Lovejoy's Hotel, building
Welcome to New York City! Today, we will be exploring the historic Lovejoy's Hotel, which was a prominent hotel in the city from the 1830s through 1870. Located at the corner of Park Row and Beekman Street in the Civic Center neighborhood of Manhattan, this six-story building was a popular destination for travelers and locals alike. The original proprietor of Lovejoy's Hotel was Jonathan Lovejoy, but later on, John P. Huggins purchased the hotel and ran it for approximately twenty years before purchasing the Cosmopolitan Hotel with his two brothers. During its heyday, the Astor House hotel was located opposite Lovejoy's, making it a prime location for visitors to the city. One of the most significant events that took place at Lovejoy's Hotel was during the 1852 Whig National Convention when Alvan E. Bovay, a future founder of the United States Republican Party, dined with Horace Greeley. They discussed the need for a new national party, and Bovay suggested it be called the "Republican" party. This conversation would go on to shape American politics for years to come. Unfortunately, Lovejoy's Hotel was not immune to the turmoil of the Civil War. In November 1864, the "Confederate Army of Manhattan" attempted to burn down several buildings in the city, including Lovejoy's. Although the hotel suffered some damage, it remained standing and continued to operate until its closure in 1870. After its closure, the building was converted into offices, and subsequent tenants included the New York Evening Mail and the Rural New Yorker. The building suffered some damage in the January 1882 fire that destroyed the former Potter Building, but it remained standing until around 1888 or 1889. Today, there is no physical trace of Lovejoy's Hotel, but its legacy lives on in the history of New York City. Visitors to the city can explore the Civic Center neighborhood and imagine what it would have been like to stay at this iconic hotel during its prime.
Source: Wikimedia