THE INTERMONT HOTEL, COVINGTON, VA - 1891 TO 1912

Covington once claimed to have the finest hotel between Cincinnati and Washington - The Intermont Hotel, which, though it had a life span of less than a quarter of a century, was the setting for cultural and social life of many well-to-do visitors from all over the United States, as well area citizens.

When the Intermont was completed and opened on May 27, 1891, it gave a banquet to a crowd of specially invited guests. As to the elaborate features of this banquet, it is said that it had never been equalled in the State of Virginia, for the wine and liquor bill was $2500.00 and some of the Covington citizens were not able to navigate for a week or ten days.

The place was brilliantly lighted and overflowing with guests who had come from New York, Washington, Cincinnati, Chicago, and many othe places. In fact, so many guests were in attendance that cots had to be put in the halls. There was an orchestra from Washington for dancing after the banquet.

A story recalled that one of Covington's most prominent citizens, not wishing to appear less affluent than the visitors, called his groomsman and said: "Jim, bring around my coach and four, we are leaving now." Jim replied, "but boss, we don't have but one hoss." "Well, bring them around and hitch it up," replied the citizen.

There is no way to measure the influence of the Intermont on the development of Covington, because without it, many distinguished persons of both the financial and literary worlds would have passed us by. Among distinguished guests who stopped there were Judge Roger A. Pryor (Virginia born) jurist from New York, members of the family of J. Pierpont Morgan, Amalie Neeves Chandler, the authoress, who stopped over night en route to Hot Springs.

The following is an early newspaper description: This hotel is situated in the heart of the Alleghany Mountains, Alleghany County, Virginia, 1,450 feet about the sea in the famed spring region of the Virginias. It is one of the finest and best equipped hotels in the mountains. It has 100 luxuriously furnished rooms; it is provided with all the modern improvements - heated by steam, lighted by gas and electricity, has hot and cold water baths on each floor, and an hydraulic elevator, which makes all the rooms equally desirable. There are no inside rooms, all being light and airy, and the hotel is noted for its cheerfulness and its enjoyment of popular amusement, such as music, dancing, tennis, golf, etc. Other activities include walking, riding, driving, rowing, hunting and fishing. There are 1,400 feet of broad verandas overlooking a beautiful lawn of two acres, covered with magnificent shrubbery and costly flowers, making it second to none in the mountains of Virginia. The dining room is one of the outstanding features of the hotel. A large hall with seating capacity of 200, finished in heavy oak and mahogany and fronting on the lawn, with a beautiful view of the surrounding mountains.

The building of the Intermont was financed by the Covington Improvement Company. The contractor for the job was Mr. J. C. Jones and the interior decorator was Mr. Henry G. Stephens of Philadelphia, PA. Stephens was known for the marble slab work and intricate ceiling he installed in theatre lobbies. He also decorated the Kansas City Union Station and at least a part of the Union Station in Washington, DC.

On December 4, 1894 a charter was issued to the Intermont Hotel Company and $50,000.00 worth of stock was issued.

However, the Intermont did not prosper and on March 12, 1897 it was sold and chartered under the name The Intermont Company. The property brought $13,000.00 and had cost $107,000. Shortly after that a large ballroom and several more bedrooms were added and someone remarked that they had bought a $15,000.00 white elephant and added a $20,000.00 tail. Its new Manager was Mr. W. C. Hundley.

Rates for board at the elegant hotel are very moderate, $2.50 to $4.00 per day; $10.00 to $20.00 per week, with special rates to those who stay a month.

The Intermont was sold to Mr. and Mrs. A. Noell on April 2, 1912 and the next year it was torn down.

By Gay Arritt