Hotel History The site originally housed a large mansion (described as a “castle”) built around 1870 by William Butler Thornburgh. After Thornburgh’s death in 1878, the property changed hands. Over time John Ballard acquired it. On July 14, 1901, a wildfire destroyed the Thornburgh “castle” home. In 1905, the land was purchased by the Claremont Hotel Company (investors included Louis
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