Elston Hall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Hotel Van Curler
|
|
East (front) elevation, 2008
|
|
| Location | Schenectady, NY |
|---|---|
| Built | 1925 |
| Architect | H.L. Stephens and Co. |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 85002277 |
| Added to NRHP | 1985 |
Elston Hall, once known as the Hotel Van Curler, is a large brick building in Schenectady, New York. It was built in 1925 in a style called Classical Revival.
Big companies like General Electric and the American Locomotive Company helped pay for it. They needed a nice place for their many new workers to stay. They also wanted a special building that looked like grand hotels in big cities. Today, Elston Hall is one of the main buildings for Schenectady County Community College.
Contents
Exploring Elston Hall's Design
Elston Hall is located at the edge of the college campus. It sits at the corner of State Street and Washington Street. The Schenectady Armory, another historic building, is nearby. A garden with a fountain is right across from the building. The Stockade Historic District, Schenectady's oldest area, is also close by.
What the Outside Looks Like
The building is six stories tall. It is made of brick with limestone details. Its shape is like the letter "H". The roof is sloped and covered with slate shingles. Some newer parts have been added to the building. These newer parts are not considered part of its original historic look.
The main entrance has six tall Corinthian columns. These columns hold up a flat section with the words "SCHENECTADY COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE" on it. Above this, there is a decorative roof edge and a flat roof with a balustrade (a row of small pillars). Each small pillar has a carved urn on top.
The bottom floor has a stone base. The first floor windows are a mix of rectangular and Palladian windows. A band of brick and stone separates the first and second floors. White flower-like designs are placed between the windows. The front doors have decorative carvings above them.
The upper floors have simpler windows. Each window has a plain stone sill and top. Another stone band separates the top floor. The three middle windows on the sixth floor have small iron balconies. The central part of the building has stone corners and brick pillars. These support a triangular roof section and a balustrade at the top.
The building's wings also have similar details. The south side has a domed entrance with classic designs. The north wing has Ionic columns. The stone bands and window styles are similar to the main part. The central window on the top floor of each wing has a balcony.
Inside the Building
The first floor of Elston Hall still looks much like it did originally. The main lobby has a Georgian style. It features pillars, decorative columns, and wood panels. The floor is made of terrazzo, and the walls have a marble base. Many designs from the outside are repeated inside.
The Lobby Lounge is now called the Mohawk Room. It is a large room with a curved wall. Five sets of double doors look out over a garden and the river. The fireplaces and decorative window tops on the inner doors are original.
The Reception Room is now the college president's office. It still has most of its original features. The old Dining Room and Assembly Room were combined to create a large Ballroom. This room can still be divided by a wall. A small private dining room is now part of a hallway. This hallway connects the building to a newer section. This hallway has the only original chandelier left in the building.
The upper floors have been changed a lot for college use. Their original layout and decorations are gone.
Why the Hotel Van Curler Was Built
In the 35 years before the hotel was built in 1925, Schenectady grew very fast. Its population became five times larger, and the city became ten times wealthier. This growth happened because General Electric (GE) and the American Locomotive Company (ALCO) made Schenectady their main base.
GE and ALCO together gave $300,000 towards the hotel's $700,000 building cost. The local Chamber of Commerce and over a thousand citizens helped raise the rest of the money. The hotel was named after Arendt van Curler. He was a Dutch explorer who first saw the area of Schenectady in 1661. The total cost ended up being $1.1 million.
The Stevens firm was chosen to design the hotel. They were known for building successful hotels. To make space for the hotel, a branch of the Mohawk River was filled in. Streets were made wider, and a sea wall was built along the Mohawk River. The hotel was owned by the public. Some smaller hotels nearby were torn down to reduce competition.
The Hotel Van Curler became a source of pride for the city. It hosted many important events. Even as the city changed and GE moved some work elsewhere, the hotel remained a key spot.
It was also a popular lunch spot for workers from the nearby GE plant. Many famous people stayed at the hotel over the years. These included then-governor Franklin D. Roosevelt and his wife Eleanor. Other notable guests included John Philip Sousa, Clement Attlee, and Robert F. Kennedy.
In 1954, new sections were added to the hotel. These were built to meet the growing needs of business travelers. All the new rooms had air conditioning and private bathrooms. These new rooms were popular. However, guests started preferring them over the older parts of the hotel. This caused the hotel's overall occupancy rate to drop.
The hotel went out of business in 1968. Schenectady County bought the building at a public sale for $710,000. They then turned it into what it is today, a college building. The college's leaders renamed it Elston Hall. This was to honor Charles Elston, who was a long-time leader of the county's Board of Representatives.
