Murray Hill Hotel (Murray Isle) facts for kids
The Murray Hill Hotel was a large, fancy hotel located on Murray Isle. This island is part of the beautiful Thousand Islands area in the St. Lawrence River. It was in the state of New York, USA. The hotel was built in 1895 and welcomed guests for 20 years before closing in 1915. It was big enough to host 500 people at a time!
Hotel History
The Murray Hill Hotel first opened its doors in 1895. It was owned by Amasa Corbin Jr. and Captain James “Jack” Taylor. This hotel was a seasonal spot, meaning it was only open during the warmer months, from May to September.
For two decades, the hotel offered modern comforts to its guests. However, it changed owners several times, which made it hard to keep the business going strong. In 1912, the hotel was sold to a company from Texas. Sadly, it closed just three years later, in 1915. The building itself was taken down in 1942.
Hotel Design and Features
.png)
Building the Murray Hill Hotel in 1895 cost a lot of money, about $100,000. That was a huge amount back then! The hotel was very long, stretching about 300 feet (91 meters). It stood four stories tall.
One of its most impressive features was a huge porch that wrapped all the way around the building. This porch was 520 feet (158 meters) long and 18 feet (5.5 meters) wide. Inside, the hotel had many modern things for its time. It had electric lights and even electric call buttons for service. Guests could enjoy billiard rooms and bowling alleys. There was also an elevator and cozy fireplaces.
The hotel was famous for having some of the biggest rooms around. It boasted the largest dining room, parlor, and office. It also had the biggest ladies' billiard room and the longest, widest porch of any hotel in the Adirondacks or Thousand Islands region. Staying at the hotel cost $3.00 or $4.00 per day.
Fun Activities at the Hotel
The Murray Hill Hotel was located right on Eel Bay. This spot was perfect for advertising great fishing in the St. Lawrence River. Guests could also enjoy other water activities. Boating and sailing were very popular ways to spend time on the beautiful river.
