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THE CLIFTON
HOTEL Keeley Institue
It is not known exactly when the Clifton hotel was
built. But in 1891 the building began as an institution
for alcoholics, known as the Keelekure Institution. The
following is quoted from a booklet published for the
institute:
THE KEELEY INSTITUTE
Blair, Nebraska
Established 1891
Incorporated Capital $20,000.00
For the cure of liquor, opium and other nervous
diseases. Through the exclusive use of Dr. Leslie E.
Kceley's Double Chloride of Gold Remedies.
In the beautiful little city of Blair, Nebraska
situated 25 miles north of Omaha, at the intersection of
the Fremont, Elkhorn and Mo. Valley and the Chicago, St.
Paul, Minneapolis and Omaha Railways is located THE
KEELEY INSTITUTE. This is the only Institute in the
State authorized by Dr. Kceley and where may be found
the Genuine Keeley Remedies. We solicit your earnest
inquiries into the efficacy and mode of our treatments.
Effect of Treatments - to permanently destroy the
alcoholic crave and restore the general health. With the
cooperation of the patient the cure is easily
accomplished. Improvement is rapid from the beginning,
and the patient returns to complete and perfect health
inside of one month, and without the least nervous shock
whatever. The time required is four weeks. In
exceptional cases, however, where improvement is
unusually rapid, three weeks have been found to be
sufficient.
Cost of treatment including all medicines,
stimulants, professional services and baths, is $25.00
per week. Board and room are extra and may be had from
$5.00 to $8.99 per week according to the class of
accommodations required. No patient accepted for a less
time than a full course treatment."
The following is taken from The Tribune, May, 1918.
"The last "Kceley Institute" in the state to close
its doors and go out of business was the concernat Grand
Island, according to news dispatches. Its passing brings
to mind the early success of the business here in Blair
in the building now known as the Clifton hotel, where
many a "jag" was given the treatment and made a new man
- until he fell from grace again.
Many prominent men came from all parts of the nation
to Blair in the early days of the Keeley institute to
take treatment. Some were benefited permanently, a few
only temporarily, and others went right back to the arms
of old king alcohol as soon as they met him after being
turned out as cured."
In 1896 only the west wing of the building was being
used as a jag cure, the balance of the building having
already been converted into a hotel. The Kelley
Institute was moved to Omaha in 1900.
Through the years the Clifton was owned by various
people. It is believed the first owner was Dr. Wright,
"a veterinarian." When Charley and May Robeson bought it
from Andrew Yates in 1924, it became a family business.
Scott and his wife Blanche and Bessie (Robeson) Morse
assisted their parents. The Robesons managed it until
1969, when sold it to the present owners, Mr. and Mrs.
AI Dunning.
The well built thick-walled building had 28 rooms.
Since only 4 of them had running water, pitchers and
bowls were used. The maid and Robe, son family carried
hot water to each room. Bathrooms were added later.
Much of the business came from commercial men who
traveled by tram. When they alighted at the depot just
north of the hotel, Scott met them to assist with
luggage and trunks. Some of the men displayed their
wares of clothing, suits, hats, etc. for the clothiers
and Blair merchants.
In those days a large pot-bellied stove heated the
lobby of the hotel. Guests often congregated around it
in the evening telling jokes and talking politics.
Blanche recalls an old time westerner com. mg through on
his way to Ft. Laramie. After the evening meal, he sat
on the porch visiting and relating interesting stories.
One of the most noted guests was Rubinoff, the famous
violinist, who gave Blance a dime for a bottle of coke.
She coated it with nail polish and still possesses the
souvenir. On another occasion, a gentleman with the soil
conservation service from Africa, rented a room. Upon
returning home, he sent Blanche several stamps for her
collection.
Blanche reminisced on the many meals served from the
dining room. It was open at certain hours and school
teachers of Blair often ate there at noon. One of her
specialties was baking powder biscuits and cone honey
(from the Fred Hurdum farm) served each evening. The
Robesons were known, too, for their fried chicken. Back
then in 1925 and 1926, a 3-course meal cost 50¢.
T-bones from the local butcher cost 12 to
13¢ each. They were
pan fried on a coal range. Two ice boxes were used the
[sic] preserve food - one in the dining room and the
other in the kitchen. Water from the ice drained down
into the basement. Bessie remembers the little
individual butter pats that were served with each meal.
Other recollections are of the Reed O'Hanlon family
eating in the dining room nearly every Sunday. And when
Mrs. Mark Beaty's bridge club met every two weeks in
homes, the ladies first enjoyed an evening meal at the
hotel. The dining room closed before World War II.
The following is taken from a clipping of one of
Blair's local papers, at the opening of the Blair
bridge.
"Governor and Mrs. A. J. Weaver and daughter, Miss
Dorothy Jane, were honor guests at a breakfast given by
Mr. and Mrs. F. W. Arndt at the Clifton hotel last
Friday morning. Upon the arrival of the Governor and his
party in Blair, they were immediately taken to the
Clifton where they partook of the bountiful breakfast.
Mrs. Arndt had carefully planned the decorative
scheme of the dining room which was carried out by Mrs.
Scott Robeson. A miniature bridge about two feet in
length and a reproduction of the Blair bridge, was
painted a silver color and it rested on glass tumblers
which had been placed on the table to serve as piers for
the bridge. Ferns and greens were placed about the
bridge to represent a fitting background similar to the
scenery about the Blair bridge.
A three course breakfast was served the menu of which
consisted of: ice grape juice, cantaloupe, fried spring
chicken, hot biscuits, small brown potatoes, tomato
salad, sherbet, wafers and coffee. The breakfast room
was beautifully decorated with flowers and each lady was
presented with a bouquet of flowers by Mr. Arndt.
Following the breakfast Mrs. Weaver and daughter were
shown the pretty sights of the city by the ladies."
Al Dunning purchased the Clifton hotel 11 years ago.
He remembers renting a room there in 1958 when he was
passing through Blair. Today the Dunnings live in
comfortable quarters on the first floor, and business is
based on transient construction men and truck drivers.
There are 6 apartments and 14 rooms. Besides the Dunning
family, ten people now live there permanently.
Written by Shirley Jipp information by Mr. and Mrs.
Scott Robeson and Bessie Morse
Take from the Washington County History Book. |
