Five clippings concerning the Brownville Hotel -- each appeared in the Watertown Daily Times.

Although extensive changes have been made, the 119-year-old hotel, one of the oldest structures in northern New York, still retains the historical character and atmosphere typical of the early 19th century.

Contemporary of the old Union house at Sackets Harbor, now used as a museum, of Blodgett’s at Denmark, which still stands but is no longer used as a hotel, and of the old American house in Watertown, which burned down in the great fire of 1849, the Brownville hotel is the oldest hostelry in this section still used for hotel purposes.

The hotel, constructed in the boom days that came to Brownville following the War of 1812 stands today much as it appeared when it was constructed. The present grey-stone hotel was built in 1820, eight years before the village of Brownville (was established????).

The first public hotel at Brownville was built in 1805 by Jeremiah Phelps and the present hotel was erected on the same site after the first, a wooden structure, had burned to the ground. For many years it was owned by John Johnson.

The rooms of the hotel remain practically the same as they did when the hotel was first built. At one time the hotel had a belfry used to sound the curfew. The spacious ball room, once the scene of many social gatherings and important society functions, is still in a good state of preservation.

For a short time a half century or so ago the hotel was temporarily used as a select school.

In early days the hotel was frequented by such distinguished guests as James D. Leray de Chaumont, the early landholder.

Among the changes made in the renovated hotel is the addition of a cocktail lounge equipped with the latest chrome furnishings. A dining room equipped with early American maple furnishings and a fireplace has been installed.

Another new feature is a modernly-equipped tap room so constructed as to give the effect of the early taverns. A similar effect is carried out in the beam-ceilings.

All modern stainless-steel equipment has been secured for the kitchen to accommodate the increased patronage. The hotel is equipped to enable the management to offer suitable accommodations for banquets, bridge parties, social gatherings and other similar functions.

A special program of entertainment has been planned for the opening night.

Mr. Fisher came to Brownville in 1930 from Utica, where he operated a tea room, and purchased the hotel from Richard (Dick) -----------ing (poor copy), who originally came from Little Falls.

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The Brownville Hotel, owned and conducted for the past five years by Fred Wheeler, one of the leading hotel managers in northern New York, has been sold to Frank McGrath of Carthage.

Mr. McGrath is also a well known northern New York hotel proprietor, having been in charge of the Kenmore in Carthage and the Newton Falls hotel.

Mr. Wheeler is selling the Brownville hotel because he intends to retire from active business. He has been a hotel manager for more than 40 years and has always lived in northern New York. He started as a hotel proprietor at Henderson where he conducted the old Phelps house.

For 10 years he conducted the old City Hotel in Court street. He was also at one time proprietor of the Leray hotel in this city. He has been proprietor of the old Harris house and Levis (sic) house in Carthage. One summer he ran the hotel at Monatauk Point on the St. Lawrence river, near Clayton.

Mr. Wheeler has purchased a home in Carthage and plans to make his home there with his family.

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Watertown Daily Times, Monday, March 25, 1974

(included a photo of the Hotel, taken as one comes from Limerick toward Watertown -- the photo shows the back wing and south side of the hotel:

The short article which appeared under the photo follows:

The Brownville Hotel’s main section, constructed 154 years ago, escaped all but minor smoke and water damage in this morning’s fire.

The three-story native limestone structure was built in 1820 by Henry Caswell of Brownville and Emerson Moody of Watertown on the site of Brownville’s first hotel, a wood structure erected in 1805 that had burned to the ground.

The land had once been owned by Major General Jacob Brown, whose mansion on Main Street was built about 1815.

In the early days of the hotel, its patrons included General Brown and many of his guests, and James D. LeRay de Chaumont.

Today’s blaze was confined to a two-story stone and wood-frame addition housing the hotel’s kitchen and pantry on the first floor and rooms for rent on the second floor.

Hotel owner Harold Reeves said he has “no idea” when the addition, damaged this morning beyond repair, was constructed.

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On April 5, 1977, the Watertown Daily Times published a wonderful photo of the Brownville Hotel. The photo was taken after it was remodeled and redecorated in 1939. The photo was included in the Times’ “North Country Remembered” series - No. 2,168.

The text under the photo was interesting, also:

“The Brownville Hotel, Main Street, Brownville, after it was remodeled and redecorated in 1939. A three-story native limestone building, it was constructed in 1820 by Henry Caswell, eight years before the Village of Brownville was incorporated, on land once owned by Maj. Gen. Jacob Brown. The site is that of Brownville’s first hotel, a wooden structure built in 1805 by Jeremiah Phelps. General Brown, the War of 1812 hero, and James D. LeRay de Chaumont and their guests were among the Brownville Hotel’s early patrons. Farm families used to drive to Brownville, stable their horses in the hotel barn and ride the rest of the way to Watertown by trolley. Mr. and Mrs. Harold Reeves, the present owners, acquired the hotel in 1973 and remodeled it into apartments after the fire of 1974 which destroyed the addition at the back left. The hotel was damaged by water and smoke. The wooden frame wing, at right, was a bar at one time, but is no longer in use.

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No date on the following article:

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The historic Brownville hotel was purchased Friday by Robert H. Ray, Skaneateles, and James McBurney, Marietta, from Rocco Fattanzio, Syracuse. The purchase price was not disclosed.

The 138-year old three story structure was a stopping place for famous persons in the 19th century. The new owners plan a modernization of the hotel.

Included in the sale is a building adjacent to the hotel, containing four apartments and also an apartment-business block, known as the Moore block, containing two apartments and two stores.

Mr. Ray, a former Watertown and Syracuse resident, who is retired as a district manager for Hydrotex Industries, Dallas, Tex., an oil firm, said that the staff of the hotel will be enlarged and that portions of the building will be modernized. Mr. McBurney is the operator of the Amber Marine company at Amber, near Skaneateles.

Mr. Ray said the hotel has twelve rooms, a third floor banquet hall and four dining rooms. The new owners plan to cater to various types of banquets and other affairs.

Attorney Lawrence Conboy handled the legal details for the new owners while a Syracuse law firm represented Mr. Fattanzio. Mr. Fattanzio had operated the hotel about a year.