Inn style

I came across this 1979 story (and a couple articles from the 1920s and 1940s; I'll post them at the end) by Lester Trauch while doing some research on the Doylestown Inn.

His columns were always great. Someone should make a book of them. Hmm ... that gives me an idea.

March 26, 1976

Learning a lot about lots

W. Lester Trauch 

“I sure have learned a lot since I’ve been learning about lots” Wilma Brown Rezer said after finishing her historical research on the Doylestown Inn. Mrs. Rezer is a Doylestown historian and researcher.

“While I was in Kenny’s News Agency I noticed a booklet, “Famous Inns of Bucks County.” In it is stated the Doylestown Inn has been a popular eating place since 1757. It surely wasn’t around then. The Mansion House property (now Gardy’s Stationery and book store at West State and South Main Street) wasn’t broken into building lots until 1857 and the first buildings which later became the Doylestown Inn were not built until 1870 or 1871.

I noticed the same incorrect date, 1757, in a booklet put out by Bucks County Planning Commission, called “Design Resources of Doylestown.” I would like to know where they dig up these untrue facts.”

Mrs. Rezer read 60 deeds, dated 1855 to 1978, which included the resales of the Mansion House property from South Main Street to Arabella Street (the thoroughfare now a part of the parking lot at Hamilton and West State streets and Redfield & Associates real estate office) broken up into six lots in 1857.

She began her research by reading a 1902 Intelligencer which confirmed her theory that James Pollock built the Pollock House, now Doylestown Inn, out of three former existing dwellings and stores.

Pollock bought the first building in April, 1902. It was vacated by Gilbert Keller and was designated as Lot 2.

It was previously owned by Samuel Hamilton. It was a three story brick house with a shoe store in it.

On April 2, 1902, the Intelligencer stated Fred Hartman was moving from the Pollock house to Decatur Street. It was the Reiser Hatter store and puurchased in 1900. It was Lot 1.

An April 4, 1902 news story reported a force of workmen have transformed two properties on West State Street, owned by James Pollock, into a hotel. The remodeling was to be finished by June 1.

Bricklayers began April 21 to work on the Pollock buildings.

On May 21, 1902, Pollock flung the stars and stripes to the breeze as the owner of his new hotel. There was a picture of the Pollock Hotel on Page 1 and a story about the license. In the June term of Bucks County Common Pleas Court, a petition for a license was presented.

The stables of the hotel were located at the corner of Mary and Arabella Streets at the rear of the hotel.

Nelson Leatherman, Robert Garner and Henry Beidler testified to the necessity of a hotel and its convenient arrangement. A remonstrance was signed by nine persons, including two ministers and three women. Pollock produced a petition signed by 115 persons, 34 from the third ward. The judge issued a general hotel license rather than a restaurant license.

Pollock, who became superintendent of the Bucks County Almshouse, (now Neshaminy Manor Center) married Hannah Haddock, an aunt of James A. Michener, Pulitzer Prize winning writer. Mrs. Pollock, for many years a widow, was a Doylestown Village Improvement Association Visiting Nurse. An Episcopal Hospital registered nurse, she was one of the finest women I ever knew. Michener in his novel “The Fires of Spring” recreates his poorhouse memories because his aunt and uncle were in charge when he was a small boy.

If you walk in the alley behind Doylestown Inn, you will see that two of the three buildings are three-story and one, the center rear wing, is only two story. I can remember when the present hotel dining room was an American Stores food store.

Here's the older articles, as promised. (Click 'em for a larger view.):



[Also, I can't resist. See that last article? See how it's marred for all eternity because some well-meaning soul thought it would be a great idea to mend it with tape? This is the archivist's bane. DO NOT COMBINE TAPE AND NEWSPRINT. Use acid-free paste if anything. Check out this great post from HeritageArchivers.com for more info.]