Page 26 - Taverns Stands in Woodstock - for Flipbook_Neat

In the spring of 1884, Chandler sold to Hiram Fales who made “great additions and improvements upon
the place and opened a hotel under the title of Park Cottage.” One of these improvements was a porch extend-
ing out to the street (as narrow as present distance to the street.) The width, it seems, however narrow, was wide
enough for men to sit in rocking chairs, contemplating the Green (then called the Park.) Margaret Johnson in
her reminiscences recalled it was always men who occupied those rocking chairs. A second story was in the rear
of the building in 1884. A new slate roof was put on the “L” that year.

Hiram Fales owned it for 7 years before closing it due to ill health (1891). The house was sold to F. W. Baldwin
but Fales repurchased it in 1893. He then closed it again for two years due to ill health. He died at this place on
May 13, 1895. Mrs. Fales was trying to sell it in 1897. The proprietor in 1897 was J. L. Battles.
By 1902, the Park Cottage Hotel was now referred to as New Park Hotel. Mr. and Mrs. John L. Chandler
gave up the management of the hotel October 1, 1902. The lease passed to Mr. and Mrs. M.A. Dickinson of
Bethel. The was repaired, renovated, and furnished with new carpet from the cellar to the attic. The Dickenson’s
also ran the livery stable in connection with the house. They ran the hotel until 1904 and left to run the Central
House. Management changed hands on November 15, 1906 from Mr. and Mrs. E.F. Russell to D.D. Howe and
his wife. Mrs. Howe had been the matron at the Country Club for years before this. It was then leased by Dr.
F.R. Jewett to Mrs. Flora M. Snow of Hartland in 1907 for five years.
According to the 1916 Woodstock Directory, Mr. and Mrs. Robert Royce owned an antique shop and tea
room at 44 Central Street. A year later in November of 1917, they purchased the Park Hotel and began major,
renovations which included “new lath and plaster and wallpaper... and the removal of the front porch,” accord-
ing to the Standard. It was not until early 1925 that the Royces were able to buy the corner house long owned by
the Hutchinson family and expand their hotel which they had named the “White Cupboard.”

25