Historic Hartington Hotel

The Grand Hotel burned to the ground in 1916, leaving an overwhelming vacancy in the heart of the town. Spurred on by the Commercial Club, public support for a new hotel grew as people considered what a grand attraction could do for the town. The founders partnered with Bankers Realty Investment Company of Omaha to build a hotel.  In turn, the North American Hotel Company was hired for the construction and management of the hotel for a total of thirty-five thousand dollars with the stipulation that the land would be donated and the townspeople would buy shares. Local interest raised sixty thousand dollars in preferred stock.

The style was “Early Commercial” with a steel frame that could support a multi-story height and large front windows. Combined with modern amenities, this was to be the grandest building in Hartington

During construction, another hotel closed. Travelers were forced to take shelter wherever available. Congestion of travelers filled the train depot, the streets and even the hotel while it was still under construction.  The hotel had an occupancy at forty-one when the manager Goeffrey Gansko was coaxed to take on management.

The Grand Opening on May 31, 1917, brought one thousand people to tour the hotel along with the basement barber shop and billiards room. It was an elaborate affair with music, singers, and an evening meal in the big dining room. The first of many fantastic events to come.

Early events included auto clubs, stock shows, wedding showers, and public auctions. With the beginning of the American involvement in the first World War, the hotel hosted elaborate send off events for local soldiers. As wartime rationing became extreme, parties dwindled. The sentiment was made worse when investors realized they had been swindled. The investment company was found to have multiple shell companies they used to move around assets and pay out big bonuses to their directors. Investigations revealed the actual cost of the hotel was $100,000. Investors lost hope of financial recovery as the scheme was tied up in the courts. In the mid 1920’s the hotel sold at a sheriff’s sale for twenty-seven thousand dollars.   This was followed by difficult times of the war and depression under several ownerships. In 1935, the Marks family purchased the hotel for 10,000 dollars and guided the hotel through the uncertainties of the depression and World War II. They installed a taproom in the basement during prohibition. In later years, they converted the dining room to an apartment and put up several temporary walls to make other long-term units. Keeping with the family, the hotel passed to members of the Marks family until Tim and Judy Kuchta purchased it in 1995.

The hotel has hosted many special guests including Reba McEntire, the band Steppenwolf, Box Car Willie, the Glen Miller band, Guy Lombardo’s orchestra, and The Coasters. 

In 2019, Ben and Erin Schroeder purchased the hotel and did major renovations, restoring it to its grandeur. The hotel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2020.

The hotel is currently owned by Ben Conovor and partners.

The Spirit of William Emerald Smith:

William was born May 28, 1887 in Moville, Iowa. He graduated from Moville High School in 1915 the attended the University of Nebraska. He received his degree in dental surgery in June of 1918. On August 14, 1919 he married Eva S. Lorge in Randolph, Nebraska. They had a son Kenneth in May of 1920. Mr. Smith resided in Coleridge practicing dentistry. 

During the first World War, he served in the US Navy from July 10. 1918 to February 1919. He was an active member of the community serving with the chamber of commerce and on the school board. 

When the United States entered the second World War, he was commissioned by the military to serve in Hartington doing dental work and exams for soldiers departing and returning. He took up residence behind the main living quarters in the Hartington Hotel. During this time, his son enlisted as a Cadet Pilot and was placed with the 33rd Fighter Group.  

The proud father kept s a picture of his son , 2nd Lt. Kenneth Smith, in his pilot gear with goggles and scarf that on the entryway piano.  The 33rd Fighter Group was sent to North Africa in November of 1942 to support ground forces. They had been trained in offensive support like long range bombings. Once there, they were forced to engage in defensive tactics with the German aircraft, a fight they were not prepared for. 2nd Lt Kenneth Smith was shot down and killed on November 19, 1942.

From this day forward, Mr. Smith would tirelessly rock the young hotel boy on his lap and cry for the child he lost in WWII. Sometimes early in the morning, the rocking chair can still be heard...back and forth...back and forth.

Meirose, Julie. The HIstoric Hartington Hotel: Exploring 100 Years. Amazon, 2019.