From the outside the Harbor View Hotel looked pretty much the way it always does. The lawns were freshly mowed, the stems and blossoms in the neat flower borders waved gaily in a stiff September breeze, and the sun was strong on the blues of the water around Starbuck’s Neck, on one of those recent, ideal days of early fall. However, something was definitely missing, one noticed almost Immediately. It was the porch sitters. They were all gone, and the porch furniture was pulled in. The Harbor View had closed for the winter.
Dr. T. J. Walker, who lately bought the Katama hotel building, has contracted with George S. Norton to move intact the south end of the structure to the Doctor’s Harbor View premises at Starbuck’s Neck.
Regarding the contest we wish to state that the right of voting is free to all persons, and one person can send in any number of votes - no limit. It is only a question of getting the coupons, and you are entitled to as many votes as you can produce coupons.
For the first time in more than fifty years, the Harbor View Hotel in Edgartown has changed hands. The Walker family has been in control of the property since 1898, seven years after its original opening. In that year, F. A. Douglass, the first owner of the Harbor View, sold two thirds of the interest in the hotel to Dr. T. G. Walker and L. T. Townsend, Dr. Walker later acquiring the entire property, which has been owned recently by his children, Mrs. Luther M. Sibley and Raymond Walker.
A formal agreement for the purchase of the Harbor View hotel at Edgartown has been signed, and the purchasing group for which Alfred Hall has been acting since the first agreement was executed a few weeks ago, will take title to the property in December. But work toward the renovation and rehabilitation of the hotel will begin at any time, Mr. Hall told the Gazette this week, with an expenditure of at least $50,000.
Come again, and Edgartown with enhanced charms will give you cordial welcome.
The tax bills for 1899 are now out, and everyone is correspondingly happy.
Hotel Harbor View is reported as having had the best year in the history of the house. Landlord and Mrs. Douglas are to be congratulated on modelly managing a model house.
At 6 pm. Wednesday evening, 11th inst., the polls were closed in the great voting contest for the naming of Edgartown’s new Summer hotel. Since Dec. 18th the votes had been coming in, the standing of the vote being announced in subsequent issues of the Gazette. From almost the start the favorites seemed to be Hotel Edgartown and Harbor View, although Hotel Martha and others developed considerable strength.
By courtesy of the Directors we are permitted to invite the public to sent to the Gazette office their written choice of a suitable name for the new hotel. Let all who are interested and have a name in mind which they thing the correct thing, send it to us. This invitation holds good until Saturday nigh, Dec. 6th. After that date the different names suggested will be published, and the public will then be given an opportunity to decide (by Gazette coupon vote) which of the proposed name shall be accepted.
We take pleasure in printing below a few particulars regarding the new hotel to be erected on Starbuck’s Bluff, Edgartown, the specifications calling for the building’s completion by May 15, 1891. Mr. Cummings, the well-known Troy (N.Y.) architect, drew the plans, and these and the specifications call for a structure which will be attractive, of first-class appointments, and built in the most thorough manner.
Photographer R. G. Shute took some fine views of the hotel Monday afternoon. The finished pictures are now on sale at his store, samples to be seen in the window. It is useless to say that Mr. Shute is an adept at the photographer's art, - as well as a thousand and one other accomplishments, - and in this case has been fortunate in securing extra fine results and has made a picture which every Edgartonian far and near will desire to be in possession of. Price 50c. Each.
