After more than 60 years operating as an inn, Hampton Terrace’s guest rooms finally have names. It is not that they needed names…Wynnstay Cottage 5 was pretty descriptive…but we decided that this was an opportunity to help tell the history of the property in a colorful way.
Since the 1920s, our sports heroes have swung bats, thrown touchdowns, or squared off in a ring. But prior to Henry Ford, when all local transportation involved a carriage and a horse the most idolized American heroes were those who could pull a carriage and its rider one mile down a track in as close to two minutes as possible.
In its day, this was Corvette verses GTO. Every town had a fair, and every fair had a race track. These horses, called “Trotters,” were railed hundreds of thousands of miles to race legendary mares and stallions from other regions. Their names became as household as that of “the Babe.”
Robert Bonner and his children (owners of Hampton Terrace from 1917-1937) were considered the premier Trotter owners in American history. The purest line begins with Hambletonian (1849-1876), who sired many of the Bonner’s most prized horses, and even Hambletonian spent his final years under Mr. Bonner’s expert and benevolent care.
“It is said that with the exception of General Grant and P. T. Barnum, Robert Bonner is known to more people than any man in America.”
Illustrated Weekly Magazine, 1897
Sunol Room
“S
unol is enough to awaken enthusiasm in any man and Mr. Bonner can be well excused the display of a large amount of it, for there is hardly a more thorough horseman in his way than he. To own the two fastest mares in the world is of course a great pleasure. To be the absolute director of their fortunes is another, and that is what Mr. Bonner is from this time on. Sunol cost Mr. Bonner about $41,000, and she declared her first dividend for him yesterday about noon.” New York Times December 11, 1891. World Record set in 1891: 2:08 1/4 beating Maud S.
You’ll love this color of blue/green! A soul-soothing upstairs room featuring a queen bed with fluffy down comforter, gas-flame corner fireplace, television/VCR with cable, air conditioning in-season, CD player and a private bath with 72″ Jacuzzi whirlpool tub. Total Room Size: 18ft. x 15 ft.( including bath)