The American Hotel

The American Hotel. Historic Main Street Tour. , The American Hotel was built circa 1847 and was the first , building in Sharon Springs to be included in the National , Register of Historic Places. Later, in 1995, over one , hundred and fifty structures in the spa village were added , to create the historic district. The American's original , proprietor, Nicolas LaRue, created beautiful fishponds, , gardens and bicycle paths on the vast grounds. He was also , one of the early explorers of Howe Caverns. The successors , to N.M. LaRue and Sons were the "LaRue Brothers” whose , aim was "to furnish superior accommodations at , reasonable rates” while providing a table "abundantly , supplied with delicacies fresh and in season.", As the village's summer guest population dwindled during , the last quarter of the 1900's, the hotel was severely , dilapidated and neglected. In 1996, the American Hotel , was purchased by partners Doug Plummer and Garth , Roberts who started its restoration. Recently , relocated to the village, the two also opened a , successful café in the Lehman Block upstreet. , Active in the community, they persuaded many of , their city friends to purchase and restore buildings.