Ken and I had found one mystery on our outing on this particular Friday, but a second mystery was in the offing. Since we had access to the convertible we decided to drive up Altamont Road over Paris Mountain. Along the route we took a moment to drive up Tower Road to the top and admire the vista.
As we drove back to Altamont Road, I paused at a sharp bend to point out an old set of steps next to an overgrown dirt road. I made the comment that these steps were all that was left of the old Altamont Hotel that once stood atop Paris Mountain.
I’ve never poked around up there, but I’ve been tempted. My friend, Mark Elbrecht, explored the area back in 2012, but could find no conclusive remains of the hotel.
Mark provided a short history of the location on his blog:
The Altamont Hotel (also known as the Paris Mountain Hotel) was built in 1889, but was sold 8 years later in 1898 to Reverend N. J. Holmes. N. J. Holmes repurposed the hotel to serve as the home of the new Altamont Bible and Missionary Institute, with later name changes to Holmes Bible and Missionary Institute and to Holmes Bible College. The hotel would become vacant when the institute moved away to Columbia, then Atlanta, then to the city of Greenville. The institute sold off the hotel to help pay for the new Greenville location in 1918 to Augustus M. Hayes. Hayes had intended to develop the property as a modern resort or a sanitarium, but in 1920 the hotel burned down and wasn’t rebuilt.
The Altamont Hotel has been long in our family lore. My grandparents met at Altamont Bible College when they were there as teachers. My grandfather and N. J. Holmes also held tent revivals throughout the area.
Later that day I posted my photograph of the old steps to one of the Greenville interest groups on Facebook. I got lots of comments, but one in particular kind of turned my understanding of the location of the hotel on its head (I’ve added paragraphs for clarity):
Thank you, Tom. I always assumed it was there before I started researching it. Now, I’m just not sure. We could find no deeds for the property. While most written accounts state it was located on the “top” of Paris Mountain, some recorded patrons of the hotel say otherwise. One stated the hotel was less than a mile up (Altamont Rd) from Buncombe Rd. (It is over 2 miles to the summit.) From the hotel, it is stated, one could see both the village of Greenville and clear views of Glassy Mountain, Tyger, Enoree, and Saluda Mountains, Table Rock, Caesar’s Head and parts of Georgia. (Don’t think that is possible from the Summit but from some lower elevations it is).
Mann Batson told us that, although, he could not take us to the exact location, he remembered that there was a pond across the road and a conveyor belt that carried water across the road to the hotel. (We could find only two ponds on Altamont Rd. Neither are near the Summit, but one is about a mile up from Buncombe Rd and the land levels out so those views are possible). The research has been interesting and very informative.
Legend has it that Cherokee Indian chief, Walhassa, made his daughter, Talawa, and son in law promise to protect their mountain from the pale face below when he died. The son in law sold the land for beads for his wife. She was so angry that she stabbed him to death and killed herself in loyalty to her father.
So, not only does this bring into question the location of the hotel, but it adds yet another doomed Indian maiden to my growing list.
There is a small lake not far from the summit. Mark found pipes that might lead in that direction. However, my Facebook contact thinks the elevation change and distance would be too great.
My Facebook contact also said that she had not been able to find any deeds for the property, and that she had contacted the present-day Holmes Bible College, and they didn’t have any historical documents. Turns out, Mark had linked to the original deeds in his post. The problem was that for some reason they were not downloading correctly as PDFs. I was able to convert them, and then reposted them on my Google Drive account.
This first deed is from 1893, when N. J. Holmes first purchased the property.
The second deed is from the sale of the property in 1912. My grandfather is listed as one of the trustees on the deed.
Each deed has a description of the boundaries of the property, but the language uses landmarks that are long gone.
All that tract or parcel of land situate, lying and being in Greenville County, South Carolina, on the waters of the Reedy River and Mountain Creek, waters of the Enoree River, and having the following lines, metes and bounds, to-wit: Beginning at a pile of stone 3Xom, originally a red oak on the Paris Mountain Road, and running thence S. 23 E. 16.50 to a stone 3XoM gone, relocated 3Xrm; thence…
…and so on, listing lots of rocks and trees as reference points. For our purposes the location of the hotel is still a mystery. I guess we could have a surveyor locate this, but I’m not ready to go through that expense.
I still maintain that the hotel was where we suspected, at the top of the mountain. The steps in question were pointed out to me by my father, who, in turn, had them pointed out by his father who had taught there. I think that’s a pretty strong argument, so unless it’s shown otherwise, I’ll still consider that the location of the old Altamont Hotel.
Tom,
Is N. J. Holmes related to Zelotes Holmes who built the Octagon House in Laurens? He was a Presbyterian minister, if I remember correctly.
Yes. Zelotes was his father. NJ was also a Presbyterian minister, and founded 2nd Presbyterian in Greenville. He and my grandfather were asked to leave the Presbyterian church when they embraced Pentecostalism.
My grandfather was going to be a lawyer. He and NJ were close friends. NJ married Lucy Simpson, whose father, William Dunlap Simpson, was a governor of SC as well as Chief Justice of the SC Supreme Court. My grandfather was going to “read law” with Simpson until Holmes convinced him to go into the ministry.
Thanks. Very interesting. I’m enjoying your blog.
I wonder what Dr. AV Huff might have to add on this subject. I’ll take a look in his history of Greenville County and see if I can find something.
I’ve been waiting for your writeup since I saw your photos of the steps on Flickr a few days ago. And thanks for the link to my trip!
I went back over my deed research from 2012 and property records from the summit do prove the hotel was there.
Here’s the chain of deeds I found at the Greenville County Register of Deeds website:
book EE, page 190 [Paris Mountain Hotel Company -> N. J. Holmes]
book 32, page 183 [N. J. Holmes -> Altamont Bible and Missionary Institute]
book 33, pages 540 and 541 [Altamont Bible and Missionary Institue -> A. M. Hayes]
book 110, page 426 [A. M Hayes (estate) -> H. R. Stephenson]
This brings us up to 1943, where H. R. Stephenson began subdividing the property:
book 253, page 285 [H. R. Stephenson -> S.C. Forestry Commission
book 275, page 275 [H. R. Stephenson -> Textile Broadcasting Company]
I could keep on by listing more recent transactions, and I just might on my own blog, but the property transfers to the SC Forestry Commission and a broadcasting company should be enough to show the hotel was indeed at the summit.
I also found a plat (book P, page 157) that shows a concrete reservoir that could possibly have been the hotel’s water source.
Mark, I think that’s pretty conclusive evidence. I may share this with the person asking the question on Facebook.
Oops! I meant plat book P, page 137 not 157. Sorry about that!
Also, while I presented the deeds going forward in time, I actually researched backwards in time. It’s usually much easier that way for this type of mystery.
“Concrete reservoir” = “cement pond.” 🙂
Found one more proof.
From “Life Sketches and Sermons” by N. J. & Lucy Holmes, page 94:
Can’t get more definitive than that.
I’ve been reading with interest the search for the location of the old hotel. I’ve seen the steps in the bend on Tower Rd, but not explored the area on foot. In a book I read ( Mann Batson about the Swamp Rabbit RR), he quotes a guy who stayed at the old hotel. The guy went back after it burned but said he could not find any trace of the hotel. I hope I’m recalling this correctly because I loaned the book to a friend who has yet to return it 🙂
I looked at the old 1921 Greenville County Soil map which Mark provides a link to on one of his posting sites.
(http://digital.tcl.sc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/HSSM/id/21). I know it’s after the hotel burned but hear me out. The hotel burned in 1920 and the map is from 1921. Back then it took them a long time to create such a detailed map so I’m thinking that the hotel might be shown on the map even though by the time of publication it had burned. If you look at the map, you will see Paris Mountain. Zoom in and take a close look. There are two things I noticed. 1) a building is marked along the main road but there is a spur going off that loops back with another building at the end of the spur. This is located right in the middle of the orange colored area. 2) Some folks said the hotel was located further down the mountain. Well, if you look in the gray area of the map where it changes from light blue to gray, you’ll see a building and a oval. Could the oval be the pond/lake that some folks have mentioned? It’s the only oval I see on the mountain. Could this be the site? It’s difficult to tell from the map.
I wonder if anyone has taken a metal detector up there and tried to locate old nails and other things which might signify where the building was. Since it was rather large, there should be a lot of old mostly rusted nails. The old water pipes are probably buried there still and those would certainly turn up. I’m sure there would be a lot of false readings around the tower area but perhaps if the other spot could be located, it might prove more useful.
This is a change of subject, but has to do with the Altamont Hotel. My mother was born in 1911. She told me this story her whole life. She said when she was a child her and her parents rode in a wagon pulled by a horse to the site where the hotel had burned. Her mother picked up a black iron wash pot and put it in their wagon. My mother still had it. Some years before she died she gave the pot to me. I still have it. I keep it inside of my house. It is in my diningroom and I see it everyday. I am 69 years and this story and wash pot has always been part of my life. If anyone ever does a display on the hotel
I will gladly let them borrow the pot. Thanks for the information on the hotel.
I have a black iron wash pot that came from the Altamont Hotel after it burned. My mother was a child when she and her parents rode up the mountain and got the pot at the burn site. My mother was born in 1911. I still have the pot. Rode in horse and wagon to burn site.
I have a large black wash pot that came from the Altamont Hotel burn site. My mother and her parents rode in a horse and wagon. My mom was born in 1911. I still have it. Let me know if you would like a picture of the pot.
Did you get my message about the wash pot from the Altamont Hotel?
Yes I did. That’s interesting. I was wondering if there were any signs of the old hotel left. I’d read in a history book about Greenville, and the hotel, that pretty much all traces of the old hotel were gone. I would imagine that a few items, like the black wash pot, have been kept and saved.
This discussion intrigues me because of my personal involvement and relationship with the institution which has developed from Altamont Bible and Missionary Institute. As a very youth high school student, I enrolled in the “Academy,” or high school, in October, 1060.
When I enrolled at Holmes, there were three people involved in the College who had been students when it was located on Paris Mountain. Dr. Paul F. Beacham had succeeded Rev. Holmes as President. He remained as President until his death in 1978. Mrs. Nina Cotton Holmes had married Rev. Holmes’ nephew, Zelotes Holmes–names for Rev. Holmes’ father. He had died about two years after their marriage, and Mrs. Nina had remained with the College in some capacity over the years. During my student years she served as librarian. She was a skilled music conductor as well. The third person was Mr. William Dell Reynolds, who had served as Dean of Men and work supervisor until his retirement.
I knew two other people who were eyewitnesses of the original school on the mountain. Rev. I. H. Presley who had been a student, and I believe he had helped to move the college to its downtown location around 1915, and Rev. James H. Taylor, whose father, I believe, had been a member of the faculty. I remember discussing the beginnings of the college, and its location, with Rev. Taylor in the 1980’s. I had hoped to have Rev. Presley go with me to the original site before his death, but decided to wait for warmer weather because of his health limitations. Alas, He died before this plan could be carried out..
A different location than that at the top of the mountain would in no way negate the history of Altamont Hotel, nor that of what is now known as Holmes Bible College. However, I have never heard any of these eyewitnesses to the beginning of the College say that the location was anywhere other than at the top of Paris Mountain.
These other ideas are interesting, but the “lore” is overwhelming that Altamont Hotel, and Altamont Bible and Missionary Institute was at the top of Paris Mountain.
Donald E. Watson
Grateful Alumni, 1967
Don, James H. Taylor was my uncle. My grandfather was Oscar E. Taylor. He grew up in Laurens with NJ Holmes and conducted tent revivals with him, as well as teaching at the college.
Tom, who was your father? I may have known him too. I was wondering as you discussed your family’s relation to Holmes. These stories are dear to my heart!
Don
Don, I’m absolutely sure you know my family. My father was Houston Taylor. My uncles on my mother’s side were Vernon, Vinson, and Bill Ellenberg.
Maybe I assume too much. you may be related through your mother. I was thinking of a Brother Taylor who pastored a church at Laurens (or Clinton?).
Don
I knew them all! I was thinking of Houston, but could not think of his name. I’m going to sign off for now–I’m a hospital chaplain, and need to be at the hospital early. I appreciate all you have shared!
Don
Don I grew up in Greenville County but lived in Laurens for 20 years and we raised our children there. I knew Mr. Houston Taylor and he gave me some valuable counsel when I was a young Christian. He lived and preached in Laurens. He was a fine and humble man.
These comments and the research are most interesting. Would some exploration of the wooded area near the steps be possible? I heard they have or will close Tower road so that might not allow any parking room, depending on where the gate is/will be. It sure would be fun to explore the area and see if the pipes which were mentioned can be found, and if any foundations could be found.
Hi. As part of an estate sale box of old photographs… i have multiple pictures of the Altamont…i’m not sure of the date but they were taken during the time period of use as a summer vacation spot. The pictures do seem to show the hotel being high in elavation with no higher acreage in sight…unfortunately no interior shots were taken, probably due to lighting issues. As the result of the pics i found this blog…very interesting!
Mr. Ogden, I know this is an old blog but I thought I would take the opportunity to reach out to you. My name isBetty Thompson and I am Archives Director for Holmes Bible College and I would love to have copies of your pictures or any information that you have in relation to the Altamont Hotel. My email is mountgirlb@aol.com if that would be the easiest way to connect with you about this. Thank you for your consideration!
Hi Scott, I would so love to see the photos of the Altamont hotel that you mentioned in comments on an older blog http://www.randomconnections.com/the-mystery-of-altamont-hotel/. My great-grandfather, John Newton Langford, was a carriage driver who delivered supplies to that hotel. I never knew him but his son, my grandfather lived into his nineties and he spoke about that often. The photo on this blog is the only photo I have ever been able to find of the hotel. I grew up on Paris Mountain, off of N. Parker Rd, just above where the Bible college is currently, in fact they bought the property directly across the street from where we used to live. Hope this comment reaches you!
Mr. Ogden, I am sure the Gville library would like to make copies of the hotel photos.
Access to the newly gated area could be arranged thru Gville County’s Public Works dept.
I have pictures of the old Holmes Bible College on Paris Mountain and of several of the Cottons, Miss Andrews and Miss Simpson. My grandparents were Alvin and Pauline Rankin who taught at Holmes for a few decades. My mother Lola Rankin Pfaff married Rev. Lawrence Pfaff who was a Holmes graduate and missionary to Africa. My sister and I also graduated from Holmes.
Hello, my name is John J. Kaufmann. I’m better better known as Chip. I was born in Greenville and grew up on Paris Mountain. My father was J.J. Kaufmann Jr. who was affiliated with Steel Heddle Mfg Co. on Rutherford Road. I can remember visiting the site of the stone steps in the late 1950s. There were the ruins of what looked like an old house there. This was in the bend of the road below the top. I have no idea if it was connected with the old Altamont Hotel but I distinctly remember walking right up to it with my father on more than one occasion. In the 1950s there was only a Fire Tower and an old TV studio and transmitter on the very top. The studio was once WGVL Channel 23, a Dumont network affiliate. It later became WNTV Channel 29 which was part of SC ETV. The studio closed years ago although the transmitter is used as a cell phone tower today. The old Fire Tower was dismantled in 2020 after years of neglect.
I have throughly enjoyed reading all the documentation and connents presented in this blog. It is very interesting.
I was born and raised in the Augusta Road section and graduated from Greenville Senior High School class of 1960. I have been to the top of Paris Mountian years ago. Have always wanted to hike in to the summit. Please keep informed of any new developments.
Leonard E. Wson Jr.
This is all very interesting! I think the steps were to the Altamont Hotel. Just a feeling!”