Reflections by Sammy Way: Sumter's hotels

This edition of Reflections remembers the construction of numerous hotels in downtown Sumter. These buildings were very important for growth of Sumter as it entered the 19th century. The arrival of the railroads in the 1850s and the ensuing influx of "drummers," businessmen and settlers required a large amount of temporary living space. The construction of hotels proved to be essential in the development of the Sumter community.

The term hotel is derived from the Latin word "hoste," a "person or thing that provides something for a guest, usually lodging, and sometimes food." The earliest hotels appear to have been resting places for transients, and the quality of these lodging facilities and accommodations appears to have been minimal at best. The Middle Ages saw hotels offering both a place of rest and in many cases becoming the temporary home of increasing numbers of travelers.

Hotels have played an important role in the development of the City of Sumter. It is sad that these majestic structures have all disappeared, but the effect of their contributions to our history is still evident.