Altamont Hotel
In February 1905, it was announced that "The Grand View Hotel" was to be built near the end of the Ft Thomas streetcar line on Alexandria Pike. It was to be a four story building with 150 rooms and the cost was $65,000.
Samuel Bigstaff was a local attorney who arranged the US Army post being moved to the Highlands. He was one of the planners of the hotel. On 12 July 1905, he announced the new family hotel was to open August 1.
5 August 1906-Purported bigamist Jake Holtman and one of his wives is living in the hotel and had a "struggle" there.
1 December 1906-Lafayette Council celebrated its 15th anniversary with a banquet at the hotel.
7 March 1907-Wiedemann and Crawford take over management. Mr. Talbot took over management position April 1.
29 May 1907-A garage is built on the property by architect Gordon Shepard.
25 August 1907-Lots were for sale on the Altamont property. Samuel Bigstaff has incentive to develop property.
31 October 1907-Shelly Arms Hotel formerly owned and operated by Lewis Foos passed to Highland Hotel Co, but closed for the winter for major alterations.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 1 May 1908, page 6
The formal opening of the Altamont Hotel, near Ft Thomas, will take place today. During the winter excitement alterations and betterments have been made so that today the house is up to date in every respect. During the evening the management will give a dance, invitations having been extended to the officers and wives now located at Ft Thomas and the elite of the Highlands.
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23 October 1908-City wants Altamont sewer that empties into the Ohio River to be abandoned.
23 January 1909-Hotel held in escrow by receiver Sam Anderson and a legal battle between Wiedemann and Crawford begins.
8 March 1909-Altamont Hotel bought by Lois C Widrig, a druggist and capitalist from Newport.
9 September 1909-Mrs. John A Murphy of Cincinnati died at the Altamont.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 8 March 1909, page 7
The famous Highland Ky. Hostery the Altamont Hotel, and its annex, the Shelly Arms, will be sold this morning at the courthouse door by Receiver Sam Anderson to the highest bidder for the benefit of the creditors., the heaviest of whom is Charles Wiedemann.
The hotel has suffered from hard times and while business was good in the summer time, it did not amount to much in the winter, during which time the concern lost considerable money. It is said to be the intention to organize the company and reopen the place as soon as the present litigation can be settled up.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 17 October 1909, page 19
In the case of L J Crawford vs. Charles Wiedemann, wherein the principals have entered into a legal controversy as to a division of the Altamont Hotel property, located in the Highlands, the defendant, Charles Wiedemann, yesterday filed his answer. He says that it is true that he entered into an agreement with the plaintiff to purchase the property of the Hotel Company, except the Shelly Alms property and that L C Widrig purchased the property in pursuance of said agreement.
He denies that the plaintiff has paid his proportion of teh purchase money. He says that Widrig purchased the Shelly Alms property under some arrangement with Mr. Wagner, for which the plaintiff was to pay his proportion of the purchase money, but failed to do so.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 March 1910, page 10
The case of L J Crawford against Charles Wiedemann was argued in the Circuit Court yesterday. The suit is to determine the relative interests of the principals in the Altamont Hotel property. The plaintiff alleges that his interests in the property were transferred to the defendant without his knowledge. Attorneys Dolle and Washington argued for the defendant and Judge Wright for the plaintiff. The case was taken under advisement.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 March 1916, page 5
The Altamont Springs Hotel Company with a capitalization of $350,000, filed articles of incorporation at Kenton County Courthouse yesterday. Its object is to make over the Altamont and Shelly Arms Hotels in the Kentucky Highlands. At the head of the movement is Joseph C Wells, Wellston Ohio, who has been a guest at the Altamont Hotel for many months; C B Wing, formerly engaged in business in Cincinnati; L J Crawford of the Altamont Hotel; Dr. A P Cole and Allen Waters.
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29 April 1917-Ads for Altamont Springs Hotel and Mineral Baths include Turkish, Russian, medicated, graduate, sulphur, electric, Nauheim and other forms.
4 October 1917-Price for a two room suite with bath for a couple-$50 per week. Single rooms $25 and $30.
19 October 1917-DAR Convention held at the Hotel. Members of the Jemima Johnson Chapter of Paris KY attended and the Keturah Moss Taylor Chapter of Newport hosted.
9 November 1917-Ads now declare three waters: Sulpho Sline, Magnesia and Lithia
4 March 1917-Hotel becomes a military, disabled, hospital when Government leases Altamont and Avenel. This would become a 7 years lease.
5 November 1920-Hospital becomes a general hospital for the Seventh District of the service, which comprises the States of Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio. The Hospital staff lives in the Avenel and has 200 beds.
4 May 1921-Hospital caring for 108 soldiers.
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Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 December 1922, page F6
The former Altamont Hotel is now the chief diagnostic hospital of the Seventh Military District of the country, including Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky. Its capacity of 149 beds is constantly taxed by the steady arrival of patients. A turnover of from 90 to 100 patients a month results from the position of the hospital as a recommendation center.
Veterans come to Altamont from various Government hospitals in other part of the Seventh District and from private and municipal hospitals to receive expert diagnosis and assignment to special institutional or private treatment.
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28 March 1926-Hospital to closed as Government will not renew their lease.
30 June 1926-Hospital lease officially ends.
24 January 1928-Hotel sold by Altamont Hotel Co.
28 June 1928-Public auction of hotel brings $101,000 to Adam Haas, real estate broker of Newport.
7 October 1928-an elevator is for sale at the former hotel.
21 Oct 1928-Hotel was torn down by W S Gubsner Wrecking & Construction
39 April 1929-House designed by Weber architects in former footprint of hotel.