by Pete Zizka
3-26- 2022
It opened in 1825. A few years later, an addition was put on as the business increased. It featured a bar room, dining room capable of seating some fifty persons, a large parlor, and a dancing hall with a spring floor in the second story. The Historian Richard Bayles said, “No better suppers could be had than good mother Hebard furnished and the place became famous in this section of the state for its excellent fare.” After Mr. Hebard’s death however, Mrs.Hebard became the proprietor and in 1842 re-opened it as a “temperance house” called, “The Willimantic Hotel”. It was said that Mrs. Hebard “deserved the patronage of those who prefer the quiet and order of a well furnished temperance house to the noisy and disgusting company usually attendant on Rum Taverns”. Sometime between the years 1854 (when William Tingley was proprietor) and 1880, it became known as “The Natchaug House”. Then. in 1880, an article said “The ancient Natchaug house has been rejuvenated and christened the Riverside House. It is under the management of Joseph Locke, the noted horse doctor and trader.” The city’s second hotel opened in the Fall of 1829. General Lloyd Baldwin said that he, “is probably the only person living who had a hand in its construction. James Robinson was the first landlord. Subsequently Arunah C. Tingley purchased the property and was its landlord until 1840, when he sold out to Niles Potter, an old resident, who was its landlord until 1846. Many military parades, Fourth of July celebrations, and social gatherings were held here during the administration of Landlord Potter.” It had been called the “National Hotel” and “The Revere Hotel but now was named “Potter’s Tavern.” In 1842, a fire destroyed the tavern/hotel, and “Nathan Benchley, a most worthy citizen, was crushed to death by the falling bricks from one of the chimneys.” It was later found out that the Potters’ ten year old adopted daughter had also perished in the fire. “ Mr. Potter with his accustomed energy proceeded to erect a new building on the ruins of the old one, and in a few months was again in condition to accommodate the public.”. The new building was called “ The Tremont Hotel” and was the location of a Railroad Convention in February of 1848. The Courant announcement said, “There will be a mass meeting of the friends of all contemplated Railroad Routes passing through the village of Willimantic at the Tremont Hotel in said village of Willimantic”. A later Chronicle story said, “In the month of April 1846 Henry Brainard purchased the Tremont Hotel property and renamed it “The Revere Hotel”. In March, 1854, Brainard purchased a three story building that had been put up by Sheffield Lewis for stores and a hotel known as the Chaffee House. Brainard realized that it had become necessary for Willimantic to have a good hotel in order to take advantage of Willimantic's emerging status as an important and upcoming railroad town in New England. (to be continued).
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