The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm glow over Kingsville’s Main Street, as the new innkeeper, Mr. Alfred Hall, locked the heavy oak door of, what is now, The Grove Hotel. The year was 1917, and the town was buzzing with whispers of change. Prohibition had tightened its grip, and the once lively bars of Kingsville fell silent, their shelves bare and their patrons somber. But,12 Main Street East, with its storied past and resilient spirit, had seen it all before.
As Alfred made his rounds, the walls seemed to murmur the tales of yesteryears. This wasn’t just any hotel; it was a cornerstone of the community, a place where the town’s history was etched into every brick and beam. The inn had weathered more than just time—it had survived fires, prohibitions, and even the occasional scandal.
In the mid-1800s, the building that stood on this very spot was known as the Commercial Hotel, a temperance house that dared to be different by shunning the sale of liquor—a stark contrast to its rowdy neighbor, the Exchange Hotel. When Col. King took ownership, he envisioned a place where travelers could find respite, but it was his son, Arthur, who inherited the hotel and quickly passed it on, driven by his wife’s disapproval of the establishment’s evolving reputation (happy wife, happy life? maybe).
The Commercial Hotel met a fiery end in 1885, but like a phoenix, it rose from the ashes when Walter Pastorius erected the grand Pastorius House just five months later. The new hotel, with its three towering stories, became a beacon for weary travelers and a hub for the town’s social life. Yet, its grandeur was not without its challenges. Mechanics’ Liens, family disputes, and the ever-looming specter of Prohibition kept the Pastorius family on their toes.
The early 20th century brought with it the roar of change. As Kingsville voted to ban the sale of liquor, the bars of the hotel were boarded up, and the town held its breath. But even as slot machines were seized, and proprietors like Alfred found themselves on the wrong side of the law, The Grove Hotel remained a pillar of resilience.
By the 1940s, as the shadow of Prohibition lifted, the hotel found new life under the ownership of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. They promised the townsfolk a grand renovation, one that would restore The Grove to its former glory. And they delivered. The Hotel once again became the pride of Kingsville, a place where the echoes of the past mingled with the promise of the future.
But the story doesn’t end there. It continued to evolve, adapting to the changing times. The Fogcutter dining room, a later addition, became a beloved local haunt, known for its friendly atmosphere and ambitious culinary offerings - and the (more than a few) bar fights. Even the controversial introduction of topless dancers in the 1970s was a testament to the hotel’s determination to stay relevant in a rapidly changing world.
Today, as you walk through the halls of The Grove Hotel, you can still feel the presence of those who came before. The whispers of the past are never far away, carried on the breeze that rustles through the town, reminding us that history is not just a series of events but a living, breathing story—one that continues to unfold with every new chapter.
And if you listen closely on a quiet night, when the hotel is still and the moonlight filters through the windows, you might just catch a glimpse of George the Ghost, a figure well-known in Kingsville folklore. Some say George never left, preferring the comfort of The Hotel's familiar halls. But don’t worry—he seems to enjoy the company and is known to be quite the friendly spirit.
Blog Post created by original research provided by Kingsville resident, Veronica Brown for the KMHAC, January 31, 2024 (verbrown@mnsi.net)
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