North Olean Business in Late 1800's

THE AMERICAN HOTEL
Corner of N. Union and E. Pine Sts.
In 1862 when John Bourk married Mary Dillon he was a saloonkeeper and wholesale liquor dealer at the early American House that was a frame building valued at $3000. After he passed away in 1872, his wife Mary became the next proprietor. She resided there with her father John Dillon and three children. Located next to the American House in 1881 were Lawrence Connell's Sixth Ward Restaurant, a grocery store and a barber shop. It was then that Brook?s barbershop caught fire and destroyed these buildings along with the American House. Mary rebuilt the American House, which was sixty feet by one hundred feet, three stories high with a mansard roof and ample verandas. It was a prominent hotel of Olean. This American House was destroyed when a disastrous fire hit the business section of North Olean. Michael C. Sullivan was the proprietor at that time and Mary Bourk was residing at Lima, Ohio. In 1895 M. C. Sullivan purchased the property for $1300 from the Bourks and in the spring commenced the building of another hotel, The American Hotel, on the site. Many social events were held during M. C. Sullivan's ownership. After wards there were quite a few owners such as William Fitzpatrick, Robert Findley, G. W. Washer, Charles Fisher and William Heil. The hotel was vacated and slated for destruction in 1994. Once again a fire destroyed the American Hotel early in the morning of May 24, 1997. The site is now a parking lot for contractor's vehicles.

THE CITY EXCHANGE HOTEL The City Exchange Hotel opened opposite the Erie Depot on February 4, 1883. It was three stories high with a mansard roof. The hotel contained twenty-five sleeping rooms, each one nicely furnished. The general parlor, office, dining, bar and washrooms occupied the first floor. The hotel was lighted and heated with gas.

In 1886 extensive improvements were made to the hotel and John Henneman of Allegany became the new owner of the building. His brother in law, J. J. Weiss was the original owner. The hotel now had a reputation of being one of the leading hotels in this part of the state. From then on and for many years the Exchange Hotel was known to the North Olean residents as The Henneman House and in more recent years as The Corner Place.

The hotel was threatened by fire in October of 1886 when the Spreter House next to it burned and another occasion was in October of 1893 when North Olean suffered another disastrous fire. On June 30, 1936 fire once again threatened the North Olean Landmark when a blaze originated in the basement beneath the restaurant and taproom. Although the floor in the taproom was burned through, the quick action of the firemen saved the building. Mrs. Frank Dunlavey of Boliver owned the building at this time and Ignatius Piechota operated the taproom. The last person to operate the hotel was Mrs. Rose Stanton, who served delicious food and provided a popular gathering place for a cool brew while playing cards and socializing. The old City Exchange Hotel is now an apartment house.

DANIEL COLLINS
PIONEER MERCHANT OF NORTH OLEAN Daniel Collins was born near Banty County Cork Ireland on March 25, 1833. Sometime after his marriage to Ellen Finucen, they left Ireland and the potato famine in 1853 and came to the United States and they resided for a while at New Bedford, Ma. Daniel and his wife came to North Olean and established a grocery and provision store in 1856. On March 14, 1885, his business was destroyed by a fire along with ten other buildings in North Olean's business section on Union Street. He proceeded to build a brick building that was completed in August of 1885. Mr. Collin's store occupied the south half of the building and the Blackman and Potter Drug store occupied the other half.

After Mr. Collin's retirement O. T. Higgins occupied the premises as a grocery and dry goods store until January 1, 1908 when Charles W. Smith and Dexter W. Seely brought the business. The store was now operated under the name of Smith and Seely. Later this same building was the home of the Balkan Bakery until November of 1996 when it closed its doors. The building was scheduled for demolition in September of 1997 and was taken down board by board by the late James F. Ryan that following year. A residential home now occupies the site.

MRS. COOKS BOARDING HOUSE On a Friday morning in February 11, 1883, at about 3:20 a.m. a lamp exploded in the boarding house of Mrs. L. G. Cook at the corner of E. Elm and Union Streets, setting fire to the building. The occupants barely had time to escape and the house burned to the ground in less than half an hour. The Acme Hose Company was on the scene at once, but for lack of water could do nothing. By April of 1884 Mrs. Cook had a large two-story building erected on the vacant lot to be used as a boarding house.

On September 30, 1892 the building was sold to William B. Shaw who operated a store and hotel at the location. At some later date George Banka owned and operated a restaurant at this location until 1946 when Benny Zakrewski bought the business and operated it until he retired in 1967. The building is now owned by the Steelworkers Union.

WILLIAM DONOVAN'S EMPIRE HOTELWilliam Donovan came to North Olean about 1881 and built his first saloon and boarding house on Vine Street. In April of 1889, Mr. Donovan broke ground for a two-story frame double store at the corner of E. Oak and Union Streets. The building was known as the Empire Hotel. He and his family lived upstairs and he ran his saloon downstairs in the left side of the building, which he shared with the B. & S. confectionary on the right side. After he passed away his sons cared for the business.

For many years this was known as Harry Robie's Drug Store, later it was Ben and Jen's Restaurant and the last occupant was the Warming House. The building is now vacant.

MICHAEL FITZGERALD'S SALOON In September of 1884, Michael Fitzgerald a Civil War Veteran purchased James Collopy's saloon that was destroyed by a fire in March of 1885. He rebuild a brick structure in 1885 and conducted his business here until once again on October 3, 1893 a fire once again wiped him out. He lost no time advertising for bids to build again. Toohey and Son were awarded the bid of $4,000 for the new building that was completed in 1894. The second floor was known as Fitzgerald's Hall and was used for meetings and dances by the citizens of North Olean. It was here that the Polish people gathered to begin their parade for the dedication of The Church of the Transfiguration.

Mr. Fitzgerald sold his business in North Olean and opened a saloon at in the Walsh block at 309 N. Union St. For many years John Yonder conducted a restaurant here, later his son-in-laws Chet Victor and after him, John Fisher. The last restaurant located here was Ben and Jen's, who later moved to 1220 N. Union Street. The building now houses multi apartments.

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