The Vinton House

The conductor calls out!

All off for the Lackley Horse Sales. The Vinton House Hotel, The Caldwell House, The Depot Hotel and Annie Griggs Boarding House. Next stop…Indianapolis.

Delvin Miles and Johnny Sims pull their suitcases off the top rack and put on their hats. They get off the train into the morning sunlight of March 14, 1912.

They walk down the depot steps onto Foote Street. It is a broad street that leads to the center of Cambridge City. The Christian Church and the livery stable are on the left side. On the other side are several older houses, the Masonic Temple, and at the corner of Foote and Main Street is the Silver Dollar Saloon.

Johnny looks up and down the street. “Where are we going to stay this time?”

Delvin glances south toward Annie Griggs Boarding House. “I thought Annie’s boarding house was crowded last year. Let’s stay at the Vinton House.”

“Okay by me,” Johnny answered. “It will probably cost more.” Delvin was thinking about the cost of a good colt.

“Yeah, but look at the races we won this year. We can afford it.”

“Are we going walk to the hotel?” Delvin asked.

“Sure,” Johnny said. “Let’s walk. I like this town. They call it ‘Little Chicago’”.

CHAPTER 2

As Johnny and Delvin turn the corner from Foote Street to Main Street, they could see the Vinton House in the middle of the block.

It is a three-story, red brick building with thin columns alongside the doors, and windows with small panes on each side and above the doorway. Two French doors open out to black wrought iron balconies on the second floor. One balcony is located above the front door and the other balcony is above the double doors that enter into the bar room from Main Street.

They walk into the hotel lobby. Standing at the check-in desk is a tall man with a reddish-gray beard, but lacking much hair on his head. He is dressed in a brown wool jacket with a navy lapel, navy pinstriped trousers and a button down beige shirt with a yellow and red checked tie.

On the other side of the lobby are two full wall pictures. One is of a woman in a pink chiffon sheath gown holding a large bouquet of red roses and the other picture is of the man at the desk. Beneath the picture is a long sofa covered in pink velvet. On the sofa are three rose-colored velvet pillows. Two small tables with marble insets are placed in front of the sofa. On the floor is a fine silk Oriental rug. There is no doubt this rug has been selected for its beauty to enhance the lobby of the Vinton House.

“Good morning gentlemen. I’m Elbridge Vinton. Welcome to the Vinton House.”

“Good morning, sir. Would it be possible to get a room?,” Delvin asks.

“We charge 75 cents a day, plus 50 cents a tub for bath water.

“That will be fine. Can we have lunch here?”

******

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