Built in a time of prosperity, the Blennerhassett Hotel stands as a testament to Colonel William Nelson Chancellor’s grand vision. Established over a six-year construction period, it opened its cherished doors on May 6, 1889. Chancellor’s ambition was to create a hotel that not only captured the opulence of the era but also surpassed any lodging within West Virginia’s borders—a feat achieved by the Blennerhassett.
During the oil and gas boom of the 1880s, Parkersburg surged with wealth, and it was Chancellor’s intent for his hotel to mirror this affluence. The city itself had only been electrified a year before the hotel’s inauguration, with street lighting powered by generated natural gas. The Blennerhassett was modernized from the outset, equipped with both electric and gas lighting, steam heating, and the prestigious workmanship of local companies that ensured its electrical and plumbing systems were state-of-the-art for the time.
George C. Campbell, the first to manage the Blennerhassett, was tasked with bestowing a name upon Chancellor’s establishment. Initially favoring “Hotel Argyle,” he ultimately settled on “The Hotel Blennerhassett,” honoring Harmon Blennerhassett—an Irish noble who once inhabited a nearby island now marked as a state park.
Chancellor enlisted the Bentley and Gerwig furniture company to adorn the hotel’s interior with exquisite furnishings. Specialists from Cincinnati were commissioned to deliver the finest window treatments and intricate fresco work, which adorned the lobby and restaurant. The hotel boasted innovative amenities, including an electric passenger and service elevator—a novel luxury of the time.
An elegant restaurant seating up to 80 patrons resided on the second floor, while the kitchen was strategically placed at the building’s pinnacle to mitigate fire risks—indicative of the safety standards of that era. Guests could enjoy leisurely strolls through double parlors on the same level, one graced with an upright piano. A grand mirror stood in the lobby, shielded by a wire cage to deter any potential damage stemming from the lively streets below. A majestic central staircase spiraled through all five stories, overlooked by public restrooms on each floor, and offering privacy in all 50 guest rooms.
Chancellor’s other enterprise, the First National Bank of Parkersburg, initially secured its place within the hotel, symbolizing the synthesis of commerce and hospitality under one roof. Through history, Chancellor himself ascended from a humble teller to vice president, and later to bank president, paralleling the development of the Northwestern Bank of Virginia into the First National Bank of West Virginia during the Civil War. This bank, after several transitions, exists today as United Bank.
Originally, the bank claimed entrance at the corner of Fourth and Market Streets, which later became the hotel’s main entry after renovations in 1985-1986. Historical records suggest the bank may have been operational prior to the hotel’s completion. Todays, the Blennerhassett Hotel is revered not only for its luxury but also as one of the pioneering establishments in Parkersburg to harness modern-day electricity.
In its century-spanning legacy, the Blennerhassett Hotel remains a beacon of elegance, heritage, and innovation—an enduring icon in Parkersburg.
