Hamilton's Stores (Yellowstone National Park)

Hamilton's Stores were concessioners in Yellowstone National Park from 1915 to 2002. The stores were founded by Winnipeg native Charles Hamilton, who arrived in Yellowstone in 1905, aged 21, to work for the Yellowstone Park Association. The stores provided food, souvenirs and sundries to tourists at the major attractions along Yellowstone's Grand Loop Road. Several of the buildings constructed for Hamilton's are significant examples of the National Park Service Rustic style of architecture and have assumed prominence as attractions in their own right. Most or all are included as contributing structures in National Register of Historic Places historic districts.

Charles Hamilton

Swimming pool at Old Faithful operated by Hamilton

Charles Ashworth Hamilton was born in Winnipeg on November 19, 1884. His parents were Alma Lizzie Ashworth Hamilton and Charles Edward Hamilton. Alma was from Ottawa, C.E., a lawyer, was an immigrant from Kent, England. At the time of their son's birth, C.E. was mayor of Winnipeg and attorney general of Manitoba. The family moved to Saint Paul, Minnesota in 1884, where the elder Charles had been appointed British Vice-Consul for Minnesota. After attending high school in Saint Paul, the younger Charles enrolled in a business school. This training helped him obtain a summer job in 1905 as an assistant to the purchasing agent for the Yellowstone Park Association at Mammoth Hot Springs.[1] Hamilton spent subsequent summers as secretary to Harry W. Child, president of the Yellowstone Park Company, which operated the hotels in the park. From 1907 Hamilton was assistant to T.E. Farrow, Superintendent of Hotels. During this time, Hamilton became friends with Huntley Child Sr., son of Harry Child. In 1915 the Klamer store at Old Faithful came on the market and was offered to Huntley, who turned it down, but who informed Hamilton of the opportunity. Hamilton bought the store for $20,000 with Huntley Child's backing.[2] Hamilton established himself at the Klamer store, which eventually became known as "Hamilton's Lower Store", in a six-room apartment on the upper floor. His office, papered with $1,839,105.60 in checks, was called the "Million Dollar Room."[3] After Army service during World War I, Charles Hamilton married Eva Victoria Spence in 1920.[4]

Hamilton's sisters, Alma Sybil (Syb) Hamilton Parkes, Pauline (Pearl) Hamilton Samson and Eva (Eve) Kraebel de Greve, and cousin Laura Christine Marston d'Allemagne all worked in the stores.[5]

Expansion

In 1916 Hamilton agreed to a 50-50 share of the automotive service concession with the Childs and opened filling stations at Old Faithful and West Thumb.[6] Hamilton offered cooked meals in the stores from 1927.[7]

Porch at Lower Store, Old Faithful
Chandelier at Lake Store

In 1953 Hamilton gained control of most park concessions with the purchase of stores at Mammoth Hot Springs and Canyon. Hamilton also operated bathhouses at Old Faithful from 1933, when he bought the geyser-fed pool from Henry Brothers until 1951, when they were demolished as inappropriate for a national park.[10]

As a result of a 1998 change in National Park Service policy which eliminated preferences for established businesses in parks, Hamilton's Stores lost the concessions contract in Yellowstone to Delaware North in 2002, and ceased operations.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Petersen, Gwen (1985). Yellowstone Pioneers: The Story of the Hamilton Stores and Yellowstone National Park. Hamilton Stores. pp. 22–24, 29. ISBN 0-86679-016-0.
  2. ↑ Petersen, p. 29
  3. ↑ Petersen, p. 30
  4. ↑ Petersen, pp.62-63
  5. ↑ Petersen, pp. 72-73
  6. ↑ Petersen, p. 45
  7. ↑ Petersen, p. 53
  8. ↑ Petersen, p. 68
  9. ↑ Petersen, pp. 68-69
  10. ↑ "Hamilton's Stores, Inc.". Geyser Bob's Yellowstone Park Historical Service. Robert V. Goss. 2008-08-08. Archived from the original on 2009-08-08.
  11. ↑ "Hamilton Stores loses Yellowstone contract". Billings Gazette. 2008-08-09.

Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) documentation filed under West Thumb, Teton County, WY:

Filed under Lake, Teton County, WY:

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