Summit House Top of Mt. Wachusett

Contents
1 Historical Facts
2 Summit House Advertisements
3 What The Worcester Columbian Wrote About the Summit House

Historical Facts

Summit House 1
In 1866 William Morse began selling cigar and candy to visitors. A small stone house was built in 1870. In 184 Wachusett Mountain Co. built a 25ç toll road to the top of the mountain from the Amasa Smith house on Pine Hill. In 1875 the first wooden Summit House and barn were built by W.M.C.. The house was enlarged in 1879 and a bowling alley added.

In 1882 P. A. Beaman bought the mountain. In 1884-5 a 3 story house was built, and by 1900 a hotel, bowling alley, horse barns, and ice house had been added. In 1900 the State of Massachusetts buys the mountain for $20,000.

In 1907 J. C. F. Mirick reconstructs the mountain house into the 3rd hotel. In 1909-10 its popularity leads to the building of a billiard room, laundry, and sleeping room in a new annex. Electricity was brought to the summit in 1925. The horse barn was removed in 1930 when an 8 car garage was built. The ice house was replaced by an electric refrigerator in 1931. From 1940-60'ies patronage and maintenance deteriorated the house. It was eventually closed to the public.

It burned on December 18, 1970.

Summit House Advertisements

"Since early in the nineteenth century Wachusett Mountain has offered a goal for many a traveler, explorer and sightseer. In 1866 Mr. William G. Morse had a booth for the sale of candy and cigars on the summit of the Mountain during the summer months. The only means of transporting his material was by a small two wheeled cart drawn by a sturdy Canadian pony over the rocky path leading up from the Mountain House Hotel. Business evidently proved good, for he erected a small stone house on the summit in 1870. He continued the business during the summer months for four years.

Summit House 2
In 1874 the Wachusett Mountain Co. built a road from Mr. Amasa Smith's near Pine Hill, to the Summit, and erected the first Summit House and barn the following year. In 1879 the house was enlarged and a Bowling Alley was built. Brigham and Derby were the proprietors".

The Mountain was sold to P. A. Beaman & Son in 1882 and they erected a three story building forty feet square in 1884-5. They conducted a general hotel business in the summer months until the State took the property for a reservation in 1900.

After the State acquired the Mt. Wachusett Property in 1900, Mr. Alley L. Harrington rented the hotel for several years. Mr. William R. Howe rented it afterward for a few more years.

Summit House 3

The Reservation Commission early in 1907 decided to modernize the hotel at the summit and engaged J. C. F. Mirick to prepare plans for this purpose. Work was started in September of that year. The house was opened for guests in June 1908. The Commission hiring a Mr. Osgood and wife to operate the hotel. The following year Messrs. Charles E. and Thomas Horne hired the property. The hotel became so popular that the Commission deemed it advisable to build an "Annex," comprising a billiard room, laundry and several sleeping rooms in 1910. From that date to the present (1915) the hotel has grown in prosperity under the able management of Mr. Everett W. Needham, Supt. of the Reservation."

What The Worcester Columbian Wrote About the Summit House

"This house is located 2,480 feet above the sea level, on the summit of Mount Wachusett, as its name implies, and this season Mr. F. E. Miller is its genial landlord, who is doing all in his power to make, the hotel a comfortable home for those seeking mountain air. The Summit House is located on the top of Wachusett Mountain, which is the second highest elevation in the state, being exceeded only by Graylock. While the height is sufficient for pure air and a magnificent view, it is not such as to make the ascent a tire-some climb. A good road winds with easy grades to the top of the mountain, disclosing at every turn new beauties of scenery.

From the observatory, where a good telescope and field glasses are supplied, the finest view in the state is obtained. Parts of 6 states call be seen, dotted with villages, cities, towns, lakes, and mountains. Sunrise as seen from the top of Wachusett well repays the early riser, and numbers pass the night there for that purpose. This hotel has accommodations for 50 guests, the rooms being large and airy, and provided with excellent beds. Mr. Miller makes a specialty of catering for excursion parties, who can have dinner ready for them on their arrival, by giving notice in advance by telephone or letter. The Summit House is reached by rail over the, Worcester division of the Fitchburg R.R., and coaches meet every train at Princeton station to convey passengers to the summit."

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