In March 1877, construction began on the new hotel building.  The Brownsville Herald reported: “The structure will consist of basement and three stories above, surmounted by three towers covered with variegated slate.  The whole length of the south front is 167 feet; main building 141 feet; east front 77 feet.  Double gallaries, 12 feet wide, will run around the entire south and east fronts.  The building will be frame, with basement wall of brick.

In the first story above the basement will be the dining room, 82 by 31 feet; three large parlors; two kitchens, each 25 by 31 feet; office, laundry, bath-rooms, barber-shops, bar and billiard rooms.  Above will be 62 bed-rooms and two large dormitories.  The building will be furnished with ample windows and large transoms over each door.

The ice-house will be on the refrigerator plan and will be the most complete in the United States.

There will be on the premises a livery stable 150 feet long; also, a bowling alley and shooting gallery.

At the spring is to be an elegant structure, 48 feet high, with foundation of heavy masonry; of pagoda style, and the sides consisting of many-colored glass.  Inside will be a beautiful fountain having a dressing of marble.  This house alone is to cost probably $2,500.

Architect, C.B. Clarke; contractor, Richard Shinnick; both of St. Louis.

The hotel is to have accommodations for 300 or 400 guests, and be finished by 1st to the 15th of June.  Total cost, about $50,000.” 

The June 29, 1877 Brownsville Herald reported the guests who had arrived at the Sweet Springs Hotel.  A grand ball was given at the hotel on the evening of July 4th to celebrate its opening. While the hotel was complete, the livery stables, pagoda and salt baths were still under construction.

Artist Rendering of Sweet Springs Hotel from the Sedalia Weekly Bazoo, June 8, 1880

Etching of Hotel, Sweet Water Springs by Wittenberg-Sorber of St. Louis

Extracted from: Missouri Historical Company, St. Louis, Pub. History of Saline County, Missouri, carefully written and compiled from the most authentic official and private sources ... with a condensed history of Missouri; the state constitution; a military record of its volunteers in either army of the great civil war ... biographical sketches of prominent men. St. Louis, Missouri historical company, 1881.

Sweet Springs Pagoda

(Photo courtesy of Patrick Schlesselman, Selsingen, Germany)

Photo was sent by John Pape, owner of Pape and Renken Mercantile, of Sweet Springs to Patrick’s Grandfather in Germany