The Abandoned Monongahela Hotel
Early history
The Monongahela Hotel was built in 1911, originally named the Monongahela House. While this is where the rest of this building’s life would start, it’s not where its life had begun. The first building, called the Monongahela House, was built as a residence in 1832, and later converted to a hotel in 1844. Of course, this would come to see 67 years of life as a hotel before being demolished as the newer structure went up. When the hotel opened in 1911, it would still operate under the Monongahela House name, and would not be until 9 years later when it was renamed to the Monongahela Hotel in 1920.
Much more than just a hotel
The building hosted much more than just a hotel, with a men’s furnishing store on the west side of the ground floor, a bar on the east side, and a lobby in the center. The bar was shut down in 1919 due to prohibition.
During this time, many were traveling into and through Brownsville for various reasons; the most common reasons being for business. The town had numerous banks and played an important part during the rise of the steel industry operating a railroad yard and coking center. Business was on the rise for Brownsville, and with it, a demand for lodging. With only 50 rooms, the hotel would often be fully booked night after night. In need of a larger building, Samuel Leff – owner at the time – sold the building to the Monongahela National Bank in 1923. The bank then renovated the façade of the former hotel.
New facility built
The new 110-room facility was built next door, and opened on March 15, 1925. On the ground floor, the building contained a coffee shop, and behind it a dining room with capacity for 200 people. The hotel had its own area for patrons to park, offering a garage for their automobiles.
In March of 1930, ownership of the building had changed hands. In an effort to generate additional income during the Great Depression, the first and second floors of the hotel garage were leased for ten years to Samuel S. Sidle. Samuel was a merchant from Bentleyville. He had made the decision to convert the garage into the Sidle Motor Company to sell new Oakland-Pontiac automobiles.
Hotel declares bankruptcy
While much effort was made to generate enough sources of additional income, it was still not enough. In late December, the contents of the Monongahela Hotel were to go up in a sheriff’s sale, but other creditors stepped in. Eventually, the hotel was forced to declare bankruptcy. The building was sold off in 1931.
Rooms at $4 per night
In later years, the building had become part of Earle Milner Hotels. Rooms were offered at $4 per night. Business slowly declined over years, and the hotel eventually closed. The building was then purchased at auction by Frank Bock, who then renamed it the Towne Hotel. After some years, the former hotel rooms were converted to apartments.
As people left, the town of Brownsville dropped further into a decline and buildings were being abandoned left and right. Much of the town remains abandoned today, including this hotel, which has sat vacant since the mid-1990s.Â
