived there for a time, and likely built that structure, and three other buildings on the same block, all 4 look the same, one, the Ingham Law office is now gone, replaced by the parking lot for the bank. Lamerau's home later served as a post office, then a boarding house, then the Hotel Maine, and now, as a private home.
These men, the Hassens, the Kennedys, Beahan, and more, served our town while Gallagher rebuilt the Laporte Hotel. Many homes were opened to fill the gaping hole left by the loss of LaPorte's oldest established building.
In 1898 there was great destruction in our town. Two hotels, and more burned. Bucket brigades fought conflagrations everywhere in Sullivan County, and in the wake of the devastation, towns were forced to rebuild. A new generation of men and women had to step up, make their own marks, and revive towns that had lost so much.
All of our hotels may have been smaller than the grand hotels in Eagles Mere nearby, but even the smallest deserve credit, this has been a short exploration of an establishment on Main Street, LaPorte. Even the smallest places can have a big impact and deserve recognition.
P.S. I'm so sorry I missed last week everyone. I just couldn't write. It must be the summer whirlwind, or the funk I can't get out of. I'm so happy to see that this little page now has 200 followers, I'll admit, I never expected it to grow beyond 25. I see these history pages with thousands of followers and wonder how they do it? Well, first big mile stone ✅, hopefully it's because I'm doing something right. I may have to do something for 500 if I ever get there, try and make it more exciting, we'll see.
