Locating "Hotel Jamaica" in NY Circa 1913

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stfrancis
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Locating "Hotel Jamaica" in NY Circa 1913

Post by stfrancis »

I'll repost, since my first post mysteriously disappeared since last week....

I discovered an old photo of my Italian Grand Father & his family, circa 1913, taken at a resort named "Hotel Jamaica". See attached.

He left Manhattan to move to Montreal, around 1902, but visited relatives in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Franklin County.

I have very little information on him. I am wondering if you would have any idea where that hotel is actually located. I am told it is practically impossible it is in Jamaica, Caribbean, since no Italians would be accepted there.

It appears to be in the New York "country side", for middle-class Italians.

Any input is appreciated
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jmb44
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Re: Locating "Hotel Jamaica" in NY Circa 1913

Post by jmb44 »

Jamaica is a neighbor in the Borough of Queen's New York City, perhaps the hotel was there?
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Re: Locating "Hotel Jamaica" in NY Circa 1913

Post by PippoM »

I'd take a look at www.fultonhistory.com, a collection of NY newspapers.
If you search by "Jamaica hotel" you'll get a lot of occurrences; then you can read the related news to see if any is about the hotel you're looking for and reports its address.
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Re: Locating "Hotel Jamaica" in NY Circa 1913

Post by stfrancis »

Thank you all, great tips.


The problem using word search on generic names like "Hotel Jamaica" is that you get hits on every other hotel with any given name, followed the words "Hotel" & "Jamaica", all together
Thus, so far, all the hits are for hotels in Jamaica (Caribbean)

Im starting to think this hotel is not actually named "Hotel Jamaica" proper, but rather that those words on the front are just meant as "Slogan" , sort of a generic advertising (not sure im expressing myself properly...) If thats the case, then I have no idea the name of the hotel, and would have to rely on picture identification alone...

Someone specialised in building "architecture" would probably be able to narrow down the location quite quickly, maybe !


So far my search of Fulton, and NY Times was unsuccessful. I also searched dozens of "Vintage Hotels", "Vintage Postcards" sites.
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Tessa78
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Re: Locating "Hotel Jamaica" in NY Circa 1913

Post by Tessa78 »

Checking the US City Directory for Queens in 1912
There are three listings under HOTELS with the name Jamaica

Jamaica Bay, 386 Boulevard, Rockaway Beach :D

Jamaica Junction, NY av c Conduit la, Jamaica

Jamaica Park, 264 Fulton, Jamaica

Image of the Directory page – middle far right column
Click once to enlarge… and AGAIN to magnify
Image

T.
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Re: Locating "Hotel Jamaica" in NY Circa 1913

Post by johnnyonthespot »

stfrancis wrote:I'll repost, since my first post mysteriously disappeared since last week....

I discovered an old photo of my Italian Grand Father & his family, circa 1913, taken at a resort named "Hotel Jamaica". See attached.

He left Manhattan to move to Montreal, around 1902, but visited relatives in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, and Franklin County.

I have very little information on him. I am wondering if you would have any idea where that hotel is actually located. I am told it is practically impossible it is in Jamaica, Caribbean, since no Italians would be accepted there.

It appears to be in the New York "country side", for middle-class Italians.

Any input is appreciated
Looking at the photo, I am thinking the hotel was more likely located in rural Franklin County than in Queens, NY.

You might make an inquiry here: http://www.franklinhistory.org/
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Re: Locating "Hotel Jamaica" in NY Circa 1913

Post by stfrancis »

Thank you all again

While I tend to agree its in Northern NY, I would assume around Saranac Lake,
I find it very strange the "Jamaica" name, and even the Jamaican "Coat of Arms" above the name

All the "Vintage " resorts ive seen tend to carry a NY'ish style name, and most carry a flag...

He had in-laws in the Malone, NY area, but Malone is very small, and the setting doesnt appear to be Malone (farmland), he other in-laws in Astoria, NY, but I agree the setting doesnt appear to be Long Island...

The "story" is they went there so the little boy (my father" could "recover" from a bout of pneumonia). Im told this was typical of middle class immigrants to get out of the crowded cities, like Manhattan, or say, Montreal


I will continue to follow the leads you all gave me in the meantime....
Thanks
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johnnyonthespot
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Re: Locating "Hotel Jamaica" in NY Circa 1913

Post by johnnyonthespot »

Possibly Jamaica, Vermont?

If so, maybe someone here would have some info: http://jamaicahf.info/
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Re: Locating "Hotel Jamaica" in NY Circa 1913

Post by stfrancis »

Thanks Carmine


I will email them also.

My "gut feeling" is Saranac area....

(BTW, today I found a "Jamaica Hotel", as opposed to "Hotel Jamaica", BUT its in Kingston Jamaica (Circa 1912). It became the YMCA in 1920,then the Jamaican Gov took it over.)

thanks for your input
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Re: Locating "Hotel Jamaica" in NY Circa 1913

Post by stfrancis »

Im told its most likely in the Schroon Lake, Lake George, or Catskills area (Southern Adirondacks)...but all still guesswork
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Re: Locating "Hotel Jamaica" in NY Circa 1913

Post by Tessa78 »

stfrancis wrote:Im told its most likely in the Schroon Lake, Lake George, or Catskills area (Southern Adirondacks)...but all still guesswork
You might want to call the Schroon Lake Historical Society...
Schroon Lake Historical Society
1144 State Route 9, Schroon Lake -
(518) 532-7615

T.
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Re: Locating "Hotel Jamaica" in NY Circa 1913

Post by stfrancis »

Thanks to all of you

This mystery was finally resolved, the hotel is indeed in Jamaica, (Caribbean) .I found it by using every trick I could think of in Google searching...

I have more questions about who he went there with, and who he possibly knew there, but that will be for another day !
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