WORLD-CLASS HOTEL In the late 1800's, real estate developers often attracted potential home buyers by building a hotel in their residence parks. William Lawrence followed suit, first with the 1899 Gramatan Inn, built atop Sunset Hill, high above the train station. When it burned, the much grander Hotel Gramatan arose in its place. The 300-room Hotel Gramatan became a fashionable vacation spot for New Yorkers and travelers from all over the world. Before it was torn down in 1972, it had been one of the most exclusive suburban hotels in America, visited by famous Americans such as Greta Garbo, the Barrymores, Gloria Swanson, Theodore Dreiser and Eleanor Roosevelt. <<Previous • Chapter List • Next>>