Interesting. It wasn't the Parker Hotel though. The Parker Hotel, was renamed the Century Hotel after a change in ownership around 1900. The building was torn down to build the New Century Hotel in 1913. I've been told that there used to be a hotel near where the Rite Aid is now on Main St. and on that side of the street. I don't know how long ago it was torn down, for sure prior to 1950. Does your Aunt remember what buildings were next door or across the street? Is she sure she was in Romney? There was an old hotel in Springfield in those days. Jane At 11:00 AM 11-01-04, you wrote: >Thank you Jane, but my Aunt (who is still living) told me it was definitely >NOT the New Century Hotel and definitely not "grand." She was in elementary >school at the time and remembers having her own room at what she called "The >Romney Hotel" with her grandparents (the Pownalls) for the year they managed >the hotel. She said "railroad men" and "traveling salesmen" -- people that >couldn't afford the New Century Hotel stayed there. I showed her the picture >of the Parker Hotel (on page 99 of the recent Hampshire County Pictorial >History). She couldn't be certain, but said the hotel they lived in did >have double porches. That seems to be the only other possibility in the >town of Romney at the time. > >Nancy > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Jane Ailes" <jailes@att.net> >To: <WVHAMPSH-L@rootsweb.com> >Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2004 9:53 AM >Subject: Re: [WVHAMPSH-L] Romney Hotel > > > > Nancy, > > > > As far as I know, the only hotel operating in Romney in the 1920-30's was > > the New Century Hotel. It was torn down in the late 1950's as I > > recall. It was located at the corner of Main Street (Rt. 50) and Grafton > > St. The Bank of Romney community room and parking lot stand on this lot > > now. Ann Hill's laundry mat on Grafton St. occupies one of the old > > outbuildings from the hotel. > > > > The New Century was a very grand old hotel. The accommodations and > > restaurant attracted people from far and wide. Eleanor Roosevelt was >known > > to go out of her way to stop there. > > > > Hope this helps, > > Jane > > > > At 11:13 PM 10-01-04, you wrote: > > >During the Depression, my great grandfather Millard Pownall lost his job > > >with the railroad and he and his wife Edna Haines Pownall closed up their > > >house on Rosemary Lane and resided and worked at the "Romney Hotel," He >was > > >a desk clerk, and she cooked and cleaned. Does anyone on this list know > > >anything about this hotel--such as who owned it, where it was located and > > >what is standing on that lot now? > > > > > >Nancy > > > > > >

Definitely in Romney -- and on main street She was just a young girl at the time; she doesn't remember exactly where it was. Her parents lived at Valley (what is now called "Stoney Lonesome") with her father's half-brother, Joseph O'Hara (who brought electricity to Romney). After she was school age, Aunt Winnie moved in with her grandparents. She doesn't remember exactly when she lived in the hotel or how long they stayed there, but it would have been in the early 30's. At least I know the history of the Parker Hotel now. Nancy ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jane Ailes" <jailes@att.net> To: <WVHAMPSH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2004 11:52 AM Subject: Re: [WVHAMPSH-L] Romney Hotel > Interesting. It wasn't the Parker Hotel though. The Parker Hotel, was > renamed the Century Hotel after a change in ownership around 1900. The > building was torn down to build the New Century Hotel in 1913. I've been > told that there used to be a hotel near where the Rite Aid is now on Main > St. and on that side of the street. I don't know how long ago it was torn > down, for sure prior to 1950. Does your Aunt remember what buildings were > next door or across the street? Is she sure she was in Romney? There was > an old hotel in Springfield in those days. > > Jane > > At 11:00 AM 11-01-04, you wrote: > >Thank you Jane, but my Aunt (who is still living) told me it was definitely > >NOT the New Century Hotel and definitely not "grand." She was in elementary > >school at the time and remembers having her own room at what she called "The > >Romney Hotel" with her grandparents (the Pownalls) for the year they managed > >the hotel. She said "railroad men" and "traveling salesmen" -- people that > >couldn't afford the New Century Hotel stayed there. I showed her the picture > >of the Parker Hotel (on page 99 of the recent Hampshire County Pictorial > >History). She couldn't be certain, but said the hotel they lived in did > >have double porches. That seems to be the only other possibility in the > >town of Romney at the time. > > > >Nancy > > > >----- Original Message ----- > >From: "Jane Ailes" <jailes@att.net> > >To: <WVHAMPSH-L@rootsweb.com> > >Sent: Sunday, January 11, 2004 9:53 AM > >Subject: Re: [WVHAMPSH-L] Romney Hotel > > > > > > > Nancy, > > > > > > As far as I know, the only hotel operating in Romney in the 1920-30's was > > > the New Century Hotel. It was torn down in the late 1950's as I > > > recall. It was located at the corner of Main Street (Rt. 50) and Grafton > > > St. The Bank of Romney community room and parking lot stand on this lot > > > now. Ann Hill's laundry mat on Grafton St. occupies one of the old > > > outbuildings from the hotel. > > > > > > The New Century was a very grand old hotel. The accommodations and > > > restaurant attracted people from far and wide. Eleanor Roosevelt was > >known > > > to go out of her way to stop there. > > > > > > Hope this helps, > > > Jane > > > > > > At 11:13 PM 10-01-04, you wrote: > > > >During the Depression, my great grandfather Millard Pownall lost his job > > > >with the railroad and he and his wife Edna Haines Pownall closed up their > > > >house on Rosemary Lane and resided and worked at the "Romney Hotel," He > >was > > > >a desk clerk, and she cooked and cleaned. Does anyone on this list know > > > >anything about this hotel--such as who owned it, where it was located and > > > >what is standing on that lot now? > > > > > > > >Nancy > > > > > > > > > > > >