Truxton House & the O’Connor Hotel

The early hotels in the country places received perhaps a more liberal patronage than in later years. The roads were traveled in such localities by numerous stage coaches, and all the merchandise and stock for manufacturers were brought in by teams, all of which made business at the hotels. [Smith 1885]

The Ryan Hotel was built by Asa Goddard in 1826, a portion of it was used by a Mr. Van Allen as a store and a portion as a dwelling. During the late war it was transformed into a hotel by George Pond. He kept it but a short time [see Pond, George], and was followed by I. Rogers, John Wheeler, A.L. Pomeroy, James H. Ashby and the present proprietor, M. Ryan who took charge of it in March, 1882. [Smith 1885]

Mr. John Wheeler has leased and taken possession of the Truxton House from the estate of Mr. J. S. Vale, who had previously been the landlord. [1879-05-30]

J. H. Ashby was the proprietor of the Truxton House but was planning on moving to Cortland. [1881-10-21]

“Michael Ryan, of this place, has leased the Truxton house in Truxton village.” [1882-03-03]

W. S. Goddard, proprietor of the Truxton House was planning a Decoration party for May 29^th. [1889-05-03]

John O’Connor has been busy painting and papering his hotel, the Truxton House. [1890-05-09]

John O’Connor, proprietor of the Truxton House is planning an opening party at his hotel on Friday evening, May 30^th. [1890-05-16]

John O’Connor purchased the hotel from Lillian M. Parmelee (George Pond’s daughter) on January 16, 1893 [1893-01-20]

In this weekly report from Truxton it was reported the John O’Connor had purchased the Truxton House. Apparently he had been renting it since he had been the proprietor of the hotel since at least May, 1890. [1893-01-25]

“John O’Connor was born upon the old homestead about a mile north of Truxton in 1856. His early education was obtained at the common schools of Truxton and at the Homer academy and Cortland Normal. After completing his school work he returned to his home and was employed with his father in the management of the large farm known as the Cornelius O’Connor farm. In 1875 Mr. O’Connor commenced teaching, which business he followed for ten terms. In 1883 he went to Minnesota where he resided for several years. In March, 1886, he, in company with his brother Jerry, purchased the store which is situated near the hotel. They continued the mercantile business until 1890. The post office was during this time located in their store, Mr. Jerry O’Connor being the postmaster. In 1890 John O’Connor purchased the Truxton House of George Pond of Phelps, Ontario county, and he at once severed his partnership with his brother and assumed the management of the hotel. He was elected town clerk in 1889 and has since held the office. A large new safe of the Cary make has recently been placed in his office for the proper care of the town papers, books, etc. The hotel, since coming into the hands of Mr. O’Connor, has been completely remodeled and refurbished and to-day presents a very tasty and inviting appearance. A large barn has also been built by Mr. O’Connor. The care of the house is under the supervision of Mrs. O’Connor ably assisted by Misses Kati and Delia Gibbons. In politics he is a strong Democrat and is prominent in his town. By his genial ways and honest dealing Mr. O’Connor has won a large circle of friends both among his own townsmen and the traveling public. As a conversationalist Mr. O’Connor has few equals, having visited, at some time in his life, every state in the union, east of the Mississippi river.” [1899-05-19a]

During the early morning hours of Friday, April 29^th , 1904, a massive fire destroyed the high school, the Truxton House hotel and other buildings. [1904-05-06]

This was a belated but nice description of the new Truxton House hotel (O’Connor Hotel) that John O’Connor had built in the summer of 1904. [1912-05-10]

In November of 1919 the O’Connor Hotel dodges a fiery bullet. [1919-10-31]

In 1937 George Terrell was the proprietor of the Hotel Truxton.

John O’Connor of Truxton dies at age 90. [1946-05-25]

In 1948 there was yet another Grand Opening for the Truxton Hotel. [1948-05-06]

In March 1949 the old hotel did battle with fire once more and came away a little the worse for wear. [1949-03-25]

The last mention of the Truxton Hotel found in the newspaper archives was 1972.

FOOTNOTES

[Smith 1885] - History of Cortland Co., NY, By H. P. Smith, History of Truxton

Chapter XXIV, 1885.

[Pond, George] – The phrase found in [Smith 1885], “He kept it but a short time,” is misleading. George Pond leased the hotel but kept ownership. After his death, in 1889 or 1890, the hotel went to his daughter, Lillian May Parmelee. She kept it until January 1893 when she sold it to John O’Connor.

[1879-05-30] – The Cortland Democrat, Cortland, NY, Friday, May 30, 1879.

[1881-10-21] – The Cortland News, Cortland, NY, Friday, October 21, 1881.

[1882-03-03] – The Cortland Democrat, Cortland, NY, Friday, March 3, 1882.

[1889-05-03] – The Cortland Democrat, Cortland, NY, Friday, March 3, 1889.

[1890-05-09] - The Cortland Democrat, Cortland, NY, Friday, May 9, 1890.

[1890-05-16] – The Cortland Democrat, Cortland, NY, Friday, May 16, 1890.

[1893-01-20] – Hotel Purchase: Lillian May Parmelee to John O’Connor. Clerk’s Office Cortland County, Deed Book 89, p. 86.

[1893-01-25] – The Cortland Evening Standard, Wednesday, January 25, 1893.

[1899-05-19a] - Cortland Democrat , Cortland, NY, Friday, May 19, 1899, p. 3.

[1904-05-06] – “Truxton Badly Scorched,” The Cortland Democrat, Cortland, NY, Friday, May 6, 1904.

[1912-05-10] - The Cortland Democrat, Cortland, NY, Friday, May 10, 1912.

[1919-10-31] – The Cortland Democrat, Cortland, NY, October 31, 1919.

[1946-05-25] – The Cortland Standard, Cortland, NY, Saturday, May 25, 1946.

[1948-05-06] – The DeRuyter Gleaner, DeRuyter, NY, Thursday, May 6, 1948.

[1949-03-25] – The Cortland Standard, Cortland, NY, Friday, March 25, 1949.

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