I haven't seen the Lorenzo newsletter illustration which Dan W. references, but I am familiar with a drawing of the Holland Land Company Hotel in Utica by the Baroness Hyde de Neuville.  Inscribed "utica, 7bre 1807," the drawing is in the collection of the New-York Historical Society and is illustrated in Richard J. Hoke, American Landscape and Genre Paintings in the New-York Historical Society (1982, vol. II, pp. 192-193).  The text ascribes the structure to Samuel and John Hooker. The Baroness' drawings, done in NY and NJ, are wonderful documents.  - Ron Burch  [log in to unmask]

>>> [log in to unmask] 07/17/00 11:42AM >>>
Rohit Aggawala wrote:
Does anyone have information (or better yet, know of papers relating to)
the York House Hotel in Utica?  According to Bagg's 1892 Memorial History
of Utica, it was begun in 1795 and opened in 1797 by agents of the Holland
Land Company, although this seems unlikely given the Holland Land Company's
policies.  Either way, it was apparently the largest hotel in pre-Erie
Canal Utica, and gave "Hotel Street" in Utica its name.  Its original owner
was Philip J. Schwartze, followed by Thomas Sickles and Henry Bamman.  It
apparently ceased to be a hotel, but the building survived at least until
the 1880s, I think.


The "Hotel" at Utica was indeed an impressive building for its time.
Brick, three stories, and definitely out of its element in the fledgling
city of Utica.

        In trying to find the architect for the mansion house "Lorenzo," built for
Holland Land Company Agent John Lincklaen in 1807-1809,  and now a State
Historic Site, Russ Grills, the Site Manager, found that the Hooker family,
father Samuel and sons Philip and John, were instrumental in designing and
erecting several buildings in Utica, Rome, Whitestown, Otsego County, and
Cazenovia.  In all the cases identified (Lorenzo, "The Hotel" at Utica,
Whitestown Court House, original Madison County Court House, and the
Cazenovia Presbyterian Church) there was direct interaction with Lincklaen
or other representatives of the Holland Land Company.  Others like private
residences such as Hyde Hall on Otsego Lake or institutional buildings such
as the Chapel at Hamilton College have no apparent connection to the HLCo,
so it is clear that the Hookers could work for whomever they chose.
        Philip Hooker is the best known of the family, having designed scores of
beautiful civic, religious, and residential buildings from the Capitol
region to central New York.  While he was involved in the design of many of
these buildings in the "western" part of the state (ie west of Albany) it
is clear that father Samuel and brother John, who resided for a time in
Utica, were most likely the ones who saw that the designs were carried out
and were the agents between the architect and the client.  For example, the
contract for the Cazenovia Presbyterian Church were writen by Philp Hooker,
but it is believed that brother John Hooker was the one who oversaw the
work done by master Carpenter Nathan Smith.  John Hooker was also
instrumental in building the Court House at Whitestown, and his plans were
used to build the original Court House in Cazenovia.  It wa also always
said that Lorenzo, with its beautiful classically Federal design was from
the Hooker eye and it is surmised that John Hooker was the architect,
although it seems likely that Philip was the architect and John the
supervisor for construction.
        I throw all this into the air because John Lincklaen, who built Lorenzo
and the original Madison County Court House, was instrumental in building
"The Hotel" at Utica.  In his research to find the architect for Lorenzo
Russ Grills looked at "The Hotel" and you might want to contact him to see
what else has turned up over the years.  The e-mail at Lorenzo is
"[log in to unmask]" or you can write at Lorenzo State Historic Site,
Ledyard Ave., Cazenovia, NY 13035, or phone at (315) 655-3200.
        Russ wrote a wonderful article which apeared in the Lorenzo newsletter
years ago and an illustration of "The Hotel" and a brief mention was included.
        As for Philip Jacob Swartz, he was one of Lincklaen's assistant in the
first days of Cazenovia (founded 1793) and he was for some time in the
employ of the Holland Land Company in the Cazenovia Establishment.  it
makes sense that he worked for them in Utica also.  As the HLCo. was
interested in getting the country on its own feet I wouldn't be surprised
if they didn't station him in the hotel to get it started and then have him
buy it and carry on, much as they did with the various enterprises in
Cazneovia.  Also, remember that they had a similar tracts and community in
Booneville (Oldenbarneveld).  Before the Erie Canal Utica and Rome were the
gateway to central New York and a jumping off place for over-land travel.
The records at Lorenzo (Samuel Forman's Store) are loaded with reference to
Utica connections.  Jacob Post's Store in the heart of old Fort Schuyler
was the Holland Land Company warehouse and base of distribution for this
region and perhaps their western New York efforts as well.
        It is also interesting to note that although the Holland Land Company
invested in various canal building projects in other states, they did not
invest in the Western Inland Lock Navigation Company's work on the Mohawk
River and into Oneida Lake.  Considering that the HLCo owned most of
western New York, it is interesting that they wouldn't buy into the plan
that would open the way west.

        Dan W.
        http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyccazen/
        http://www.erols.com/weiskotten/resume.html
        http://www.erols.com/weiskotten/dansvita.html