Milton History
a pictorial history of Milton, PA
Hotel Haag 31 S. Front Street
This building was on the east side of S. Front Street. It was built in 1890 by Benneville K. Haag. The old Milton National Bank building was to the left, and the Schreyer Store Co. was to the right.
Text from the book “Chronicles and Legends of Milton” by George Venios: Probably the finest building ever built in Milton was the Hotel Haag. The four-story Hotel Haag was built in 1890. Separated by a narrow alley, it was located directly south of and adjacent to the Milton National Bank. It was publicized as one of the most magnificent hotels outside of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. The brick building of modern American design had a massive entrance with storefronts on each side with fine French plate glass facing the street. The lobby was laid out with English tile and the main hall and office area had polished oak wainscot. The office was connected to every room in the house by electric bells and speaking tubes. The hotel had separate areas including a ladies parlor, smoking room, reading room and a large dining room on the second floor finished in polished oak. The third and fourth floors contained twenty-three bedrooms on each floor. Each room was provided with a steam radiator and finished in cherry and mahogany. The opening banquet of the hotel was an elaborate affair attended by about 600 people. An excursion train ran from Williamsport for the opening. The ball opened at nine. The building was brilliantly illuminated with gas light from cut-glass chandeliers and the luxurious furnishings offered greatest comfort for the guests. The dining room and parlor are shown below.
From Bell’s History of Northumberland County 1891: B. K. HAAG, merchant, was born, January 9, 1817, in Berks county, Pennsylvania, and is a son of John and Mary C. (Knauss) Haag. His education was received in the subscription and common schools. At the age of twenty-one years he left his father's farm to begin a business life for himself, his first employment being in the general mercantile store of Geddes, Green & Walls at McEwensville, this county, where he remained four years. Following this were four years' service as a clerk in a general store in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. In 1847 he came to Milton and formed a partnership with T. S. Mackey & Son, under the firm name of Mackey & Haag, dry goods and hardware. At the expiration of two years Mr. Haag withdrew from this connection and joined Montgomery Sweney, and for one year did a general dry goods and grocery business, under the firm title of Sweney & Haag. After one year's association with the concern of Haag & Caldwell, the stock was divided and Mr. Haag kept a store for a period on the present site of the Milton National Bank. In 1853 he established his present hardware and book store, which was conducted under the firm cognomen of Haag & Brown until the panic of 1857, which compelled Mr. Haag to assume all responsibility of the business, and since then he has been alone until joined by his son-in-law, John Buoy. In 1863 he purchased a lot south of his present hardware room, of Elizabeth Miller, and in 1865 erected buildings on the same. In 1875 his business block was burned, rebuilt, and again burned in 1880, and soon after rebuilt the second time. Besides this handsome brick block, he has constructed many dwellings in the town of Milton, including the Hotel Haag, which magnificent structure was erected in 1890 at a cost of over seventy-five thousand dollars, and opened up for business on April 1, 1890. Mr. Haag was married, February 20, 1852, to Sarah Schuck, daughter of Philip and Catharine (Diebert) Schuck. She was born July 19th, 1821 in Union county, Pennsylvania, and to her union with Mr. Haag have been born six children: William A., deceased; Mary E., the wife of John Buoy; Charles H., deceased; Sallie, deceased; Thomas J.; and Hettie, the wife of C. A. Chapin. Mr. Haag was postmaster while at McEwensville and also trustee of school funds at the same place. He was appointed one of the distributing committee of the relief funds after the great fire of 1880. He was a director of the National Bank of Milton from 1865 to 1875.
From The Milton Standard January 10, 1924: A. Berman and Sons bought the Hotel Milton, owned by Wolf Dreifuss. Berman said they will change the entire first floor into up-to-date store rooms, equipping the other three floors with modern offices and apartments. The building was owned by B. K. Haag about 1890 and was known as the Hotel Haag until it was purchased by Dreifuss in 1908. It was remodeled then and changed to the name Hotel Milton.
From The Milton Standard March 5, 1925: A. Berman and Sons leased the Hotel Milton to P. J. Enright, experienced hotel man. The entire interior of the hotel was to be refinished, repapered and refurbished. Work was to be completed by May 1.
A deed shows the hotel, after B. K. Haag’s death on Sep. 4th, 1901, was owned by his daughter Mary Haag Buoy and her husband, John Y. Buoy. It was transferred on Feb. 19th, 1903, to Hettie Haag Chapin and her husband, Clarence A. Chapin. The Chapins sold it to Wolf Dreifuss on Aug. 3rd, 1908.
