This document added to the website April 30, 2003.
In the 1860's two local men decided that Carlinville needed an upscale hotel for the growing and prosperous town. Judge Thaddeus Loomis and George H. Holiday, County Clerk, hired architect E.E. Myers to design the hotel.
The four story grand hotel was completed in 1870. A reception for the Grand Opening was held in December 1870. Tickets to this event were sold for $5 each. An actual ticket still exists and is framed and hanging in the hotel.
The hotel has 50 rooms located on three floors. The first floor is now home to a few businesses, including a bar, beauty shop and computer business.
When the hotel opened it housed a pharmacy on the first floor. All of the original cases, benches, back bars, etc. are still there and in excellent condition. This is a beautiful piece of history to see. Inside the pharmacy one can view the original hotel register, with the actual signatures of visitors who stayed at this grand hotel in the 1800's. This is another fabulous, well maintained piece of history.
Several years after the hotel opened, it was sold due to financial problems. George H. Holiday sold his interest in the hotel in 1870 and apparently left the area. William Siemen was the lessee and operator of the hotel. In 1881 he was indicted for liquor law violations. Judge Loomis became the sole owner of the Loomis House after the indictment of Siemen.
Loomis was unable to make the mortgage payments and let the hotel go back to the bank. The banking firm folded due to financial problems. They sold the hotel to a wealthy farmer and businessman by the name of William A. Robertson.
William Robertson decided to have an alcohol-free hotel. He died shortly after buying the hotel. His family continued to run the hotel as he would have. Apparently the alcohol-free policy was not good for the business. The hotel was eventually sold at public auction.
The Loomis House was leased to a man by the name of Mr. Simonson. He changed the name of the hotel to the St. George Hotel.
The hotel was sold many times over the years. In 1953 the Carlinville Elks Lodge bought the St. George. It was sold again in 1975 to Alex and Fern Perardi. The Perardi's changed the name back to The Loomis House.
It is well known and accepted that Judge Loomis' spirit still resides at the St. George Hotel. He doesn't seem to be causing any problems, other than frightening those who have heard or actually seen (in one case) his presence.