Page 197 - John Anderson

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Founded in Yonkers, New York in 1853 by Elisha Otis, the company
pioneered the development of the safety elevator; invented by Otis in
1852, which used a special mechanism to lock the elevator car in
place should the hoisting cables fail.
Under Mr. Flagler’s ownership no expense was spared for interior
decorations and furnishings. Costly rugs and carpet replaced the
early economical floor coverings; crystal chandeliers lighted the lobby,
dining room, and adjoining social rooms. The dining room was
resplendent with the finest of table linen, silver, china and crystal
money could buy. Flowers and plants were profusely used; the sides
of the ballroom were banked with bouquet after bouquet of floral
arrangements.
The top capacity of the hotel was 640 guests. Suites of rooms cost
sixty dollars per day — American plan — and there was no refund for
cancellations.
Flagler built a second bridge near the first as a railroad spur so his
trains could carry passengers directly to the resort. Later, Flagler had
the railroad bridge redesigned so wealthy visitors could drive
automobiles over it to the hotel. The first wooden bridge was
demolished soon afterward.
By August, 1904, the rails for the railroad Flagler built parallel to the
Ormond Bridge were halfway completed. The railroad tracks were on
the south side of the bridge, and the train left the main tracks just
north of Ormond, and came down West Granada Avenue and across
the river to the hotel. Guests could get off the train at the south
entrance of the hotel, and walk directly from the train into the hotel.
On its return across the river the train was backed up all the way, and
then switched back to the main line. The train was also used to
deliver coal to the Hotel Ormond coal storage facility for power plant
use via the utility track east of the hotel.

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