1895 - Ocean House Fire
“At 4:30 yesterday afternoon, the Ocean House Birely Bros.’ large summer hotel at the Beach, was thronged with guests; the wide plazzas were crowded ; the dining room was resplendent with snow-white linen silver and glass;, and the strains of gay music floated out through the windows on the summer air.” Hamilton Times. July 18, 1895. Image 125. For nearly 20 years, the Ocean House was a popular summer hotel at the Beach Strip, and upon opening it was advertised as being located in ‘the Long Branch of Canada,’ but over the years, the hotel’s reputation had started to wane: “The Ocean House was erected in 1876 by the late F.N. Birely, of the city, at a cost of $10,000, and the first manager was James Nevilles. After running the hotel for two years, Nevilles ran himself over to Chicago with the proceeds of a year’s business. Since then the hotel was leased for several years to John Kerner and Hood Brothers controlled it for two years. Of late years, it has b...