Date: Fri 20-Aug-1999

Publication: Bee

Author: JAN

Quick Words:

history-Newtown-Inn-Dick's

Full Text:

The Rise And Fall Of A Landmark Newtown Inn

(with cuts)

BY JAN HOWARD

Innkeeping was once a flourishing business in Newtown. Weary travelers coming

by stagecoach during the 1800s and summer vacationers traveling by train in

the 1900s could always find a bed and food among the many taverns and inns to

be found here.

About 1820 Sallu Pell Barnum opened a roadside tavern in a house that once

occupied the site of the Cyrenius H. Booth Library. The house had been built

for Dr Bennett Perry about 1797.

The building was first used as a hotel when it was owned by Darwin Shepard. It

was also at one time the residence of the Rev Samuel C. Stratton, a rector of

the Episcopal Church from 1831-1839.

Later, it was acquired by W.H. Dick, and during the 1880s it was flourishing

as Dick's Hotel. In 1887 it was purchased by William Leonard. He and his

mother, Laura Leonard, had sold the Leonard House at Springfield, Mass., and

he was looking for a new hotel. He went to the New Haven office of Edward A.

Beecher to see what he had for sale. Only restaurants were available.

Mr Beecher later met Capt Snow of the Grand Central Hotel in Newtown, which

made him remember Dick's Hotel. After hearing about the available hotel, Mr

Leonard took the train for Newtown and in a few days the deal was made and

Dick's Hotel was once again a summer hotel.

The Newtown Bee often printed the names of those arriving at and leaving from

local hotels during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Guests were listed from as

far away as Florida or as close as Danbury.

Dick's Hotel also became a meeting place for local organizations, such as the

Men's Literary and Social Club.

Boarders at the hotel also offered entertainment for townspeople, and in July

of 1897 featured a play, soloists, and musicians, followed by a hop at the

Town Hall.

On September 10, 1897 the Bee's headlines reported that Dick's Hotel was in

ashes, with barns and hotel buildings destroyed by fire, though most of the

furniture had been removed and the horses and carriages saved.

Abel Clarke, a boarder, saw what he thought was dust coming out the barn door.

Informed that no one was sweeping, he opened the door to the hayloft and smoke

poured out. He quickly spread the alarm.

The fire ate its way through the bowling alley over the shed, and, because

there was no water at hand, the hotel was destroyed. The origin of the fire

was a mystery. The 35 boarders in the house saved nearly all their personal

items.

In October, Mr Leonard announced his decision to rebuild. Architect David

Bloomfield of Meriden was at work on plans, and in November, bids from seven

applicants were opened, with H.L. Morehouse of Meriden the lowest bidder.

Ground was broken on December 1, 1897, and by the end of January, the roofs

were on. Thirty men had been employed.

In March, the paper reported that Mr Leonard's new hotel was to be christened

the Newtown Inn, but commented it "will be some time before the name of Dick's

will drop in general conversation."

The work on the hotel continued, with foreman George Morehouse hiring 15 more

carpenters. The plumbing and fixtures were being installed, plastering was

being completed, and painters were getting "well along" on the outside.

On March 25, The Bee said the two upper floors of the hotel were almost

completed. Edgar Northrop was assisting with carpentry at the barns.

Work was expected to be completed by May 1, and the two upper floors were

almost finished in April. The Bee reported that a "handsome, ornamental

staircase" was in place, doors and blinds were to be hung, and the last floor

laid on the lower story.

The Inn, which contained about 80 rooms, was 86 feet wide and 102 feet deep.

Across the front was a 12-foot wide by 86-foot long piazza.

The Inn was painted a light green with white trim. The inside was of natural

finish.

The main door entered into a large reception room filled with easy chairs and

settees, The Bee reported on June 3, 1898. Also on the main floor was the

hotel office, Mr Leonard's private office, the parlors, and dining rooms, with

service rooms and apartments for employees.

The second and third floors consisted of sleeping apartments with bathrooms

and closets. Storage, the kitchen, and bar room were in the basement.

The building was lighted by gas installed by Tirrell Gas Machine Company of

New York. D Lennox of Danbury had the heating contract, and lumber was

supplied by Philo Nichols of Newtown.

Detached barns in the rear of the building measured 50 feet by 50 feet. The

livery end of the business was run by H. Costello.

A Booming Business

Mr Leonard reported that the hotel was nearly all filled for August, and from

that time on the Newtown Inn became a popular spot for summer boarders from

Bridgeport, New York and many other locales.

Spring water for drinking was available to hotel guests beginning in May,

1901, after Mr Leonard secured some springs on land owned by Mr Ronalds and

the Methodist Society. E.J. Hall secured the contract to bring the water to

the hotel through 4,400 feet of lead pipe.

On October 31, 1913, The Newtown Bee reported that the Hale Hotel Company had

incorporated to take over the lease and business of William F. Hale, who had

taken over when Mr Leonard retired, with a capital stock of $7,500 "to promote

the hotel business at the Newtown Inn and advertise Newtown's attractions."

According to the paper, the hotel would be put in first class condition and

opened in the spring as an up-to-date hotel.

Many events and entertainments took place at the Newtown Inn. Concerts were

frequent offerings, such as one in 1898 for an admission of 15 cents each that

benefitted the Fresh Air Fund.

Drama, gramophone music, a contest between two game cocks, and fireworks

highlighted another event, as reported in the August 11, 1899 Bee .

Subsequent concerts featured pupils from the Greene Summer School in

Brookfield, during which the "parlors and piazza of the Inn were crowded," and

the Sylvian quartet with the Trinity Church Choir of Bridgeport.

In June, 1901, the Inn's large reception hall and parlors were the site of a

charity euchre party that raised $20 for the Newtown Library.

Dinners at the Inn were enjoyed by members of many organizations, including

the Newtown High School alumni in 1914 and the Men's Club's ladies night in

May, 1902. In 1917, World War I inductees were treated to a fancy dinner at

the Inn, after which they left to begin their military service. In July, 1919,

a welcome home celebration was hosted at the Inn for those who served in the

"great World War." Manager J.E. Corbett had as waitresses "members of the

local Red Cross which lent a delightful home atmosphere to the occasion," The

Bee reported.

A Post-War Change

Business at the local inns declined rapidly after World War I.

Hard times had started to befall the Newtown Inn in 1915. The January 1 Bee

reported that Mr Hale, who had been the manager for three and a half years

after Mr Leonard retired, had voluntarily surrendered his lease to Mr Leonard,

owner of the property, and turned over the hotel to him. Mr Hale, who had had

glowing recommendations from the Pawling Inn, was a petitioner in bankruptcy

court. According to The Bee , he had not succeeded in building up a paying

business, noting, "The substantial summer business that the hotel enjoyed

under Mr Leonard's able management has not been maintained."

"It is quite generally claimed that the coming of the automobile has

revolutionized the country hotel business," The Bee noted. However, it added,

"But with a modern hotel plant like this, situated on a trunk line state

road... it would seem there was a good future for this house if the correct

management could be applied."

Efforts were made to keep the Inn going. In 1915, it was under new management

and was to reopen April 3 with a special dinner for $1. "Tremendous

improvements have been made throughout the hotel," the paper reported. "Two

private dining rooms provided on the first floor. The kitchen has been moved

from the basement to the west end of the building and equipped with the most

modern appliances in the culinary line."

The hotel was to be managed by the Newtown Inn, Inc, whose officers were J. W.

Porter, president; W.H. Green, vice president and treasurer; and Norman Beers,

secretary. Mr Green was one of the owners of the Hotel Green in Danbury, "one

of the best known hotels of the state," The Bee said.

About 50 people were present at the opening, including Borough Warden Charles

G. Peck and Judge and Mrs W.J. Beecher.

Other managerial changes occurred in the next two years. On August 10, 1917,

The Bee reported that W.D. Parker had been named the new manager, succeeding

W.H. Newman of Danbury, who had been in charge only since April.

On April 19, 1918, the newspaper reported the death of William A. Leonard, the

owner and former proprietor of the Newtown Inn.

In October, Mr Parker announced his retirement as of November 1 and the Hotel

Green gave up its lease of the Inn effective November 4. In November, J.E.

Corbett of Bridgeport, who leased the Inn for two years, became the new

manager.

Potential purchases of the Newtown Inn were proposed in 1920 and 1921, but for

some reason never reached fruition. On June 18, 1920, The Bee reported that

the Newtown Inn Hotel Company, Inc, consisting of officers Hugh Lavery,

president, William Booth, vice president, Clarence Beers, secretary, and Mr

Corbett, treasurer and manager, had purchased the hotel and annex from Belle

Leonard. On April 22, 1921, Arthur Morse was reported to have purchased the

hotel, though another entry on October 14 noted Mrs Leonard had sold the Inn

to John W. Wallace of New Haven.

Miss Hawley's Bequest

Whatever happened to thwart those sales, the Inn had been vacant for more than

three years when on March 20, 1925, a Newtown Bee headline proclaimed that

Mary Hawley had bought the Newtown Inn and four acres of land.

The Bee said, "Miss Hawley has not disclosed what she will do with the

property, but it is a satisfaction to all that the Inn has passed to her

control."

Five months following Miss Hawley's death on May 11, 1930, the reading of her

will revealed plans for a library. She bequeathed $200,000 for the "Purpose of

erecting and equipping a building to be used as a free public library" to be

named after her grandfather, Cyrenius H. Booth, and $250,000 for maintenance.

The Newtown Inn was eventually torn down to make room for the library. Miss

Hawley's gift of $200,000 was turned over to the selectmen in December of

1930, and the library was built in 1932.

In addition to The Newtown Bee , information for this story was compiled from

Newtown Directions and Images and Newtown Past and Present by the League of

Women Voters.