The Dawn of a Destination

The Dawn of a Destination, In the beginning…, A horse manure crisis overwhelmed burgeoning urban centers at the end of the nineteenth century. In Manhattan, an estimated 1,000,000 horses were dumping 1,500,000 pounds daily. Same for Brooklyn. Put that together with industrial smog, and no wonder city folk needed a getaway., The North Shore of Long Island offered fresh air, rolling hills, and access to the Long Island Sound. The rich and famous built mansions in Sands Point. To attract visitors, local entrepreneurs organized yacht clubs and built private hotels, each with a unique personality. Consequently, people nicknamed them after the proprietor; for example, The Victoria became “Mullon’s,” or The Anchorage became “Haskell’s.” Can you imagine such a thing in today’s corporate world?, In the nineteenth century, the easiest way to get here was on steamboat. Even more convenient and romantic was sailing to a hotel with a waterfront dock., “Before it was the Renwick, it was called the Grapevine Hotel, run by my grandparents Henry and Emma Smith as early as 1870. Henry became ill in 1889 and Ran Smull took it over.” , , David Smith, The Last One Standing, Lorenzo Smull was a prominent builder who could double as an architect. He rebuilt the Grapevine with an unmistakable cross-gambrel roof, added a wraparound porch, and renamed it the Renwick. He and his new proprietor, “Cappie” Thatcher, shared roots in the oyster business, and made an ideal team. The Port Washington News described Cappie as “one of the most popular hosts in the hotel business… with a beaming countenance and friendly attitude.” Smull and Thatcher’s became a social center for locals and vacationers., With Manhasset Bay on one side and the Mill Pond on another, the Renwick was in a bustling center of activity. You could see the whole town passing by from the porch. The Renwick flourished until the 1920s and has since been occupied by various restaurants. Fortunately, the building has survived as a reminder of Port Washington at the turn of the century., Map text:, Some things to do, Walk back to the shoreline to see the remains of the Renwick dock or cross the street to take an historic walk around the Mill Pond. Follow this link to learn more about our historic hotels., Hotel Renwick / Grapevine (c.1870–1922) , Since 1938, this landmark building has housed many popular restaurants such as Gildo’s, Winston’s and Diwan., The Seaman Building / Various (1872–1932) , Built by the Henderson Brothers for George Seaman, this 38-room hotel was first known as the Central, then as the Cove Inn, and then as Old Heidelberg. Each of its proprietors , most notably Jere O’Brien, Patrick McGirr, John Konrad , imbued it with his own sparkling personality., Port Washington Hotel / Bradley’s (1872–1962) , Its elite restaurant was a favorite spot for the Astors and the Vanderbilts, and attracted many out-of-town celebrities such as Babe Ruth, NYC Mayor Walker, and entertainer Will Rogers., Bayview Hotel / Dondero’s (1905–1927) , The proprietor, “Little Joe” Dondero, was a beloved character. The pavilion in the back by the bay was a favorite meeting place for Democratic Party fund raisers. A and R Marshall Shipyard took over the building in 1928., The Anchorage / Haskell’s (1907–1939) , If your dream vacation consisted of late afternoon in a rocking chair, the historic Anchorage Hotel would be a perfect choice. Built in 1760, it was patriot-farmer John Mitchell’s homestead. Captain Elbert Stannard, a sea-faring entrepreneur, lived here before it was converted to a hotel., The Victoria / Mullon’s (1905–1928) , It was a virtual entertainment center facing the train station. The proprieter, William Mullon, also built Mullon Hall next door as a venue for dances, parties, movies, and theater., The Central Hotel / Bradley House (c.1900–1922) , The Central Hotel was better known for its saloon managed by John Bradley who also managed Port’s baseball team that “crossed bats” with local rivals in the back. He is the same Bradley who purchased the Port Washington Hotel in 1905.