Description

19th century photograph : " Grant's Hotel ". Undated; circa 1875 Image size : 5 11/16" x 8 1/8" Mounted on cardstock, 10" x 12" Light foxing, however the photo is otherwise very good. The card mount has some discoloration ( caused by well over 100 years of contact with the wood backboard of an antique picture frame ). When the photographer took this photo it was over-exposed and the lighter parts of the scene did not develop very well. Presumably the building were painted white. The darker elements of the hotel did develop, faintly ( shutters, chimneys, doors, the foundation stones , shadows ). To compensate, the photographer drew in the outline of the buildings and many of the various elements ( including a chair on the porch, the porch pillars , a barrel , etc. ) Some details developed sufficiently and were not inked. The horse hitching rails are visible, for instance, along with a wagon ( at the far right ), and the ground around the buildings. At the left side of the balcony a wooden sign is hung, " Grant's Hotel ". The photographer drew in the outline ( edges ) of the sign, however the lettering on the sign is clearly original to the photo. The location of this hotel is not known. Whether this hotel had any connection to famous Civil War general and United States president , Ulysses S. Grant , is also unknown. Even in the 19th century, hotels , taverns , etc. were known to change their name to capitalize on the prestige of a famous customer or patron. If this hotel could claim some kind of association with Civil War hero U. S. Grant , it might well have hung a signboard like this, " Grant's Hotel ", to make it known... and attract additional business. Did Ulysses S. Grant stay at this hotel? Unless someone recognizes these buildings and their location, we may never know. Carefully packed for shipment to the buyer.