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CHAPTER SIX: HOTELS
Middletown's first hotels, it is believed, were located along the Minisink Road, now called East and West Main Street. An early hotel was established c1800, approximately where 9 East Main Street stood, now a parking lot. This was later known as the Jefferson House (hotel) and, under different names, remained a hotel until about 1916. The building was remodeled, and was later part of Stern's department store. It was torn down in 1969.
Almost across the street on the site of the building at 18-24 East Main Street, was a hotel established c1810 known as the Franklin House and later as the Holding House. This was named for Seth Holding, the owner. In 1909, the property was purchased by James Freehill. Mr. Freehill planned to erect a six-story hotel on the site and in 1923 had the old building demolished, except for the barroom interior. Plans for the large hotel were abandoned as only the present single-story building was built.
The western portion of the house located at 183 West Main Street (recently remodeled) was once known as the Monhagen Hotel, operated by Ebeneezer Mills. Built before 1812, this old inn served the wagon drivers who traveled the turnpike. After the Erie was built, business declined and the hotel became a farm house. During the course of this hotel's operation, it was never really considered to be in Middletown, but rather in a separate settlement. known as Monhagen.
On the corner of North and Courtland Streets, where the Masonic Temple is now, stood Jesse Cooley's Inn. This was in operation by the early 1840's or perhaps earlier. When acquired by the Masons in 1911, it was a rooming house and milk depot. The building was torn down to build the new temple.
A large, three-story brick hotel was built about 1840 on West Main Street, corner of Canal Street. This is now site of the triangle diagonally opposite James Street. Originally known as the Union House, it became the Veber House in the early 1870's. In 1877, it became the Commercial House Hotel and was acquired by the Higham family around 1882. Charles "Chic" Higham (rhymes with dime), who became proprietor about 1888, had the distinction of serving as chief of the Middletown Fire Department for 25 years, 1897-1922. Chief Higham and wife Annie sold the property to O.S. Hathaway in June, 1919. Mr. Hathaway converted the old hotel into
tment house. The building was purchased by the city in October 1961 and torn down during Urban Renewal in 1963.
Sweet's Hotel, which stood where the brick building (formerly Green's Dept. Store, presently Grippe Pet Products) now stands at 86-90 North Street, was a popular old Middletown Inn. Built as the "Railroad House" about 1843 by Joshua Smith of Goshen, it was soon taken over by Halstead Sweet. Mr. Sweet was a popular figure in the community, serving as Town of Wallkill Supervisor 1856-1863 and