REMOVAL OF AN AMERICAN HOTEL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXII, Issue 2617, 20 April 1889, Page 2 (Supplement)

REMOVAL OF AN AMERICAN HOTEL.

A neat piece of work has just been ae complislicd in the removal of the Oeeanhouse hotel, at Coney Island. This large hotel, two stories high, with a large piazza, was erected twenty years ago, and at that time atood about 600 feet back from the surf. The many changes in the beach since then has washed all this land away. The hotel was placed upon piles two years ago, as the indications were that at any time the foundations might be washed away. This proved to be true, for last year the ocean had reached the hotel; but uo immediate dauger was feared, as the piles were 20ft. long and lirmly bedded in the sand- The owners of the hotel thought it safe, and expected from its situation over the ocean, that the attractiveness of the site would benefit the business. This was the fact, but this whiter during a heavy easterly storm another slice of the beach was removed and when the storm had subsided, the hotel was left quite alone in the Atlantic some fifty feet from shore, standing on piles. There was a probability of the sand cutting away and leaving no support for the piles, and also the danger of floating logs or ice battering it down, and it was decided to remove the building. This has just been done, and the hotel now standi some 000 feet back from the beach. Rows of piles were sunk by water pressure under the hotel, reaching to the shore ; these were capped, and upon them were laid heavy yellow pine sliding ways. Upon these ways the hotel was raised, the old piles being left standing. By crabs on the shore the building was pulled, and slid from its position over the ocean to the bank. The pilcsupou which it rested were undermined and carried out to sea almost before the hotel had reached its new home.