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Under the ownership of Munn, an addition was added to the side of the house. Munn sold the house to Ernest J. Monsch in 1941. Over the next 45 years, the hotel changed owners numerous times.
| MAGNIFICENT
NEW HOTEL FOR SMETHPORT
MUNN BUYS M’KEAN MANSION, STARTS ALTERATIONS McKean County Democrat March 19, 1931 Smethport is to have one of the finest hotels in this section of Pennsylvania, thanks to the initiative of L. E. Munn, popular proprietor of Munn’s Hotel, Main Street. By a deal concluded last Friday, Mr. Munn purchased the large McKean mansion at the corner of Main and Mechanic Streets from the estate of the late Kathe rine
McKean.He has already started to remodel the structure into a modern hotel, which will be open to the public in May. The purchase involved a large figure, unannounced, and included the large three-story colonial-style mansion, real estate and the magnificent furnishings, including beautiful period furniture, rare tapestries, oriental rugs, costly paintings, beautiful silver and china services and one of the finest libraries in McKean county, containing rare volumes and deluxe editions. Despite the large amount of paid by the purchaser, the buy is considered by experts to be a bargain. The large three-story mansion of beautiful colonial design and regarded as one of the most pretentious in McKean county, was erected by the late Charles McKean in 1905, at a cost of upwards of $50,000 at a time when material costs were extremely low. The furnishing of the home, displaying the discriminating taste of the late Mrs. McKean, is reputed to cost an additional $50,000. Mr. Munn intends to dispose of the furnishings, including the art objects and library, at private sale and is already being deluged by inquiries from collectors who desire to purchase. Mr. Munn has engaged Alfred Johnson, local contractor, to remodel the mansion for hotel purposed and a crew of men started work on the job Monday. The first floor will be finished off to include a large rotunda and office, a large dining room, a private dining room and kitchen. The second and third floors will be finished off into fifteen modernly appointed sleeping rooms—the majority with baths and all the running water. An elevator will also be installed. Mr. Munn will strive to make the cusine of the new hotel noted for its super-excellence and those who are familiar with the fare he has always provided at his present hotel know that he will succeed. He will continue to operate his present brick hotel and restaurant which is located across the street from his new hotel and which has and is enjoying a large patronage. It is expected that the new hotel will be opened to the public on about May 1st. Lawrence Munn, in acting to provide Smethport with this modern hotel, has rendered the community one of the greatest services it has received in years. Nothing advertises a town more than a first-class hotel and Smethport, possessing beauties which attract much admiration from tourists over the great Roosevelt Highway, has acutely felt the need of a hotel to augment the splendid local tourists’ homes and to appeal to that class of travelers who seek hotel accommodations, for three years past. Mr. Munn shows an optimistic outlook on Smethport’s future in providing the town with a hotel which is bound to become known far and wide under his capable management. |
Colonial Hotel Famous
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