December 31, 2015
Clifton Hotel and Clifton House Remembered.
It was 84 years ago that one of Niagara Falls most historic hotels, the Clifton Hotel was destroyed by fire on New Year’s Eve, December 31,1932.The six-storey hotel, built at a cost of a half-million dollars in 1905 was located at the foot of Clifton Hill where the outdoor Oakes Garden Theatre is now located. Interestingly enough this was the second blaze at this location. Previously before the Clifton Hotel was built the Clifton House (another hotel) stood on the same sight. This three-storey, 60-room hotel opened in 1835 was burned to the ground in June 1898.
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I was reading about the Clifton house in Karl Mays book # 33 “ Winnetous erben “
The description was so amazing that I could see it in my mind.
I almost could picture myself there overlooking both falls , standing on the veranda.
Had to google it to see the historic pictures.
I found a copy of 1855 dinner menue at the Cliffton house hotel on the internet.
Interestingly my great grandmother Frances Ann Chapman was born at Clifton House, Niagara in 1844, on her way from England to Charlestown OHIO, where tragically both her parents died, and Frances had to make her own way back to England when she was 6.
I've often wondered why she was born in a hotel! I'm still trying to find out.
Gordon Cox