Northeastland Hotel, Presque Isle, Me. 6K

Northeastland Hotel, Presque Isle, Me. 6K

The Northeastland Hotel, Presque Isle, Maine. Also seen in this views are the First National Grocery Store, Estella Shop, J W Tapley's, Jewelry Store as well as numerous 1930s vintage automobiles parked at the curb. The Northeastland Hotel was built in 1932 on the same site on Main Street previously occupied by the Presque Isle House. The Presque Isle House was rebuilt several times following fires, including a massive blaze in 1900. The building was deemed a fire hazard and demolished in 1931. Most locals know that hotel's most famous story: the night a horse came to dinner. Purchased by the local Mooseleuk Club and driven by John Willard, John R. Braden put the city on the map in the harness racing world, setting both mile and half-mile records. The Bangor Daily News reported on a banquet, held Oct. 14, 1921, to celebrate Braden's success, during which the horse was led indoors to the festivities. As guests enjoyed a celebratory meal, Braden was served oats in a silver bowl. Presque Isle contractor and sawmill owner N.W. Downing, the area's premier builder at that time, built the new Northeastland for $200,000. On June 13, 1932, the Bangor Daily News promoted the grand opening of Presque Isle Hotels Inc.'s "magnificent new Northeastland Hotel" on the following evening, June 14. The new building boasted "a restful lobby" and an electric kitchen, among other amenities. The Northeastland's first business rental was to Vincent Barresi, who set up his barbershop there. Barresi purchased barber chairs, which now serve Dwight's Barber Shop, just down Main Street. Military personnel from the Presque Isle Army Airfield, as it was known in the 1940s, and later the Presque Isle Air Base, were housed there. The Northeastland added the Coffee Shop in 1950, and in 1954 opened a 30-room addition, unveiled in an open house in March 1955.