Edison Hotel (Sunbury, Pennsylvania)

Built in 1871, the City Hotel was known for its high quality lodging and fine dining, and also had one of the first commercial elevators in the United States hotel system. During this early phase of operations, the hotel had forty guest rooms on its second and third floors and offered two payment plans: a pay-by-the-day "American plan" and an extended-stay "European plan."Scott, "Edison Hotel has long, colorful history," The Daily Item, July 2, 2007."O'Rourke, Amanda. "Edison's 51 rooms get new manager," The Daily Item, April 10, 2009.

The hotel's carriage house, which was built as a separate structure around the same time as the City Hotel, was situated behind the hotel"[https://www.newspapers.com/image/485308987/?terms=%22Edison%20Hotel%22&match=1 Plan to move station draws opposition]." Sunbury, Pennsylvania: The Daily Item, May 13, 1980, p. 20 (subscription required). and operated as a 19th-century transit center, housing horses and carriages that transported passengers to and from the hotel and key points in the city, including Sunbury's wharf and Third Street railroad station. A fire tower constructed after World War II physically connected the carriage house to the hotel.Whittaker, "Carriage house to resume role it once played?", The Daily Item, May 13, 1980.

George Guyer was the proprietor of the hotel during the early 1880s."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/511704072/?terms=%22Central%20Hotel%22&match=1 Central Hotel]," in "Hotels and Restaurants." Sunbury, Pennsylvania: The Sunbury Weekly News, June 27, 1884, p. 1 (subscription required).

The first building in Sunbury, Pennsylvania to be lit with Thomas Edison's three-wire system in July 1883.Scott, "Edison Hotel has long, colorful history," The Daily Item, July 2, 2007."O'Rourke, Amanda. "Edison's 51 rooms get new manager," The Daily Item, April 10, 2009. John W. Treadwell, Jr., a nine-year-old boy in the crowd of onlookers, was given the honor of throwing the switch that turned on Edison's new lighting system."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/511969587/ J. W. Treadwell Paid Tribute by PRR Chief]." Sunbury, Pennsylvania: The Daily Item, p. 6 of pp. 1, 6 (subscription required).

The hotel was also equipped with new water closets during the summer of 1884."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/511702682/?terms=%22Central%20Hotel%22&match=2 Local Shorts]." Sunbury, Pennsylvania: Northumberland County Democrat, August 1, 1884, p. 3 (subscription required).

The City Hotel was renamed as the Hotel Edison in 1922, during the city's 150th anniversary celebration, which was attended by Edison.Scott, "Edison Hotel has long, colorful history," The Daily Item, July 2, 2007."O'Rourke, Amanda. "Edison's 51 rooms get new manager," The Daily Item, April 10, 2009.

As automobiles rose in popularity, the carriage house, which faces Court Street, was subsequently converted into office and retail space.Whittaker, "Carriage house to resume role it once played?", The Daily Item, May 13, 1980.

Charles E. Duffy, Jr. became the proprietor of The Hotel Edison in 1939."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/512002456/?terms=%22Hotel%20Edison%22&match=1 Journal Pays Duffy Tribute]." Sunbury, Pennsylvania: The Daily Item, January 13, 1944, p. 3 (subscription required)."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/511995647/?terms=%22Edison%20Hotel%22&match=1 Edison Hotel]" (advertisement). Sunbury, Pennsylvania: The Daily Item, May 29, 1940, p. 40 (subscription required). In February 1949, Duffy opened a new, twenty-six-room addition with a new fireproofing system for the building."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/511888837/?terms=%22Hotel%20Edison%22&match=1 New Edison Hotel Addition Fills Dire Sunbury Needs]." Sunbury, Pennsylvania: The Daily Item, February 12, 1949, p. 5 (subscription required)."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/511878936/?terms=%22Hotel%20Edison%22&match=1 Duffy to Enlarge Hotel Edison with Wing of 29 Rooms]." Sunbury, Pennsylvania: The Daily Item, March 17, 1947, p. 14 (subscription required).

In 1963, Duffy hired Robert Weiser, contractor, to enlarge the hotel's bar and grille, and announced that that section of his hotel would be renamed as the Hobnail Bar while the cocktail lounge would keep its Pennsylvania Dutch decor."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/512679571/?terms=%22Hotel%20Edison%22&match=1 Remodeling Grille at Hotel Edison]." Sunbury, Pennsylvania: The Daily Item, December 31, 1963, p. 22 (subscription required). His son, Charles Duffy III, succeeded him as president of The Hotel Edison Corporation."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/512665193/?terms=%22Charles%20Duffy%22&match=1 Charles Duffy to Operate Hotel in Capital of Ohio]." Sunbury, Pennsylvania: The Daily Item, October 22, 1970, p. 1 (subscription required).

The younger Duffy then sold the hotel in September 1966 to the Para Corporation of Harrisburg which, in turn, sold it to the Gold Star Nursing Home Association of Milton,"[https://www.newspapers.com/image/513094573/ Hotel Edison Sold to Milton Firm; Will Remain Open]." Sunbury, Pennsylvania: The Daily Item, January 3, 1968, p. 1 (subscription required). which managed it from January 3 to September 30, 1967, when it ceased operations. It was subsequently sold to Max Wagner, a commercial hotel-motel broker who owned the University Motor Inn in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania."[https://www.newspapers.com/image/512204138/?terms=%22Charles%20Duffy%22&match=1 New Owner Will Run Edison Hotel After Renovation]." Sunbury, Pennsylvania: The Daily Item, November 5, 1968, p. 1 (subscription required).

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Category:Hotel buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania

Category:Sunbury, Pennsylvania

Category:Hotels established in 1872

Category:Hotel buildings completed in 1872

Category:1872 establishments in Pennsylvania

Category:History of electrical engineering