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The Allyn House was built in 1857 by Timothy Allyn, and in its heyday was one of the city’s premier hotels. In his 1867 Illustrated Guide to the Connecticut Valley, Henry Martyn Burt describes it as “the largest and most elegant” of Hartford’s hotels, and that “no pains have been spared to make this a first class hotel in every respect.” As built, it could accommodate almost 300 guests, many of whom were likely businessmen involved in Hartford’s insurance industry, as well as politicians working and visiting the state capital. Around the time that the first photo was taken, it was the Hartford residence of many prominent state politicians; at various times the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, Secretary of State, Treasurer, Comptroller, Attorney General, and Speaker of the House lived here.
Sam apparently had two extended stays at the Allyn House, from March 5, 1869 to March 13 and from May 8, 1869 to May 23rd. There are also some noted speaking engagements:
October 2, 1877, a dinner speech;
June 8, 1881, Army of the Potomac;
October 15, 1874, Hartford Accident Insurance Co.;
November 17, 1881, Archibald Forbes;
October 9, 1889, Pan-American Congress banquet