Page 13 - Taverns Stands in Woodstock - for Flipbook_Neat

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On January 17 , 1885 a fire broke out in a wing of
the hotel and destroyed it. Soon after the fire, the
Sons of Temperance disposed of their interest in
the premises to F. B. Merrill, who rebuilt the burnt
part at once, and the hotel reopened the following
June. In August 1889, “the proprietor” of the Eagle
Hotel placed in his parlor “an elegant ‘Sterling’ pi-
ano. On May 14, 1889 there is a mention of a Mrs.
Sarah Gilson coming to Woodstock to be employed
as a cook at the Eagle Hotel. There was a “German”
dance for young people, as mentioned on Septem-
ber 19, 1889 in The Vermont Standard, on a Fri-
day night. Arthur Wilder succeeded Merrill and
finally the last owner, J. D. Lawrence, closed the
hotel and a closing out sale ensued in 1889. “He
expects to vacate the premises Thursday of this
week, when the doors to this establishment will be
closed, the eagle will be taken down, the household
goods removed, and the venerable fabric will be
cleared away to the last stick and stone. Perhaps no
tears will be shed over its departure, but some of
the older citizens may be excused a feeling of melan-
choly at the loss of this ancient pile, to them so full
of reminiscences of the past.”

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