Ulster House Hotel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Ulster House Hotel
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West profile and north elevation, 2008
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| Location | Pine Hill, NY |
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| Nearest city | Kingston |
| Built | 1882 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 02001399 |
The Ulster House Hotel is a big, old wooden building in Pine Hill, New York. It used to be called the Wellington Hotel. This hotel was built a long time ago, in the late 1800s, and has a special look called Italianate style.
It's one of the few hotels left from when the Catskill Mountains were a very popular vacation spot. Because of its history and unique style, the Ulster House Hotel was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. This means it's an important building worth protecting.
Contents
Exploring the Hotel's Design
The Ulster House Hotel stands on a corner lot where Main Street and Academy Street meet. It marks the western edge of Pine Hill's quiet downtown area. The land around the hotel slopes gently, and a small stream called Mosier Creek runs through the property.
What Does the Hotel Look Like?
The building has three floors and is made of wood, with a strong stone base. Its outside walls are covered with wooden boards called clapboard. The main part of the hotel has a low, gently sloping roof. On top of the roof, there's a small, decorative tower called a cupola. This cupola has three narrow, rounded windows and its own small roof.
There's a wide porch that wraps around the front and side of the hotel. This porch has a metal roof and is held up by round columns. A low railing connects these columns. The roof of the hotel sticks out a bit, and it's supported by decorative pieces called brackets.
Inside the Ulster House Hotel
The main entrance is in the middle of the front of the hotel. It has two wooden doors with glass panels and a window above them. When you go inside, you step into a central hallway. On either side of this hall are large rooms called parlors, which go all the way to the back of the building.
Many parts of the hotel, like the decorative moldings, wall finishes, and the special wooden floors (called parquet floors), are still original. The second and third floors also have central hallways and simple guest rooms. These rooms also keep their original look and feel.
A Look Back: Hotel History
Pine Hill became a popular place for vacations in 1872. This was when the Ulster and Delaware Railroad finished building its tracks through the village. People could now easily travel to the mountains for fresh air and beautiful views.
The Wellington Hotel Opens
The Ulster House Hotel, which was first known as the Wellington Hotel, was built ten years later in 1882. A travel guide from 1905 said it had 152 rooms! This made it the second largest hotel along the railroad's route. Imagine how many people could stay there!
Changes Over Time
Later, in the middle of the 20th century, fewer people visited the Catskill Mountains for long vacations. This was because more families started to own cars and could travel to different places easily. Because of this, the hotel was not used as much.
Today, the Ulster House Hotel is still standing and has been kept safe. In 2001, someone bought it hoping to open it again as a restaurant. As of 2019, it is a private home.
