Queensbury Hotel Centennial — Gaining recognition

As construction of The Queensbury Hotel was getting underway in 1925, the new hotel and the city of Glens Falls were gaining a “barrage of publicity” strategically generated in military precision as a result of its affiliation with American Hotels Corp., The Glens Falls Times reported on March 26, 1925.

“The opening of the hotel doors for public patronage may be likened to the zero hour in the trenches,” said General J. Leslie Kinkaid, president of American Hotels, who had achieved military distinction during World War I. “When it comes to that point, the local manager, and the community that supports him, is the all-important factor. But in our scheme of hotel operation, a vast amount of work must be done in advance.”

Advertising for The Queensbury Hotel, under construction at Glens Falls, was placed on the back of restaurant menu cards and other printed material at dozens of hotels that American Hotels and its sister companies operated.

Press releases announcing construction of The Queensbury had been sent to newspapers in all of the cities where its hotels were located.

As well, the company sent press releases to hotel trade publications and would feature The Queensbury in its advertising in those publications and in the company’s in-house publication “Unity.”

Kinkaid headed American Hotels, which operated 8 hotels, had 10 more under constructed, and was planning 20 more.

Its sister company, United Hotels, operated 23 hotels in U.S. and Canadian large cities, and another sister company operated hotels in Europe.

Kinkaid, of Syracuse, was a lawyer, businessman, politician and military leader.

He served under Gen. John F. O’ Bryan in 27th New York Division during World War I.

Gov. Nathan Miller appointed Kinkaid New York adjutant general, the highest rank in the New York National Guard, in 1921, according to a New York Times obituary on April 13, 1973.

Kinkaid also served on active duty abroad during World War II and was military governor of Naples.

Kinkaid, a Republican was elected to the state Assembly in 1915.

Meanwhile in 1025, another long-time downtown hotel was renovating as it geared up for new competition.

Owners of The Rockwell House hotel would spend $25,000 — the equivalent of $450,864 in 2025 dollars — to renovate its property on Glen Street, at what is now The Centennial Circle opening to Hudson Avenue, The Glens Falls Times reported on March 27, citing “reliable sources.”

“Plans for the improvements call for the removal of the old veranda which now fronts Glen Street and the lowering of the entrance to the hotel at street level. The dining room will be placed on the level with the street and a new store space will be arranged in the northern end of the present hotel lobby.”

Construction was expected to start in about two weeks.

“A large addition will be constructed on the front of the hotel extending to the sidewalk line and will occupy all of the space now covered by the veranda.

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