Nancy, One comment on your deductions on the location of the Parker/Century/New Century Hotel. I'm certain it was located on the North side of Main Street, East of the courthouse. Today The Bank of Romney community room is located on this lot (formerly a Tastee Freeze). It's the NE corner of Main and Grafton Streets. I grew up in Romney and my personal recollection is that the New Century Hotel was torn down several years prior to 1963 when the old Mitinger house burned and the Brady house was torn down to build the new Bank of Romney building. The new bank building is on the NW corner of Main and Grafton St. Have you looked at the census records to see where these people were in 1930? Some of us on this list may be able to place the hotel building by who their neighbors were in that census. Jane At 05:02 PM 11-01-04, you wrote: > >From Historic Hampshire, (1976) edited by Seldon Brannon, pp. 249-50 > >The Keller House > >"In 1848, Thomas A. Keller purchased from the Armstrong family the old >tavern building on Lot 86 (east corner of Grafton and Main Street), which >even then had served as an inn. The building was probably erected shortly >after 1800. On May 22, 1848, a license was issued to Thomas A. Keller and >James Poland to conduct an "ordinary," an inn. Thus was established the >Keller House which continued in use until 1913...The Keller House was >finally torn down in 1913, and the New Century Hotel was built on its site >the next year." > >New Century Hotel > >"In 1914, the New Century Hotel, financed by a group of businessmen, was >built on the site of the old Keller House. It was a beautiful three story >red brick structure of American Colonial design fronted by a tall-pillared >double porch. From the beginning, the New Century was a popular lodging >place. During the 1930's, under the management of Mrs. Clara Siple, people >came long distances to enjoy the hotel's excellent food and cordial >atmosphere. Mrs. Eleanor roosevelt was one of its many illustrious guests. >Suffering the fate of many other small-town hotels, the New Century was >forced to close its doors and was recently torn down" [Recently would >related to the 1976 publication date of the book). > >On page 247 of this book there is a picture of a Romney street scebe looking >east. This shows the Parker Hotel in the foreground (which would be the >south side of Main Street and west of the Court House). No mention in this >book or anything else I have of "Romney Hotel," but the reference "Genie" >cited suggests and establishment by that name existed. > >Thanks to all who tried to help. > >Nancy

I appreciate the offer to pinpoint the location by neighbors, but at the 1930 census, Millard Pownall was still employed by the railroad and they were living at their house on Rosemary Lane. Yes, the New Century hotel was east of the courthouse (and on the same side of the street, right). I'll scan the picture of the Parker Hotel which appears to be on the opposite side of the street from the courthouse and send it to Jane (since attachments can't come to the list). Sorry to send so many messages on this, but I was curious. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jane Ailes" <jailes@att.net> To: <WVHAMPSH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2004 5:29 PM Subject: Re: [WVHAMPSH-L] More on Romney Hotels > Nancy, > > One comment on your deductions on the location of the Parker/Century/New > Century Hotel. I'm certain it was located on the North side of Main > Street, East of the courthouse. Today The Bank of Romney community room is > located on this lot (formerly a Tastee Freeze). It's the NE corner of Main > and Grafton Streets. I grew up in Romney and my personal recollection is > that the New Century Hotel was torn down several years prior to 1963 when > the old Mitinger house burned and the Brady house was torn down to build > the new Bank of Romney building. The new bank building is on the NW corner > of Main and Grafton St. > > Have you looked at the census records to see where these people were in > 1930? Some of us on this list may be able to place the hotel building by > who their neighbors were in that census. > > Jane > > At 05:02 PM 11-01-04, you wrote: > > >From Historic Hampshire, (1976) edited by Seldon Brannon, pp. 249-50 > > > >The Keller House > > > >"In 1848, Thomas A. Keller purchased from the Armstrong family the old > >tavern building on Lot 86 (east corner of Grafton and Main Street), which > >even then had served as an inn. The building was probably erected shortly > >after 1800. On May 22, 1848, a license was issued to Thomas A. Keller and > >James Poland to conduct an "ordinary," an inn. Thus was established the > >Keller House which continued in use until 1913...The Keller House was > >finally torn down in 1913, and the New Century Hotel was built on its site > >the next year." > > > >New Century Hotel > > > >"In 1914, the New Century Hotel, financed by a group of businessmen, was > >built on the site of the old Keller House. It was a beautiful three story > >red brick structure of American Colonial design fronted by a tall-pillared > >double porch. From the beginning, the New Century was a popular lodging > >place. During the 1930's, under the management of Mrs. Clara Siple, people > >came long distances to enjoy the hotel's excellent food and cordial > >atmosphere. Mrs. Eleanor roosevelt was one of its many illustrious guests. > >Suffering the fate of many other small-town hotels, the New Century was > >forced to close its doors and was recently torn down" [Recently would > >related to the 1976 publication date of the book). > > > >On page 247 of this book there is a picture of a Romney street scebe looking > >east. This shows the Parker Hotel in the foreground (which would be the > >south side of Main Street and west of the Court House). No mention in this > >book or anything else I have of "Romney Hotel," but the reference "Genie" > >cited suggests and establishment by that name existed. > > > >Thanks to all who tried to help. > > > >Nancy > > >