Historically significant to early Smethport, Bergstrawser Inn served as a local meeting place for early Smethport residents and visitors. The popular tavern, located above the Courthouse on Church Street,
changed hands many
times, and has had over 8 owners since the 1860's. It was owned by Mrs.
Bergstrawser until 1864, when it fell into the possession of W.B.
Warren and David R. Bennet. In 1868, Mr. J. L. Warden owned it,
followed by Eurell V. Chadwick. Katherine and Charles
Lemmler purchased the Inn on April 13, 1884 for $900, and on
November
2, 1934, Ralph E. Burdick bought it for $1. It appears that the
Lemmlers repurchased it for the price of $1 on the same day for unknown
reasons. Leonore Lemmler inherited Bergstrawser Inn upon the
death of her mother, Katherine. At that time, personal estate was
valued at $30,034.46. Again, the property was purchased for $1 by
Hubert and Virginia Morrison on August 30,1945, and finally sold to
it's current owners, Cynthia and Reid Matteson, on May 28, 1981.
