The Union Hotel was built in 1872 and was operated by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Heck until 1905. It is widely known for its service to the public. It is a two and one half story brick located at the corner of Second and Taylor Sts. Mr. Heck accommodated the traveling public of the horse and buggy days with a livery barn adequate for their needs. At his death in 1905 the business and property became the estate of Mrs. O. O. Denny, the only heir. Mrs. Denny who married Mr. Denny in 1894 carried on the business until 1923 when they sold the hotel to Mr. and Mrs. J. Elmer Carr.

The Carrs came to Cannelton in 1919 and Mr. Carr served four years as County Recorder. With the former experience in the hotel business at Bristow they found the opportunity to meet their needs and opened the doors for business in October 1923.

By thrift, hard work and courtesy together with good meals, the Union Hotel moved forward. With the depression of 1929, rates were cut to meet the needs of its customers but there was always good business and the hotel never failed to meet its financial obligations, improvements and the education of the younger children, Mary, Avis and Paul Carr.

In 1937, after the Ohio Valley flood in January, Mrs. Carr decided to convert the building into apartments and retire from the hotel business. For the first time in the history of the city this building was damaged by the water. When the crest came 33 inches of water covered the first floor.

With new decorations outside and inside and other improvements then the Union Hotel deserves a new name and it is now known as Riverside Apartments. There are 15 apartments of one, two and three rooms each.  Taken from Cannelton Telephone News