Octagon Hotel facts for kids
The Octagon Hotel was a very important building in Oyster Bay (hamlet), New York. It was a popular place for people to meet, both for fun and for serious political discussions. Built in 1851, this unique eight-sided building was first called the Nassau House. It's thought to be one of the only octagon-shaped hotels in the entire United States!
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A Look Back: The Hotel's History
This special eight-sided building became famous as the Octagon Hotel. It was built in 1851 for a person named Luther Jackson and was first known as Nassau House. Later, it was called Acker Nassau House. It was a busy spot, serving as a popular restaurant and a place where important political meetings happened.
New Owners and Modern Changes
In 1887, Phillip and Mary Lavelle bought the business and gave it the name Octagon Hotel. After Phillip passed away, Mary Lavelle took charge. She made many exciting improvements that attracted visitors from all over! In 1889, she added a central heating system, making guests comfortable all year long. Then, in 1890, she built a power plant that brought Oyster Bay its very first electric lights! Mary even got her own direct phone line to New York City because she wasn't happy with the local phone service.
A Place for Important People
The Octagon Hotel also had a connection to a famous American leader, Theodore Roosevelt. In 1899, when Roosevelt was the Governor of New York, his secretary had a small office on the second floor of the hotel. However, the hotel was so busy that his staff soon needed more space. They moved to a larger office in the nearby Oyster Bay Bank Building.
Even important visitors from other countries stayed here! The German Ambassador, Baron Speck von Sternburg, chose rooms at the Octagon Hotel during his visit to Oyster Bay. It was even said that Secret Service agents, who protect important people, stayed at the hotel, especially in 1902 when it was "overcrowded with Secret Service men, reporters, and politicians."
From Hotel to Car Dealership
Mary Lavelle successfully ran the Octagon Hotel into the early 1900s. But when a new owner, Charles Davenport, took over, fewer people came to stay. Newer hotels in the area started to attract more customers. After ten years, Davenport sold the building to Edward Fisher. Fisher transformed the hotel into Oyster Bay's very first Ford automobile dealership! Since then, the building has been used for different car-related businesses. It remains the only known octagonal building in this part of Long Island.
The Octagon Hotel Today
There's a plan to bring the building back to how it looked originally. The Town of Oyster Bay is currently looking at this idea. Many community groups are very interested in seeing this historic building, which has ties to Theodore Roosevelt, carefully restored.
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