By Sam Sedoryk, Museum Education Specialist
When reserving a hotel room today, we often look for one that offers many luxuries and, most importantly, comfort. A nice bed, good food, five-star reviews, close to downtown and don’t forget about a fantastic view. Well, a certain hotel in Windsor has all that… at least a hundred years ago we did. The Hotel de Harris, built in 1884, was Windsor’s first hotel, owned and operated by Robert and Sally Harris. Robert Harris was a fur trapper and farmer from Ontario, Canada who moved to Windsor in the 1880s. The exact year he arrived is unknown, but it was said that he lived in a tent the first year he was here. When he sent for his family to join him in Windsor, they stepped off the train and saw the fabulous Hotel de Harris.
At the turn of the century, this hotel offered quite a lot for being a small house. There are not many photos of the building, but we know it was a white two-story house with a small room on the back that was located off the corner of 5th and Main Street. Having a wonderful view of Windsor Lake, the hotel attracted people from all over Colorado as the Harris’s were known for taking guests on duck hunting trips and hosting large scale dinners, likely cooked by Sally Harris. Hotel de Harris impressed higher esteemed guests, such as Colorado 10th Governor Benajmin Eaton who stayed there regularly, along with businessmen who were interested in building a sugar factory in town. The businessmen must have been impressed with Harris’s hospitality, as the Great Western Sugar Factory was built here.
While the hotel was a quaint getaway destination, you could say that more people were interested in meeting Robert Harris. He was an eccentric induvial being a fur trapper, hunter, dog and horse trainer, and hotel owner. Harris accomplished all of this with no feet (yes, both of his feet were amputated due to poor health).
The Hotel de Harris operated during an expansive period of Windsor’s early history. It ceased operations after Harris’s death in 1914. There are many speculations as to what happened to the house itself, but with some thorough research completed by museum staff, it was discovered that the house was purchased and moved by Windsor Mayor Charles Yancey after Harris’s death and is possibly still standing today – with some structural renovations – making the Hotel de Harris one of the oldest standing houses in Windsor.