The ongoing razing of the frame portion of the Ward House prompts us to provide a few brief details of its early history.
Located opposite the Pennsylvania Railroad Station, the Ward House in the late 1800s was the most complete and best-appointed hotel in Tyrone. The original frame structure, 75×100 ft., comprised three stories and a basement. It was erected in 1857, occupied in 1859 by Mrs. Mary Ward, and an east wing added in 1862. Following her proprietorship was J.J. Boyer, and in 1873, P.F. McIntire became proprietor.
According to Flood’s Business Review, 1890, “C.S. McOmber took the proprietorship in 1876…. Tyrone is to be congratulated upon having such an excellent and strictly high-class hotel as the Ward House, which is the most modern house in town with the most refined cuisine and best service. Mr. McOmber has demonstrated his mastery of modern hotel-keeping. The Ward House has every advantage to render it attractive to the best classes of the traveling public. Its location is admirable, situated at the junction of the Bald Eagle Valley and PRR railroad lines.
“The house has been improved in many respects, and it is one of the handsomest and most comfortable in the Union. On the first floor are the elegant and spacious offices, cozy smoking and reading rooms, etc. The offices, halls, and corridors are decorated in the most artistic manner. The ladies’ parlors are commodious and luxuriously finished. The dining hall is light and airy with seating for seventy-five.
“The Ward House is conducted on the American plan, and its rates are remarkably reasonable considering the superiority of the accommodations and high standard of the menu…. The guests’ wants are anticipated; their wishes and calls promptly responded to by the large corps of assistants.”
Since the house was not large enough to accommodate its many patrons, a brick addition was built four stories in height, 40×70 ft., giving thirty-two more rooms. The new extension had all the modern conveniences, including hot and cold water, bathtubs, electric call bells, etc. After its completion in 1862, the Ward House accommodated more guests than any other house in this section. The view from the piazza of the hotel was excellent. The house stood open on all sides, and fresh air was never lacking.
In May 1897, J. McDavis became the lessee of the Ward House, and he proceeded to make improvements both outside and inside. It became a “large, popular house of entertainment offering every convenience — first class and satisfactory to all its visitors.”
J.W. Gardner operated a confectionery in the Ward House building, along with a cigar store. G.W. Bryant had a barber shop in the building, and C.S. McOmber had several pool and billiards tables.
Banquet of May 23, 1888
A banquet was held at the Ward House on Wednesday evening, May 23, 1888. The menu corroborates the high standard of dining well-known at the Ward House. Menu items included caviar, boned chicken with truffles, escalloped oysters, soft-shell crabs, pâté de foie gras, lobster salad, sorbet à la Tyrone, and an array of fancy desserts including Charlotte Russe, ice cream meringue, and many cakes.
The complimentary banquet “to the manufacturers of Tyrone” brought together leaders of the leading business enterprises as indicated in the following programme:
Our Manufacturers — W.L. Hicks, Esq.
Tyrone as a Railroad Centre — S.S. Blair, Supt.
Paper Manufacturing — John S. Morrison
Manufactured Lime and Limestone — A.G. Morris
Manufactured Iron — R.C. Neal
Planing Mills, Lumber Manufacturing and Building — F.D. Beyer & S. McCamant
Tanning Industry — Daniel P. Ray
Cambria Iron Co.’s Industries — W.M. Holmes
Hematite Ore Mining — Robt. A. McCoy
Tributary Mineral Resources — S.C. Stewart
Tributary Agricultural Resources — C. Guyer
Machine and Foundry Work — John L. Porter
Boiler Manufacturing — W.H. Pawling
Our Coal Operators — J.L. Mitchell
Brick Manufacturing — Geo. C. Davison
The Press — C.S.W. Jones
Future Prospects of Tyrone — A.A. Stevens, Esq.
Music by Weber’s Orchestra.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Tyrone again could have a hotel similar to the Ward House?
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