American House and Hotel

In 1808 there were ten places in Angelica licensed as hotels. The American House and Hotel was erected in that early day. For many years it enjoyed a patronage by which the proprietor realized a profit. In the early 19th century, this hotel was mainly used by cattle drovers who utilized the railroad to transport their cattle east, as they were not allowed in other establishments. The Hotel, as now locally called, has had several owners, renovations, and was even moved over 5ft in its long history! During one such renovation an old lead and copper bullet was found in the ceiling at the back part of the building which once housed a speakeasy. Beers’ 1879 “History of Allegany County” commented the American Hotel “will be a thing of the past.” Isn’t it interesting that it is the only hotel left and still in active use today? The Encyclopedia of New York State, published in 2005, stated that this was the village’s oldest business. This is the place featured on this year’s Heritage Days t-shirt!