BROWN COUNTY OHIO - Historical Notes Part 3 (published 1954)
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History of Georgetown's Early Hotels
By Jess Bier - March 18, 1954

     Among the first institutions in the town were hotels and in 1824 an
advertisement state "S.H. Stitt respectfully informs the public that he now
keeps private entertainment in Georgetown, where his stables are good and well furnished and everything else necessary for the accommodation of man 
and horse in as good order as the nature of the country will admit."  Where 
this hotel was located is not known but the large two-story from building 
which stood on the site of the present Eagles Hall on the south side of the 
square and which we mentioned in a previous issue was a hotel conducted by 
Jonathon Van Dyke.

     In the Georgetown Benefactor and Advocate, under the date of Aug. 4, 
1824, was the following ad. "Union Hotel.  The proprietor, Jonathon 
VanDyke, respectfully informs his friends that he has opened a house of 
public entertainment in the large frame house formerly occupied by D. 
Johnson & Co., and lately by F. White & Co., as a store.  His house is 
large and convenient, his beds are new and good, and his table shall be 
furnished with the best the country affords and the nature of the times 
will admit.  His stabling is entirely new, large and convenient, and shall 
be constantly supplied with good corn, hay and oats and shall be attended 
by an experienced hostler and he is determined to spare no pains to give 
general satisfaction to all who may favor him with their custom.  His 
charges shall be proportioned to the present pressure of the time."

     Allen Woods, the found of the town built in front of this log cabin 
at what is now Grant Ave., and Main St., a substantial two-story brick 
building where the Peoples Bank is today, which was afterwards a hotel.  
On Main St., other brick homes had been built and these were joined into 
one long building and a circular sign on a post 12 or 15 feet high 
announced "American Hotel" and this sign could be seen by travelers coming
from the north or sough on Main St., the entrance to the hotel faced on 
Main St.  The stable belonging to the hotel was in the rear fronting on 
Grant Ave., and the entrance was near the eastern end of the present large 
tin front building which houses several establishments.

     It was a long structure with a driveway through the middle where 
vehicles might be parked overnight or in bad weather, but in the day time
in fair weather they were lined up along the pavement on one or both sides 
of the street.  On each side of the driveway within, were stalls for the
accommodation of the horses.  There was a paved walk leading from the 
stable into the rear of the hotel.  This was a great hostelry in those 
days.  The many balls, parties and festive gatherings held there would of 
themselves make interesting history, in which romance, chivalry and 
revelings held the front stage.


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