History of Halcyon Hall

An ideal Hotel at last: The Hotel of the World Seeing is Believing, New York Tribune, September 3, 1893. America's Historical Newspapers.

The main building, Halcyon Hall, was constructed in 1893 as a luxury hotel under the direction of New York City publisher Henry James (H. J.) Davison, Jr. (1864–1922), who formed the Halcyon Hall Company. Davison amassed his fortune during the nineteenth century as publisher of Godey’s Lady’s Book, a popular American magazine published from 1830 to 1898, where the hotel was featured. Halcyon Hall was designed by architect James E. Ware (1846–1918), who was also one of the principal architects of the Mohonk Mountain House, now a National Historic Landmark in New Paltz, New York. The Davisons were to occupy Halcyon Hall as their permanent home with Henry H. Valentine as the manager.

Halcyon Hall, the 200-room Queen Anne-style structure, featured a library, music room, art gallery, athletic department, private and public baths, and electric lights generated on site. The structure of the hotel was assembled with fieldstones from Beverly Howard farm near Mabbettsville, which were described “as gray and substantial in appearance as granite. Some of these stones can be seen at the new Bennett Park today.

Although the hotel opened September 14, 1893, it struggled financially within only a few years. The hotel’s name, Halcyon, has been attributed to H. J. Davison’s wife, Marie Weed Alden Davison (1868–1955), inspired by a poem containing the phrase, “Halcyon place of pleasure,” though the original source of the poem remains unknown. The hotel was advertised as “ninety miles from New York. Elevation 1,000 feet,” with the “aim of the owners… to make it ‘a house wherein each hour shall contribute to each pleasures such as make “halcyon days”’.” Their motto was “The Happy Clime is Free and Plenty Knows and Days of Halcyon Rest.” The definition of Halcyon, an adjective, is a period of time in the past that was idyllically calm, peaceful, happy, and carefree. 

Halcyon Hall, Russian Court Orchestra, c. 1893. Millbrook, Dutchess, New York. Bennett College Collection.

A Grand Ball marked the opening, with a Russian Orchestra and women in formal evening attire. An 1894 advertised Halcyon Hall stated the following: “May in the Country, The fields are blue with violets. Halcyon Hall, Millbrook, Dutchess County, N.Y. ‘A lordly house in a lordly land.’ Seeing is believing.”

Visitors included wealthy guests from New York City. By February 1895, however, the hotel, owned by the Halcyon Hall Company, was listed at public auction for foreclosure. Mortgage bonds totaling $63,572.27 were held by the Central Trust Company of New York against Theron C. Strong. 

Journalists shared their viewpoint in the local papers: “'There are thirteen millionaires in the pretty little village of Millbrook. No wonder they can build a $150,000 hotel like the Halcyon out there.' - Eagle: ‘That’s nothing, we have a $50,000 barn.’” Millbrook Round Table, August 5, 1893.

For several years, the hotel changed ownership among various proprietors connected to New York City hotels. Shortly after the sale, the hotel was renamed The Halcyon under proprietor H. R. Robertson Jr. of the Hotel Imperial.

"Halcyon Hall," The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. June 2, 1902. America's Historical Newspapers.

By 1901, Mr. Charles St. John rented Halcyon Hall for the summer season, in connection with the Inn at High Point. In 1902, Henry F. Gillig became the new proprietor, opening the house for visitors after extensive improvements and alterations. Guests were invited back in by Decoration Day, now known as Memorial Day, and a party of newspaper men and their wives was taken on an automobile ride through the Dutchess County hills. The hotel boasted an elaborate musical programme.  

Later in 1904, it was rumored “that Halycon Hall at Millbrook, Dutchess County, is likely to be opened as a military school the coming season. It seems to be a white elephant in the hotel line.” The Columbia Republican, January 28, 1904.

View additional records and images of The Halcyon Hotel here.

View additional records and images of Halcyon Hall here.