Originally from Norway, Otto A. Hansen came to the United States as a young man.  After serving in WWII, he opened a bar at 117 Columbia Street. The bar was very popular with sailors; Otto would often go down to the docks and give them comical cards as advertisements. He also allowed the sailors to buy on credit. For many sailors, Norwegian and not, Otto's Bar was, as a sign said, their "FIRST and LAST STOP" in Red Hook.

Otto closed and retired from his bar in 1978.