The Van Horn Hotel was a hotel opened November 11, 1916 by local architect Arthur Van Horn. The hotel’s construction was financed by Van Horn’s frequent business partner, Edmond Hughes. The building is located at 113 N 3rd Street. Its original construction cost was $100,000.
The hotel was marketed as “strictly first class” and featured bathrooms on every floor, with all rooms having a sink with both hot and cold running water, plus other modern conveniences like electric light and telephones installed in every room. Full private bathrooms were later added to some rooms by converting exiting rooms into baths.
Van Horn/Prince Hotel Construction, 1916
Originally housing 200 guests at a rate of $1 per day, the hotel expanded in 1926, adding an 18-room north wing. It was at that time that it took on its most known name as the Prince Hotel – named to honor the president of Merchant’s Trust Company, J.A. Prince – then owner of the hotel. The hotel was soon after purchased by local entrepreneur and philanthropist Neil Churchill.
The Prince Hotel became the Kensington in 1984. It has since housed various entities targeted at senior living or low-income housing. From 1999-2005, the building housed Sunrise Senior Living. The building sat mainly vacant for years until being converted into efficiency apartments in 2010.
Blue Blazer Lounge
Prince Hotel Blue Blazer, 1948
The hotel always featured a dining establishment, which became known as the Blue Blazer Lounge after significant remodel in 1937. Some sources say it was there that the Smith and Curran cocktail was invented, in 1952, also known as the Smith and Kearns. The drink was popular with oil boomers, some of whom brought knowledge of it to other states. Although there are competing claims that the drink was actually invented at the Grand Pacific Hotel, which was indeed a popular oil boom magnet.
