Babylon's Grand Hotel - The "Argyle" Excerpt from "Picturesque Babylon, Bay Shore and Islip," published by Mercantile Illustrating Co., 1894. Babylon's famed Argyle Hotel officially opened in June 1882. A month earlier, the local South Side Signal newspaper published this description of the new hotel.. The presentation about the Argyle Hotel, one of the grandest hotels from the late 1800's, includes numerous photographs, maps, etc. The presentation will begin at 2 pm at the Babylon Village.
Many came to Babylon Village to enjoy fishing and bathing, and wealthy Manhattanites came to spend time in its luxurious hotels. Of all the hotels in Babylon's history, the Argyle Hotel was the largest, the most expensive, but the least successful.. The 1902 Cuban Giants The Cuban Giants were the first fully salaried African-American professional baseball club. [1] The team was originally formed in 1885 at the Argyle Hotel, a summer resort in Babylon, New York. Initially an independent barnstorming team, they played games against opponents of all types: major and minor league clubs, semiprofessional teams, even college and amateur squads.