BROWN COUNTY OHIO - Historical Notes Part 4 (1954) *********************************************************************** OHGENWEB NOTICE: All distribution rights to this electronic data are reserved by the submitter. Reproduction or re-presentation of copyrighted material will require the permission of the copyright owner. *********************************************************************** File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Lisa Lmb916@aol.com March 12, 1999 *********************************************************************** Historical Notes by Jess Bier March 25, 1942 Biehn Hotel One of Old Local Hostelries When the American Hotel ceased to be used for that purpose the stables were torn down and a large frame stable erected at the corner of Pleasant St. and Grant Ave. and was for many years the Dunn& Richards Livery Stable. When this building was torn down to make way for the present building, which was also erected as a livery stable by Orman Dunn, there was a general rat killing in which the kids of the town as well as the grown-ups joined, for hundreds of rats ran out as the timbers came down. Dr. A.W. Mitchell, a staid old physician, was passing at the time and a rat made for him, and showing surprising agility, he jumped high in the air and came down on the rat, killing it instantly and one of the kids in the crowd yelled "another bottle, doctor," from the spiel of the medicine show doctor who had played the town recently and caused a roar of laughter from the crowd. Just west of the hotel, Adam Ludy erected a frame building in which he for many years conducted his tailoring business. Everybody who wore "clothes" in those days knew Adam Ludy. He was one of the highly successful business men of the town and by his pride in and devotion to his work, acquired a competence. His son, Edgar, who assisted him in the business, died a short time ago, and another son, Charles, is a successful dentist. Between the Ludy building and the livery barn was a small frame false front building with the faded sign "Sun Saloon" painted thereon. When that existed the writer does not know, for it was deserted and used for storage. The building was built in the early 70's and was opened as the "Black Bear saloon", which had a hectic and short existence. On the North side of the square, at the corner of Main St. and Grant Ave. was the Biehn Hotel. Originally the Devore home, a large brick building with gable roof. The building was raised to three stories with a flat roof and dormer windows and made a commodious hotel. It was originally opened by Michael Brunn as a hotel and was under many mangements during its long career until destroyed by fire about 1926. "Chettie" Marshall was for many years the clerk, but after the fire went to Greenfield, where he clerked in a hotel and passed away several years ago. Also well known was Charlie Jason, the colored porter of the hotel who was popular with all the "drummers." T. White, also colored, was for many years a waiter in the hotel. A few of the town citizens were permanent guests of the hotel, making it their home. Its destruction by fire deprived the town of its only hotel and there were no accommodations _____ing houses until the present comfortable Grant Hotel was erected, which in my opinion, is one of the nicest hotels we ____ stopped in, and we've done a lot of tra_____ the traveling public outside of a few boa____ ing. (Sorry for the blanks, but those words were cut off on my copy of this article. Lisa) ==== Maggie_Ohio Mailing List ====