Ontario House

The Ontario House is "A Historic Landmark" Over 160 years old
Please read our story below

- SINCE 1842 -
The Ontario House
a.k.a. The Stone Jug [The Bar]
358 Main Street, Youngstown NY 14174
Located on the corner of Routes 93 and 18F
at the only stop light in town!

"Just minutes from everywhere"
Get a Map!

Your Host: Eddie Wojcik
[click for larger]

OUR NEW PHONE NUMBER! [January 2009]
FOR RESERVATIONS:
(716) 219-4073

Email Me
[Phoning is better]
Please put in your subject line "OH Info"

PHONE FOR RESERVATIONS: (716) 219-4073 [New January 2009 number]

To view pictures of our rooms ... GO BELOW

GO HERE for a Mapquest printable map right to our place!

~ Open Year 'Round ~

Full service licensed bar downstairs
with pool table and friendly clientele

If you're fishin' or sailin'
or just bummin' around
You can afford
to stop here!

We are located on the world famous Niagara River and within walking distance
of Historic Fort Niagara. Walk to full service restaurants, groceries, gas, car repairs
liquor store, pizza shops, barber shops and nearby farmers markets.

1/2 block from Village Park and a look down the street to Fort Niagara State Park!

We are practically next door to the Youngstown Yacht Club
and Village boat launch ramp.
Fort Niagara launch ramps are nearby, affording simple access to
Lake Ontario and the Niagara River.

BEAUTIFUL RIVER VIEW FROM OUR OUTSIDE
PATIO/PORCH WHERE THERE IS ALWAYS A BREEZE
OR FROM OUR UPSTAIRS ROOMS

The "OH" in winter

This is a Historical Chronicle of Our House
From an article by Don Ames, Youngstown Historian

Youngstown is fortunate to have one stone building still standing after 162 years. Still functional and used for its original purpose, it looms over the business section of the village at the corner of Main and Lockport streets. However, let us look back in time and find out more about this area and the people who were involved in its past.

Long before the British finally gave up Fort Niagara in 1796, storekeepers, artisans like blacksmiths, and others built log cabins and squatted on the land which was south of the Fort among the giant trees of the Virgin Forest.

Before the 1812 War between the U.S. and the British with the Canadians, Elijah Hathaway had arrived in our area and had built a tavern and stable on the property where the Ontario House now stands, perhaps with the permission of John Young.

We find his name in the "List of Sufferers" (those who lost property during the burning of the area from here to Buffalo by the British in 1813) and his building was included.

In 1816, we find that Elijah, Agnes Greensitt, John McBride and others are listed as innkeepers; so we know that the inn had been rebuilt.

Alexander Lane purchased the property along Lockport Street in 1841 and by the end of 1842 our hotel had been constructed. As we look at this four story building, which is nearly 50 feet square at its base, having four chimneys and walls two feet thick, we ponder over these questions:

How many tons of stone were required, where they were found, how many horse drawn wagons were used, and how many men worked there?

There were an incredible number of small rooms on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors. There may have been as many as 20 fireplaces throughout. One remains in the present dining room and another is in the basement where the kitchen used to be. It is very large and probably was supplied with the hooks, chains, spit, kettles and other devices, which were necessary for the preparation of all the meals for many years. It even had a square recessed hole in the wall where ~read was baked. A prodigious amount of wood must have been burned during those early years.

Robert McKnight purchased the 308 foot lot along Lockport Street and may nave built the 50 foot long wooden addition before he died in 1866. His wife, Margaret, and his daughter, Mary Root, ran the hotel until 1881 when it was sold to Thomas Brighton. Brighton, in turn, tried to sell out in 1887 as the following advertisement showed.

"The well-known Ontario House. four-story stone, with two-story wing and basement containing 47 rooms, electric bells in part of the rooms, three good cisterns, one well, large icehouse, commodious stables and sheds. It overlooks Niagara River and Lake." Note; This was just before the El Dorado Hotel had been built across the street in 1891.

Timothy Murphy became owner in 1890 and put up the first sign. The Niagara Journal reported in 1892. "Mine host Murphy has erected a fine new barn. It will accommodate 25 horses. 40 tons of hay and has two water tanks with a capacity of 40 barrels each." Note; Many older residents tell of riding or driving into the village for school and leaving their horse there.

Timothy Murphy died in 1913 and his widow, Hattie, sold the Hotel to George Monahan who was followed by Anna Kutskillis. Leo and Jerome Bergey owned it for three years before returning it to Kutskillis till 1931.

That year, when Karolina Sciera was deeded the property, began a long period of extended family ownership which has continued to this very day - over 64 years. The new sign reads: 1842 - Ontario House - 1931.

When Karolina died in 1938, the property was left to two of her daughters, Wanda Kapinos and Caroline Holody. In 1943, Caroline was deeded the property. Following her death in 1987, her three daughters, Rennie Sikoski, Olga Matthews, and Eugenia Wojcik were joint owners until 1991 when Eugenia became sole owner. Eugenia's family had moved into the hotel with her grand- mother when she was young. The family renovated the building and installed a new electrical system and better heating unit. Martin Holody had all of the stonework pointed up and the old wooden porch rebuilt of stone as it is today. Six guest rooms are now available and many have expressed delight that such an unusual Bed and Breakfast is so close by. So many people have been involved in keeping this imposing structure alive. May it continue to play a vital role in this historic village for at least another hundred years.

PHONE FOR RESERVATIONS: (716) 209-4073 or Email Me! [Phoning is better]
Please put in your email subject line "OH Info" Thanks!

OUR ROOMS ............ Click on pictures for larger view!