Northwest Corner Hotel Victory

Hotel Victory

It was located on the west end of the South Bass Island and was a major attraction to affluent visitors from around the country. In days without air-conditioning, the continuous summer breezes coming in off the lake and the top-flight attendants guaranteed visitors a stay without worry and all in an air of luxury. The new hotel was big, really big. For those familiar with The Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island, Hotel Victory had almost twice as many rooms and The Grand. Hotel Victory had 825 rooms with 660 of those for guests. There were more than 2,500 windows with most of them looking out over the lake. There were 3,000 electric lights inside and out which caused the sky to glow during the summer months. Sailors from Detroit noted that they could see the sky-glow from their ships as they entered the lake as they left Detroit. Guests could leave their room and without ever leaving that floor could walk more than a quarter mile before making the circular route back to their own room.

Most hotels on the island (and their were many, just like today, used horse and buggies to bring their guests back from the docks to their hotel. Hotel Victory created quite a stir when they announced that once guests set foot on the island, they would be whisked the 1.75 miles to their hotel by electric trolley car that provided a smooth, odor free ride to the top of the hill where their comfortable and spacious room awaited.

One of two trolley cars that regularly ran between Dollers Dock and the hotel about every 5-10 minutes during the busy season. The only stop was at Perrys Cave where the two trolleys would pass each other.

The hotel's electric trolley line delivered guests and luggage right at the front door from the steamboat landing at Dollers Dock (what is today "The Boardwalk"). From there it ran out on what is today Catawba Street the 1.75 miles past Perry's Cave and the vineyards almost down to Stone Cove and then up to the top of the hill where Hotel Victory overlooked Lake Erie.  The track was a straight line, meaning there were no turn arounds; the electric trolleys could go in either direction. What the trolley's couldn't do was run at night. All of the electric that operated the hotel lights and the electric trolley motors ran from the hotel's own electrical power plant. At night with the 3,000 or so electric bulbs burning, there wasn't enough power to run both them and the trolleys, so trolley service ended promptly at dusk.

Main entry for guests arriving by trolley

When guests arrived the first thing they would see is the expansive covered veranda and the word "Welcome"  which was illuminated at night with some of Edison's new electric light bulbs. Inside guests would first probably notice the exotic plants that graced the front entry. Then for those with a discerning eye, the would surely see the thick rug that was a single piece of carpeting measuring 150 feet long and 75 feet wide with nothing like it anywhere else in the world.

View of Hotel Victory taken just south of Stone Cove. Outdoor swimming pool can be seen far left.

The cornerstone for the hotel was laid on September 10, 1889, which happened to be the 76th anniversary of Perry's victory of the British in the War of 1812. In fact, this was done on purpose as the hotel's name was to celebrate that victory and hence its name Hotel Victory.

Cliffs along southwest corner of South Bass Island State Park taken from Stone Cove. These cliffs can be seen in historical view taken from southern edge of South Bass Island looking north.

On June 29, 1892 Hotel Victory opened for business. Overlooking South Bass Island's major harbor, Hotel Victory had a commanding view of Lake Erie. Above photo is looking south toward the South Bass Island Lighthouse (out of view) and Stone Cove seen at the middle right. Photo below is from the current dock that can be seen in the above photo. Campers can be seen just above the rocky cliffs. At the time the hotel was here, most of the tree canopy was much thinner than it is today. 

Historical view looking south towards Stone Cove. The distant horizon faintly shows the Marblehead Peninsula.

By the end of that first season however, the number of paying guests were not sufficient to pay all the bills coming due for the hotel's construction and outfitting. Creditors began legal filings demanding payment. The owners offered 100 cents on the dollar if they would hold off for just 1 year. Unfortunately, 1893 was a bad year for the country. In fact, it was very similar to what would happen 36 years later at the outset of the Great Depression. By the first week of August in 1893, what guests were still at the hotel were told they had to leave immediately and find other accommodations. All of the staff were let go without payment of any wages due them. They were given promissory notes, but those would never be honored. Guards were brought in from the mainland and they secured the hotel and all of its contents.

After this tragic event, the hotel remained empty of furnishings and guests for the next 18 months. A freak tornado came through and knocked down a number of large trees across the front lawn, but left the hotel mostly untouched. During the fall of 1894 and winter of 1895, legal cases were tried, but failed to come to any resolution. Towards the end of February 1895, sleds were brought across the frozen lake and loaded with whatever could be salvaged. Within 2 days anything that could be removed was taken out and carried across the ice by horse drawn sleds and put in storage for a sheriff's sale later that month. But this was not the end of Hotel Victory.

Outdoor swimming pool located between the lake and main lobby entrance

In the early spring of 1896 it was announced in the papers that the hotel would once again be open for guests in the coming season. Workers were brought in to finish projects that had not been completed. Furnishings were brought back in and the hotel opened in June of that year with great fanfare. The depression was over and people were ready to start spending money again. To attract more visitors, the hotel mounted a wide-spread advertising campaign that was partly financed by the mainland railroad companies who stood to profit greatly from the public travel to Port Clinton to board the ferries.

Victory Plaza and Victory sculpture in 1907

In 1907 Hotel Victory added a beautiful sculpture of Victory created by a German born sculptor Afons Pelzer, who also created the Christopher Columbus statue located in the Discovery Plaza on the Ohio State Capital grounds. The Victory plaza was located on the west side of the hotel on the side of slight hill. The plaza was built up so visitors had a great sunset view. Not counting the stone base, the bronze-copper sculpture stood 13' and with the base it was more than 26 feet in height.  At the dedication ceremonies for the new plaza, Vice President  Charles W. Fairbanks gave the main speech. It should be noted that Charles Fairbanks was born not far from Delaware, Ohio in a log cabin and Fairbanks Alaska is named for him.

The Victory statue remained on the grounds for about 10 years. Lack of funds to maintain the work caused it to deteriorate and was donated to the people of Put-in-Bay. However, because it was in need of repairs, the statue was put into storage where it remained until during World War II the statue was donated as scrap metal for the war effort.

View of the southeast corner of Hotel Victory and part of the east veranda.

In 1911 the hotel closed its doors. It was the beginning of the end for the once luxurious hotel. In January 1916, the hotel under new ownership opened for a short period of time. Efforts were made to remodel the now aging structure. In early August, 1919, a few guests were in the hotel relaxing after dinner had been served when a small fire broke out on the third floor in the northwest corner. It was believed at the time that a faulty electrical switch caused the initial blaze and it went undetected for about 30 minutes. By the time anyone saw the flames, it was too late. In another 30 minutes flames leapt into the air more than 70 feet. Lacking a proper fire department on the island, what little efforts were made were made to try and save the surrounding buildings. By the following morning the hotel was in ruins and even as the ashes were still warm, looters from all over arrived at the site and began taking whatever they could find.

Today all that remains of the opulent Victory Hotel are just a few exposed pieces of brick and stone, and some markers within South Bass Island State Park. The Hotel Victory was at one time the largest summer hotel in the United States.