Brothers Samuel & James McCullough are credited with the original construction of the Wagner Hotel.  An article in the Local newspapers, June 1939, describes the celebration of the 100th anniversary of the building across from the northwest corner of the public square.  Jonathan Hailman, early innkeeper, may have been the first landlord.  A succession of landlords followed until 1863 when the building was purchased by the Wagner family. The Wagners may have been involved with the hotel sometime earlier.  However, with this ownership, several remodeling and expansion projects were completed.  The building was enlarged to three stories and, at the ground level, several stores were added.  This addition was named the Arcade.  Among the early merchants was M.M. Wagner whose meat market windows displayed sides of beef, slabs of bacon and hams. Other stores were the Great Bargain Store, a grocery, the Queensware store, and a variety store.

In 1889 the local newspapers announced the Arcade was again to be remodeled, with all old buildings to be removed and replaced and three more business building erected on Ohio St., covering the entire Lot 82.

In 1897 A.A. Gerlach was manager of the hotel and, at Thanksgiving, he planned a holiday dinner so elaborate, with a wide variety of food, it was hardly to be believed.  About 100 people ate for 50 cents each, while music was played.

In 1898 the interior of the hotel was greatly improved with the addition of new carpet in the reception and parlor rooms.  Mr. Gerlach secured the services of a French cook from Cincinnati, a move which pleased those frequenting the dining room.  In winter months Mr. Gerlach arranged for his guests, if they wished, to have a sleigh ride about the city.  He was a popular and well-liked host.

That same year telephones were installed in the lobby, complete with soundproof booths.  Long distance calls were possible and, when completed, a smiling desk clerk was on hand to inform you of the amount owed.  It’s not surprising that the Florentine Hotel acquired telephones about the same time and advertised accordingly.
 

Below is the menu for the 1897 Thanksgiving Dinner.     (typed as printed on Menu)

The Wagner family made several important changes in the Arcade about 1903, remodeling both the interior and exterior. The grocery was expanded to several times its former size and the section at the rear held furniture and household goods.  Above this area was installed a balcony, with a beautiful stairway leading to a selection of bric-a-brac, fine gifts, fancy china and sparkling glassware.  The entrance to the grocery was improved, combining three doors into one, with a  large window on either side.  This allowed more room for displays and provided more light for the interior of the store.

Many special parties, social occasions, and celebrations of special events were enjoyed at the Wagner House.  It was well patronized and recommended by Sidney residents and those of surrounding areas.  In 1912 running water was installed in many of the rooms, a great convenience to the guests.  This was probably the last improvement initiated by the Wagners as 1912 was the last year they were involved in the actual management of the hotel.  Ownership was retained by the family for another fifty years or so.

The dining room of the hotel received the Duncan Hines Seal of Approval, an enviable award, and the hotel was advertised in the KING'S ROAD GUIDE, an exclusive publication featuring only the best in hotels, garages, and other establishments frequented by vacationers and other motorists.

The Sidney Kiwanis met weekly for lunch at the Wagner House. The planned entertainment was always special and worthy of mention.  In 1922 the group gave a delightful colonial party, to which the wives and lady friends were invited.  It was a most successful affair, wrote the reporter for the SIDNEY DAILY NEWS.  In March of 1923, Dr. H.E. Beebe entertained his friends and associates to a dinner party in the hotel, celebrating the good doctor’s 50 years of medical practice in Sidney.

Billy Sunday, noted Evangelist, spent several days at the Wagner House in 1930 while conducting a Chautauqua in Bellefontaine.

In 1948 several memorable events occurring at the Wagner House were reviewed in the SIDNEY DAILY NEWS.  The upstairs dining room was redecorated and named the Canal room.  A large mural, reminiscent of canal boat days, dominated one of the walls.  In September the miracle of television was demonstrated for the first time in Sidney when a set was installed in the hotel.  On the first night, the public was invited to come and enjoy the program, a wrestling match on WLW-TV. The set remained in the lobby for the entertainment of the guests. In October Peter Grant came from WLW radio in the interest of the school bond issue.  His radio shows (7:15 and 11:00 p.m.) were broadcast from a special room.  At Christmas the Kiwanis Club again received publicity for an innovative holiday program, a “Neck-tie” party.  Prizes wee given to the wearers of the wildest ties.  Winners were Milton Bennett, Dr. J.F. Richeson, Dr. Clayton Kiracofe, Paul Swayne, Walter Meranda and Kenneth McDowell.

On Sunday the hotel was the place to go for dinner, served not in the evening but at the noon hour.  The menu was given in the SIDNEY DAILY NEWS, October 1949, and included the following: juice or fruit cocktail; soup; jellied fruit salad; head lettuce with “1000” Island dressing; relish plate; braised tender beef roast; creamed chicken a la king; baked Virginia ham; roast tom turkey; baked pork chops; golden brown pickerel; combination seafood platter; candied sweet potatoes; buttered peas; stewed rhubarb; green beans; apple pie; chocolate ice cream pie; home mad cake and ice cream roll; sherbet; tea; coffee; milk.
Complete meal $1.50               Children  half price.
 
 
{pp.7, Shelbyana OCT. 2000, #85}
 

Mr. and Mrs. Peck, of Springfield, came in 1949 to assume full control of the historic Wagner House.  Transfer of all furniture and fixtures was made to them by the Wagner family.  The popularity of the hotel was beginning to wane.  May of the rooms did not have private baths and there was no elevator.  Celebrations and parties could be planned for out-of-town places, now easily reached by auto.  In the 1960s the coming of Interstate 75 spelled doom for the downtown hotel.  Motels sprang up all along the highway and restaurants soon followed.  In 1966 the lot and buildings were sold to Charles and Chester Middleton.  They phased out the hotel business but retained the ground floor merchants.  Among the last shops were Bernie’s Knit Shop, heinfeld Insurance, Pier 99, the Lamplighter Pub, and the Hotel Barber Shop.

In 1972 the First Federal Savings and Loan Association purchased the hotel and other buildings from the Middletons. The following month the lobby was filled for the final time when people gathered at the public auction of the hotel furnishings. The sale continued for more thatn eight hours and was attended by hundreds.

In the spring of 1973 barricades wee erected in preparation for the demolition of the hotel, Milligan Construction in charge.  The SIDNEY DAILY NEWS of 26 March sadly noted, “when the bricks and mortar of the Wagner Hotel building begin giving way to demolition next week, not much more than memories will remain after the dust settles.”
 
 

The history of the Wagner House hotel would not be complete without further mention of the Wagner Arcade, a shopping complex built in and around the hotel.

The Wagner brothers, with foresight ahead of their time, included several stores, offering for sale an assortment of items, within the area of the hotel.  Shortly after they assumed active ownership, this min imitation of today’s shopping malls was planned and put into profitable operation.

Not only the daily shopping of hotel guests made the stores successful.  Each Friday and Saturday local residents came with market baskets to purchase the available merchandise.  Over each store hung an awning, identifying the articles to be sold.  Facing Poplar Street, just east of the hotel, were found notions, Queensware, groceries and meats.

Some of the Arcade Merchants were OTT ORPHAL, JOHN MADIGAN, AL WURSTNER, M.M & L.R. & B.P. WAGNER.  Their shops were located in what were later the Western Auto an Flinn’s Variety stores.

In 1899 the Arcade was so popular the Wagners enlarged and diversified it even more.  A large two-story building was erected in the rear.  Shops added were a soda fountain, confectionery, tea and coffee shop, country produce area, enlargement of the existing grocery, household furnishings and a larger Queensware, the latter offering gifts, china and crystal items.  For the convenience of the ladies, a toilet room was situated nearby.

In March of 1903 another remodeling and renovation took place, as described in the information of “The Wagner Hotel.”

Some of the specials offered in 1903 at the different shops, as advertised in the SIDNEY DAILY NEWS were: Queen olives, 25¢ per jar; Continental cigars, box of 25, $1.75; pincushions, 10¢ each; one pound can of mackerel, 10¢; French boneless sardines, 20¢ ; Richelieu lobsters, 30¢  per can; Fancy red salmon, 18¢ per can; Red Ribbon coffee, 30¢ per pound; Fancy yellow peaches (peeled) 15¢ per can; homemade chocolate drops (selling elsewhere at 20 cents per pound) 10¢  per pound; and Newsboy, a 5-cent cigar, 6 for 25¢ .

The Arcade, with all the fascinating shops, along with the Wagner House, is sadly, no more.