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The Russell House was purchased in April, 1889 by Edward A. Brown who ran the hotel with his son, O. Harry. When the original Casino Theatre burned February 27, 1891, the hotel was threatened by the fire and was evacuated. In February, 1897, it was announced a group of Middletown businessmen proposed erecting a first-class hotel on the site of the Russell House. Plans had already been prepared by architect Frank J. Lindsey whose drawing of the proposed hotel is reproduced in this section. As can be seen, it would have been a beautiful hotel. The first floor was to have been stone, the remaining four of brick. Bowling alleys were planned for the basement as well as an elevator. Besides the hotel, the building would also have a private club. Although at first unidentified, the person behind the project was William D. Stratton, owner of the theatre property. Several meeti discuss the proposal were called but subsequently cancelled. The details are not know, but the proposed new hotel as designed by Mr. Lindsey was never built.
Ten years later, a destructive fire led to building a new hotel. At about 12:45 on Sunday morning, February 25, 1907, hotel pastry cook Hattie Scott was awakened by smoke in her room, which was located in the servants quarters in the rear of the building. Her cries awakened other employees who notified night clerk Mack McCullough. Mr. McCullough ran to the front door, called to a man passing by to send an alarm, then went back to evacuate the hotel. The passerby, Henry Shaw, ran to box 26 on the corner of James and Henry Streets and turned in the alarm. The Eagles and Excelsiors arrived first as their firehouse was right around the corner on King Street. Fire Chief Charles Higham, owner of the Commercial Hotel right on West Main Street, immediately called for the 2-2-2 signal to be blown. This is the "Chief's Call", which summoned all Middletown's fire companies and personnel. Due to the extreme amount of Smoke, Chief Higham at first was unsure where to concentrate firefighting efforts. He then ordered the Eagles to run a line of hose to the third floor.
"It was found that the fire was the hottest between the ceiling and roof near the chimney in the rear of the third floor. A hole was chopped through the ceiling and a furnace of flame was discovered." The temperature that morning was below zero. It is uncertain how many guests were in the hotel at the time of the blaze: one source reported eight, another twenty. Nog injured and they were all relocated to the Commercial Hotel, the Waldo, or the Elberton, which was located on King Street where the municipal restroom building is now (next to the Crawford Furniture Store building). Four firemen were injured, one of these occurring on the way to the fire. By 3 a.m., the fire was under control and out by 5 a.m.
Photos of the hotel after the fire were taken by Alfred H. Still and Charles A. Ketcham who printed them as post cards. Mr. Still took interior views as well. Despite efforts by the police, "considerable looting" was done. A defective chimney was the