Local History by Dede Terns-Thorpe - THE KAATERSKILL

REPUTED TO BE THE LARGEST FRAME HOTEL IN THE WORLD

This information was gathered from a pamphlet written by Francis Overbaugh. The hotel stood on the southeast side of the Palenville Mountain, near Sunset Rock, 2 miles from the Catskill Mountain House. (The Mountain Top Historical Society’s Archivist, Bob Gildersleeve, leads an annual hike to the spot of the famous hotel.)

Old local news articles clipped by Overbaugh:

The main building was 324 feet long, 4 stories high, with 34’ end towers, 80’ middle towers, and the main piazza 256’. The middle section of the central tower measured 22’ wide, and the ends 17’, making the main piazza 4,800 square feet. The balcony under the main section was 80x18 making the area 1,440 sq. ft. The hotel had 4 floors with the 1st floor over 13’, the 2nd being 12’, the 3rd 11 ½ ‘, and the 4th floor 10’. There were 13 staircases, with an elevator near the main staircase.

The east end housed the barber shop, reading room, smoking room, barroom, while the west end contained private parlors, and on one end a bowling alley and a billiard room. The dining room was 214’ by 42’ with a wing for servants, and a children’s room. The kitchen was 60’ by 30’ with rubbered stone from Malden Works. The Kaaterskill contained a music room, a theater, a stage, and tableaux.

Lighting was provided by gas, a modern water supply, ventilation, and sewage systems.

The hotel was constructed under the supervision of Foreman Elias Dutcher, Philadelphia Architect S. D. Button, E. Lampman providing detailed craftsmanship, while Charles Beardsley, oversaw the 22 workmen in Lampman’s shop.  

All in all, it was a huge job built throughout the cold winter months on the ledge of South Mountain. According to Historian Leah Wiltse, the hotel was securely anchored to 10’ rods drilled into rock and securing it against the powerful winds. Leah said her grandfather, George Showers, worked on the building and said workers were always paid in gold coins. She also said that when completed it was I mile around the building.

Thanks so much for reading.

Stay safe and enjoy the rest of the summer.

Dede Terns-Thorpe

Town of Hunter Historian