The American Hotel Corporation opened the Hotel Van Curler in 1925. The hotel was a response to the increasing need for businessmen to have a place to stay when in Schenectady for meetings at General Electric and American Locomotive Co. The Georgian Revival architecture and modern amenities made the hotel a stop for several celebrities and historical figures. The Hotel Van Curler eventually went bankrupt and was sold to Schenectady County, becoming what is now Elston Hall at SUNY Schenectady County Community College.
