Hotels East and West in Punxsutawney A Historic Journey to Punx’y’s Past
By S. Thomas Curry of Hometown magazine his continuing account about hotels in Punxsutawney history began with a reported 13 hotels that were listed in an 1893 local business directory. The first chapter in the
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Part two of the history explored hotel accommodations in areas beyond the park, especially sections affected by the arrival
Punxs’y Hotel, Bennis Hotel, Annarino Hotel, and the Findley Hotel. The last three on this list were on the same site near the railr o a d tracks. With the developments that began in P u n x ’ y ’s East End a n d Clayville in the 1880s, more people would
Ford came to the city to be employed as land agent for the company, and built his residence on Woodland Avenue at the corner with Cambria Street. His brother was the superintendent of the railroad, with offices in Bellwood near Altoona. On Oakland Avenue, Ford built a three-story framed hotel in 1888 that, for many years, was a popular stopping place for people arriving at the railroad’s passenger station. When the Ford House was completed and ready for business, an announcement in a local newspaper stated “The building is quite commodious and will accommodate a goodly number of guests.” For a short time in 1906 and 1907, the three-story Ford House on Oakland Avenue would become a factory when the
The Continental Hotel was located on Mahoning Street near the P&NW railroad passenger station. The building would become a part of the Clay Kanouff’s Nash Garage in the East End. The site is now the UniMart there. (Hotel photo from White Studio Collection of Punxsutawney Historical Society)
series described the “first” hotels that were opened around the town park in the mid19th century. Among the hotels on the list were the Weaver House, Eagle Hotel, Washington Hotel, Mahoning House, Campbell House, Jennings House, St. Elmo Hotel, and the Pantall Hotel, with the last five named here all built on the same corner over a period of 60 years.
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of the railroad as a means of transportation. Much of the focus was on North Findley Street, where the B. R. & P. Railroad and the trolley company passenger stations were built. Added to the list of hotels in Punxsutawney history were the Graffius Hotel, the Forest House, Central Hotel, North House, Gleckler Hotel,
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arrive in the area, and more hotels would be built. Coming to Punxsutawney with the P&NW Railroad was Harry B. Ford.
The Ford Hotel and Continental Hotel received visitors and business men from the nearby P&NW railroad passenger station.
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august 9-15, 2009 P.O. Box 71 OFFiCE: 814-894-7871 Sykesville, PA 15865 814-894-5723
www.sykesvillefair.org
schedule of events all Week Long Monday through Saturday • 3pm, Gates open Mon.-Fri. and 9am on Sat. • 5pm, Bartlebaugh Amusements on the midway and Sat. at noon • Lou’s Petting Zoo, All Week • Wild World of Animals, All Week
Sun., august 9 • 1-8pm, Arts and Crafts and animal entries accepted • 1pm, Antique Tractor Pulling Contest Mon., august 10 • 5:30pm, Junior Livestock Show • 7pm, Figure 8 Compact Car Racing
Bartlebaugh
Amusements, Inc.
lou’s Petting Zoo 14 – Punxsutawney Hometown – June 2009
Tues., august 11 • 9am, Horse Show • 7pm, 1980 and newer Car Demolition Derby Wed., august 12 • 7pm, DuBois High School Band Concert • 7pm, Guy Uplinger Memorial Compact Car Demo. Derby
Thurs., august 13 • 7pm, Cheerleading Exhibition Fri., august 14 • 7pm, Msgr. John Mignot Memorial Championship Full Size Car Demolition Derby • 7pm, Junior Livestock Sale Sat., august 15 • 9am, Family Day At The Fair $2.00 admission discount from 9am until 2pm • 9am, Clyde Cramer Memorial Horse Show • Noon-5pm, Bartlebaugh Amusements rides open • 3pm, Wild World of Animals Show • 6pm, Carnival rides re-open • 7pm, Mud Bogging on the Track • 8pm, Wild World of Animals Show Schedule subject to change
$7.00 admission includes all rides, all shows and parkiNg!