A Stay at the Grand Union Hotel 1896
Grand Union Hotel
The Wright siblings sailed from England to New York, and upon arriving in New York, they checked into the Grand Union Hotel, a landmark establishment that not only reflected the city’s grandeur but also showed the family’s social standing and wealth.
The History of the Grand Union Hotel
May, Cecil, Jack, and Harold arrived in New York City on March 5th, 1896, and stayed at the Grand Union Hotel. The Grand Union Hotel was located directly across from Grand Central Station at 4th Avenue and 42nd Street in New York City. The hotel was originally a row of townhomes that were taken over by the hotel owner one by one. Breaking down the walls, it grew in size and became the landmark hotel. It was unique among other Manhattan hotels as it was lit by gas lights throughout the night. During their stay, the hotel was at its height in popularity and staying there demonstrated that you came from money.
The First Explosion
In January 1902, excavation work on the new subway below Park Avenue and 41st Street was being carried out. At lunchtime, someone had the bright idea to try to dry out the wet dynamite by lighting the loose powder. Not surprisingly, it did more than dry out the dynamite; instead, about half a ton exploded. Twelve people died, and the flying glass and rocks injured hundreds of people nearby. Staff reported that they were thrown across rooms and suffered serious cuts to their bodies as a result.
The Second Explosion
While the hotel was still reeling from the first explosion, only a week later, there was another explosion. This one was completely by accident. By now, the workers realized it was a bad idea to try and dry out dynamite by igniting it. This time, the dynamite was triggered by a charge from the excavators, causing the second explosion at the hotel. Debry flew through the open windows of the hotel that had not been replaced.
The End of an Era
After two significant explosions and 45 years of managing the hotel, Simeon Ford closed the hotel. It was later demolished, and the site was empty until 1920. Its replacement, the Pershing Square Building, stands in its place today. If you would like to read a more detailed history of the hotel, I recommend reading the blog post here.
Letters
Jack’s Letter to Father – Wednesday, March 5th, 1896
We got here yesterday after a very good crossing. Poor May though, was very bad, she was only able to come into three meals. We had an Irishman in our cabin who never undressed and only twice took off his boots. There was also a mad woman on board who for the first day or two was always drunk then they refused to sell her any beer.
There was a man from South Africa who was never sober. He gave the smoking room £4 the first day & told him that was his pay for his drinks when he was on board, but by the end of the voyage he only owed £3 more. As he had got no money to pay with they kept his luggage.
I think those are all interesting people we had on board. Our accommodation was much better than the Allan* but only the food was not so good. When we got into New York the ice was so thick that it took 5 tenders & 3 hours to get us in.
We got off the boat about a quarter to ten but we did not get our luggage until half past 12 o’clock. It cost 10 cents to go by having it forwarded but the clerk doesn’t know how much it will come to till we get to Montreal anyway much love to everyone.
Yours affectionately,
Jack Wright.
PS Many happy returns to the pig.
May’s Letter to Mother – Thursday, March 6th, 1896
My dearest Mother,
Here we are in New York & have been for twelve hours. We had, I believe, an easy, good passage, but I think that some certainty of our comfort was owing to Mr. Clemenston; he spoke to the doctor about us & the doctor came to see me every day nearly for a few minutes & sometimes twice a day. One night he brought me a lovely brunch of grapes from the saloon. He was an extremely nice man, middle-aged & Irish. He always came in saying: “Well my child, anything I can do for you?
So far as attendance goes, the intermediate on the Majestic is far better than 1st on Numidian. The stewardess brought me every meal except four in my cabin the whole voyage & was constantly in & out. The last day I had my breakfast in bed & was going to get up earlier but she said “No, I want you to have a good desire for one” & she brought me dinner from the first saloon. She certainly was kindness herself & did an immense deal for me. I gave her £4 for which she was very grateful.
A more obliging set of people than the stewards took them meals whenever they wanted and looked after them. I was very bad all the time except on Monday, but really I was so well looked after that I wasn’t much vexed. Jack & Cecil were rather bad, but Harold was perfectly well the whole time. He used to come & see me four or six times a day. Every so many people said what a good brother he was. He & Jack won the heart of an American girl in my cabin. She said they were lovely boys but looked so sage, as if they should be wearing knickerbockers instead of going out ranching!
I can’t say much for the class of people, they in no way approached being ladies & gentlemen, but we got on very well with them what little we saw them. The food is plain but good. We were served iced milk, chicken broth & biscuits between meals without paying any extra. The great drawback is that you feel the motion of the boat so very much. It was not cold at all, I don’t think the boys even wore overcoats on deck till Wednesday. On then it was simply bitter, all Tuesday night it blew a bad gale & was snowing & on Wednesday morning the boat was a mass of ice, but I didn’t get out of bed till land was sighted about one o’clock. I went upon deck as soon as New York could be seen, it was a very fine harbour, but it was so bitterly cold.
Yours affectionately,
May Wright.
Jack’s Letter to Father – Tuesday, March 10th, 1896
My dearest Father,
I thank you very much for your letter which Harry Munn sent on to me here. I have often wondered whether you have thought me cold & ungrateful for all the love & kindness you have always shown me. Indeed I am not really, though there is something inside me which seems to restrain any show of affection. I suppose the best outward way of showing affection to one’s parents is by doing which one knows will please them. And here again I am afraid I cannot pride myself. But I can only try and do better in the future.
Mr. & Mrs. Floyd and Archie insist on treating me as if I were an invalid & give me eggs & things at odd times. They say I look so pale & thin. I am all right as a matter of fact.
Cecil had a curt note from Flannery at Brandon saying he hoped May would stay with him till the house is ready. May says that if the house is not ready she would rather stay here till it is. But I’m sure that is impossible.
We are having wonderfully warm weather. Only 10 degrees and frost this morning. Conny was delighted with the little book you sent him& says it is most useful. Please thank Dorothy for her letter & tell her I will write soon.
With very much love from your affectionate son.
Jack Wright.
Why Letters Like These Matter to British Columbia History
The Hazeley Letters offer a rare and unusually detailed record of everyday settler life in Agassiz during the late nineteenth century. Unlike official records, newspapers, or promotional literature, these private family letters capture how ordinary people experienced migration, work, weather, community, and celebration in real time.
Preserved today at the Agassiz-Harrison Museum & Archives, the Hazeley Letters survived only narrowly. Their survival allows historians like myself to reconstruct aspects of local history that would otherwise remain invisible. By transcribing and contextualizing these letters, we gain insight not only into the Wright family’s experiences, but into the broader rhythms of settler life in British Columbia in 1897.
Related Hazeley Letter Posts
- The Odd Fellows Ball: Dancing Until Dawn in Agassiz, British Columbia (1896)
- Gold Mines and a Winter Trip to Yale, B.C.
- Disasters and Daily Life in Agassiz, BC, 1896: Floods, Train Crash, Wagon Accident, and Mosquito Plague
Editorial Note: How These Letters Are Used
The letters reproduced in this post are transcribed verbatim from original manuscripts held at the Agassiz-Harrison Museum & Archives. Spelling, grammar, and punctuation have been preserved to maintain the integrity of the original documents. Editorial introductions and historical context have been added to assist modern readers and to situate the letters within the broader social and historical landscape of nineteenth-century British Columbia.
This post forms part of an ongoing research and transcription project examining the Hazeley Letters and the Wright family’s settlement in the Fraser Valley.
Jodie Foerster is a history student at the University of the Fraser Valley and a Museum Assistant and Researcher at the Agassiz-Harrison Museum and Archives. She specializes in British Columbia's settler history and archival storytelling. Learn more on the About page
