Russell House ( 18-26 James Street; now the site of First Federal & Loan Bank photo c.1906) The precise date Jonah F. France, a partner in the Orange County Furnace on Center St. built his home on James Street is uncertain, but was probably around 1843. In Jne 1870, it was sold by the France Family to Samuel Davis. In April of 1872, Davis began work on the construction of an addition and conversion of the property to hotel purposes, opening the Grand Central Hotel in late October of that year. The hotel was later purchased by A.H. Russell, a long time Middletown hotel proprietor, who made extenive alterations to the building, enlarging it to the appearance above under plans drawn by architect S.H. Wilcox. The Russell House opened September 15, 1884. Although Russell died less than six months later, the hotel retained its name until it was damaged by fire February 24, 1907. Although some thought was given to repairing the structure, owner E.A. and son O.H. Brown hired architect David H. Canfield to design a new Hotel Brown, later known as the Mitchell Inn. However, an undamaged section of the old building was moved back from the street and incorporated into the new hotel. he Mitchell Inn was torn down in 1963.