The "Memories from an Easter Past" Story

An artist rendering of what the
"Hotel Brunswick" would look like
upon completion in late 1914.  You
are looking at the East Chestnut St.
side of the building with the
main entrance showing on the left.

It was an ordinary day.  The day was a Saturday in early April and the year was 1955.  Mr. Frank McConnell, the organist and choir master of St. James Episcopal Church in downtown Lancaster, PA was taking a group of about a dozen young boys to the Hotel Brunswick Restaurant and Coffee Shop for "Chicken-In-The-Basket."  The meal was a favorite of just about every kid I knew and I was one of the group that was making the block and a half journey from the church to eat lunch and then head to the Grand Theatre for a movie.  Mr. McConnell did the same thing every year for the choir boys who helped him during lent as ushers for his Lenten Organ Recitals which were held Saturdays during lent.  Always made the trip for lunch and a movie on the Saturday after Easter.  It was one of the highlights for me for maybe four or five years when I was a member of the prestigious boy's choir of the church.  The Hotel Brunswick was a majestic old place that graced the corner of North Queen and East Chestnut Streets.  The Brunswick was located on the historic site of the longest continuous hotel operation in the United States.  In 1776 George Hofnagle built a 2 1/2 story stone building that was called the "Hofnagle Hotel."  54 years later it changed hands and was renamed the "Sheaf of Wheat" only to change hands and be renamed again in 1839 to the "North American."  One more change in 1944 saw the name change to "The American Hotel."  The original building began to decay over the years and in 1860 was demolished by a Mr. Jay Caldwell and replaced with an updated 3-story brick building that he called the "Caldwell House."  Shortly thereafter it was sold to the honorable Isaac E. Hiester and he renamed the building one more time to the "Hiester House."  In 1895 the building and business was purchased by Mrs. Lily Eshelman Bates and renamed the "Imperial Hotel."  It was operated under this name and ownership until 1914 when it was torn down and replace by the Hotel Brunswick.  What a history this grand old property had over the years, while still remained a hotel.  Across from the Hotel, looking north, was the Lancaster Railroad Station.  Over the years many famous people visited the hotel with Presidents Abraham Lincoln, James Buchanan and Franklin D. Roosevelt making speeches from balconies overlooking the streets below.  The Brunswick was designed by C. Emlen Urban, the famous Lancaster City architect from the late 1800s and early 1900s.  It featured the beautiful Beaux Arts style architecture and was well known for its Pennsylvania Dutch hospitality and great home cooked meals.  There were covered entrances on both city streets it fronted with Chestnut Street being the official front of the building.  It was on this side of the building that it was expanded in 1925 to include a ballroom.  This is the side of the building that we entered the restaurant for our "Chicken-In-The-Basket" meal in 1955.  The building was built by Paul Heine, a German immigrant, who ran the hotel for years and finally turned over the reigns to his son who then managed the place until the early 1960s.  After he died the building was mismanaged and eventually closed in 1964.  In 1966 I again stood on East Chestnut across from the once majestic Hotel Brunswick and watch as the wrecking ball demolished the building to make way for progress, which as of the posting of this story in 2013, never took place.  This I know is in my opinion, but I'm sure will be verified by many who are lifetime residents of Lancaster such as myself.  No matter what, I can still remember vividly that day in 1955 when a young boy of 11 years old journeyed to the Hotel Brunswick with his friends for a grand meal and a movie.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.  PS - the following photos will give you a timeline viewing of the hotel and final demolition. 

This is a view from the East Chestnut Street side showing the addition on the left that was added in 1925.  The building fronted North Christian Street on the left side of the photo. 

This is the corner of East Chestnut and North Queen Street.  On the right side of the photo you are looking south on Queen Street.

The Hotel Brunswick is on the far left of this photo.  In the foreground you can see the Grand Movie Theatre where I watched a movie after having my "Chicken-In-The-Basket" at the Brunswick Restaurant.

The beginning of the end of the Hotel Brunswick in 1966.

East Chestnut Street view of the demolition.  How sad!!

View from the south looking north at the demolition of the Hotel Brunswick.  Most of the other buildings in the entire block to the south of the hotel had already been torn down in the name of progress.  Too bad it didn't work.  We could still be viewing the majestic old property if it hadn't been for Mayor Monaghan.