GALLATIN HOTEL
21 E. MAIN STREET
The Gallatin Hotel, c. early 1900s.
Courtesy Uniontown Public Library Pennsylvania Room
A colorized version of the Gallatin Hotel
Gallatin Hotel History Snapshot:
- Henry Beeson’s original mill was erected here in 1772 and was the first mill in this section of the country.
- A newspaper printing office was built here in 1820 and then later became a grocery and provision store.
- Buildings on this property were razed and the Gallatin Hotel was built in their place. The hotel opened its doors on September 15, 1908 but only stayed open until early 1919.
- The building then became the home of several banking institutions, a restaurant, and several drug stores
- Today, the Gallatin Hotel building is used by the State Theatre for the Arts for some of their offices and also for additional theater work space.
Gallatin Hotel- The Full Story:
Jonathan Downer purchased the western part of this lot, No. 38 on Henry Beeson’s original plat. It was the location for Beeson’s original mill (erected 1772), which was situated on a lot north of Peter St.—the first mill in this section of the country. The mill raceway which bisected the lot would later become North Gallatin Avenue.
Thomas Patton’s Genius of Liberty newspaper printing office was located here in 1820. Johnze Dicus of Baltimore County, Maryland, was the last occupant of this property. Here he ran a grocery and provision store from 1868 until his building was demolished for the opening of North Gallatin Ave.
The property changed hands several more times until it was purchased by Robert F. Sample and Ewing B. Marshall. They razed all the old buildings and constructed the five-story Gallatin Hotel, which opened September 15, 1905. The Morning Herald, on November 24, 1914, reported the following: “Robert F. Sample, proprietor of the Gallatin hotel, has a large deer hanging from the balcony of the hotel on Gallatin avenue that is attracting lots of attention. The animal was procured by Mr. Sample while in Pittsburgh last week. Patrons of the popular Gallatin are looking
Gallatin Hotel Location
forward to some choice cuts of venison. The animal is a large one weighing about 145 pounds.” Robert Furey Sample became sole proprietor in 1910 and in early 1919, the hotel closed its doors.
This block-long and very narrow building (less than 30 feet wide) later became the Union Trust Building. In 1929 an announcement was made for the consolidation of the National Bank of Fayette County and The Union Trust Company. All assets, but the building itself, were transferred to the merger. In 1937 foreclosure proceedings were instituted by a receiver for the Union Trust building.
Fayette Drug Advertisement
Next to occupy this space was the Walgreen Drug Company (also called Fayette Drug Company) but not long after, in 1942, Sheriff Charles Frock and his mother Louise purchased Walgreen’s and The Fayette Drug Store became known as “the crossroads” of Fayette County. In 1946, Alex S. Gabler, for 34 years an employee, purchased the business from the Charles Frock estate. It was advertised as “Pennsylvania’s Largest Drug Store.” The Colonial Dining Room opened years before at this location. It was billed as the “most attractive and comfortable eating place with the latest air-conditioning and sanitary installations.” In addition to the dining room, the Colonial had a large soda fountain. This eatery was a popular place for the many shop clerks in Uniontown to grab a quick lunch.
The adjacent State Theatre for the Arts now has some offices on the first floor. Plans are being developed to restore this historic building.
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Fayette County Historical Society
P.O. Box 193, Uniontown, PA 15401
724.439.4422