The Portland and Ogdensburg railroad  passed through Sheldon village a short distance from this hotel built in 1873 and 1874 by Mr. D Wright who was the first proprietor and open the doors on May 1, 1874.

 

This luxurious three story hotel contained 30 bedrooms and boasted a winding walnut staircase.  On the first floor the kitchen provided meals for tourist as well as locals and additionally a dancehall space for periodic events.  Although it contained no spring, visitors received transport to any of a number of baths.  Spring water proved to be abundant.

 

A news article published in July 1874 noted that the hotel opened under the proprietorship of Mr. D Wright but a second article in 1975 noted that a Mr. Weed purchased the hotel but not in time to open for the 1975 season,

 

The Dance Card to the left shows H. G Spaulding as the Proprietor as of 1892.

 

 

The hotel proved to be popular with guests and groups as diverse as travelling salesmen and city folks.  It remained open year round with events and entertainment advertise regionally.  Tragedy struck on Thanksgiving Day in 1901 when the entire burned to the ground.  It seems that a plumber installing hot running water used a blow torch to connect pipes. Unfortunately the underpinning in the basement caught fire and destroyed the wooden building.

Almost immediately The New Portland House took shape through the winder of 1901 resulting in a reopening of a smaller two story hotel which exits today on Main Street next to the Sheldon Town Hall.

 

During the interim period of time after tourism subsided and the hotel boasted few occupants it passed through a number of owners.  During the 1960s the property became the “Napoli Home for the Aged” owned and managed by Mrs. Marjorie Napoli and family.

 

At this time the property ownership is in a single family name without attempts to turn it into a commercial enterprise.