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Date:
1861
to
1972
Location:
Frederick, Maryland
GROFF HOTEL
On North Market Street, in the heart of Frederick, Maryland was a large building constructed before 1861. With the United States on the brink of war with itself, Joseph Groff, originally from Pennsylvania, owned the three-story building. He had come to settle in Frederick, the home county of his second wife, Susan Smith Groff, to raise his family.
At 4th and Market Street, this large building was used by Groff as a store for the auction of public goods. By 1863, he had it converted into the ‘Groff Hotel’, also known as ‘Groff House’. After the Civil War, in which Groff served as a Union Captain, fighting and being wounded at the Battle of Gettysburg, he supervised the running of the hotel. Into the early 1870s, he then hired managers to run the hotel at different times.
Since Groff had owned the hotel, his family had also lived there. By mid-1880s, he had built a grand new home for his family at 7th and North Market St., a few blocks from the hotel.
In December 1883, the Groff Hotel was enlarged by 20 feet in front. On the property was also a livery stable, which Joseph Groff rented out to individuals over the years. By 1886, a small barbershop was set up by John F. Yingling on the first floor with an entrance onto North Market Street.
Between 1889 and 1895, Groff had a couple of his daughters along with a son-in-law, Richard C. Dudrear manage the hotel. Room rates were generally $1.50 a day.
During the 1880s, the hotel was always decorated for various holidays. Celebrations during the 4th of July were always special with U. S. flags on display everywhere. Also during the latter part of the 19th century, the Groff Hotel was the scene for many weddings. Included was the April 1885 wedding of Capt Groff's daughter, Jennie Groff and William E. Ranels and in June 1890, the wedding of Capt. Groff’s youngest daughter, Josie Groff to Charles Everhart.
Over the years and into the 20th century the hotel was the gather place for many civic and community organizations to meet.
In 1898, new flooring along with a new metal roof was installed in the Groff Hotel. Interior and exterior painting was done on a regular basis.
In February 1903, Capt. Joseph Groff had passed away. The hotel was still run by his widow, Susan and his adult Groff children. In July 1907, rumors were circulating that the Groff Hotel was for sale but as stated by one of Joseph’s sons, David Groff, there was no sale plans. He had been asked a price, it was stated but Groff had not heard back from the person inquiring.
By 1910, the Groff family has leased the operation of the Groff Hotel to Joseph F. Beacht, who was a former grocer in town. In 1906, Beacht was manager of the City Opera House and in 1907; he was manager of the Frederick Baseball Club before taking over the Groff Hotel.
Things changed for Beacht in July 1913, when the Groff family, (with a deal completed by David and Charles Groff), sold the hotel for $20,000. Beacht’s lease on the hotel expired April 1, 1914. He had about ten months before the new owner would take over operation.
The Groff Hotel was purchased by William H. Ramsburg and he renamed it, 'Arlington Hotel'. With changes in street and house addresses, the same building was now at 325 N. Market St (next to J. H. Keller Drugstore). William Ramsburg owned a store (wholesale grocer) on East Patrick St. earlier and sold that for $20,000. That store sold to the Wachter Bros. By March 1, 1914, Ramsburg was able to take full charge of Groff Hotel. He wanted to increase the number of rooms from 30 to about 50 rooms. Also added was the selling of products like cigars and railroad tickets.
Come February 3, 1920, the Arlington Hotel was about to change hands with the official take over on March 15th. Michael Joseph Croghan became the new owner of the hotel, leasing it first and then to purchasing it from William Ramsburg. Croghan was born in April 21, 1889 in Ireland, coming to the U.S. in 1908. He worked at the Stewart Hotel in Frederick on East Patrick St. and the New City Hotel in Frederick. Croghan had many plans for changes and improvement to the old hotel, including making it more modern, enlarging the dining room and adding 25 additional rooms. The Café on the left side (facing the Hotel) would become a cafeteria. The building was to be painted inside and out with new lighting installed. He also added a new restaurant to the Hotel. The biggest change would be the name changed from ‘Arlington Hotel’ to ‘Hotel Frederick’. The hotel was closed during its remodeling. To help clear out some of the older items, he held an auction in May 1920 of many of the furnishings; including doors, bedding, wash basins, electric fixtures, glassware and china. Most of the changes were completed by the Spring of 1920. The new restaurant when opened at the hotel charged 40 to 60 cents for lunches and 75 cents to $1.00 for dinners.
During the 1920s, Croghan also managed (held leases) on the Hotel Braddock, in the summer month. By July 5, 1923, Croghan made the final purchase of Arlington Hotel / Hotel Frederick. Into the 1930s and 1940s, Michael Croghan continued running the Hotel Frederick and managing the Hilltop Hotel in Harper’s Ferry in West Virginia.
By the 1950s, his son, Michael J. Croghan Jr. was assisting the Hotel Frederick operation. Croghan Sr. died October 1960. The son, Michael, continued ownership and operation of the Hotel Frederick and its catering services until 1972.
In early 1972, the Croghan family decided to sell the old hotel (building and property) to the City of Frederick. In June 1972, an auction was held to sell off items from the hotel. A year later, June 1973, the City had the fine old hotel torn down and sold the land to Carmack Jays Supermarket to construct a parking lot.
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