150 years of history

Gallupville House History

The current building, originally named the Gallupville House, was constructed in 1872 and opened in 1873. It replaced an earlier hotel on the same site, which was destroyed by fire in May 1871. The land, a one-acre farmland parcel, was purchased by John Schoolcraft for $120 in 1833. In 1842, he sold the hotel to Reuben Lawrence for $3,000 before relocating to Schoharie. Ownership changed again when Lawrence sold the property to Ruland, who, six years later, transferred it to Weideman Dominick—the owner at the time of the fire.

Dominick rebuilt the hotel but sold it to William Wagnor before its 1873 opening. On January 1, 1885, Jacob Snyder acquired the hotel and operated it until 1904, marking its most prosperous years. Renamed the Snyder House, it became a popular stop for salesmen and boarders, known for its excellent food and warm hospitality. Travelers along the Albany-to-Schoharie stage route, which took six hours at a fast pace, often made a point of staying overnight.

In 1904, Jacob Snyder sold the hotel, and it was renamed the Glenwood Hotel. However, as the hotel business declined, the property was purchased by the Orion Lodge in 1920. The Lodge undertook a complete interior renovation, adding a stage on the main floor for meetings and dinners. That same year, the town began renting space on the ground level—formerly the hotel’s barroom—for town meetings and voting.

As membership in the Lodge declined, it traded halls with the Grange in 1947. However, Grange membership also waned over time, and in 1967, the hall was sold to the Town of Wright. In 1974, town business relocated to the new municipal building.

By the mid-1970s, concerned residents recognized the need for repairs to preserve The Gallupville House for future generations. Upon finding the building structurally sound, volunteers began foundation work. This effort soon led to the formation of the Gallupville House Association.