Just how many little hotels there may have been in the early days of Freeport is unknown. The Tilden history says that the big, three story "Pennsylvania House" had first stood at the southwest corner of Stephenson and Van Buren Streets and that it was moved to the southwest corner of Stephenson and Walnut Streets. This is mentioned only in connection with the history of the "Munn Building" erected in 1862. If the Pennsylvania House was moved as history says, it must have been moved in two separate sections, fir it so appeared as being in two parts. Its name in later years was changed but it remained the same old hotel, with little, if any, change made in it.

"The Brewster House" was built in 1857, the architect is unknown, but it was built for Mr. John R. Brewster. A hotel in Milwaukee called the Newhall House is exactly like the Brewster House. The Milwaukee Hotelw as destroyed by fire in 1883. It had the same wide projecting cornice and the same heavy cast-iron window caps. There was one fire at the Brewster house near the front corner of the building, from second or third floor and out through the roof. In the Fulwider HIstory of 1910 there is a photo of the Brewster Hotel as originallyb uilt with the exception of a bay window on the second floor in the private apartment of the proprietors Mr. and Mrs. Jay S. Gates. The hotel had a sixty foot frontage and the Annex twenty feet. The hotel proper covered Lots 4 and 7. All along the Mechanic Street side of the first floor of the Brewster was the L.Z. Farwell store, originally Bidwell & Farwell,

The Colvin Hotel was near the New York Hotel and operated by a Colvin family. Later Mr. Colvin erected a new hotel two block lower on Galena st. (Main).

The"Freeport Hotel" was a little two story frame building which stood at the southeast corner of Stephenson and Van Buren and was moved and made into a double house that stood right up to the street line on South Salena Ave. exactly on the site now occupied by the entrance to the Patio Theater. The father of Lester Fargher (writer of this article) may have lived for a time in this little hotel when he first came to Freeport in 1867.

The French Hotel run by people of that name, was a two story frame building at the northeast corner of Galena St. and Galena Ave. Its back yard extended to the alley and someone had a pet bear chained to a post in this yard. For many years Mr. F.R. Rice used this building for a fruit and produce store, selling at both wholesale and retairl. Eventually he erected on this site the five story building which is now known as the "Licondo Hotel."

It is possible that the "Kraft House" which was just across the track from the depot of the Western Union Railway, was built at the time when that road was build through our town. This hotel stood on railroad property.

"Licondo Hotel"

Licondo Hotel Freeport IL

The "New York House" in the late 1860's was operated by Stukenberg and Arno. Mr. Stukenberg may have been the father of August J. Stukenberg a leading business man of Freeport. The New York House was destroyed in 1966 to make a parking lot on its site. The hotel was once under the management of John Kerch and also a Mr. Trotter, the father of Will and Mell Trotter.

The "Tremont House" at the corner of Chicago and Clay (now Douglas St) was rebuilt and renamed the "Clifton House." As the Clifton it rated for a long time as Freeport's second best hotel. It was once run by Oscar Youngs. Just before the demolition of this building the author went with Mr.Jams ward, the Photographer for the Journal-Standard to see and photograph the rear and unaltered parts of the Tremont House. In tearing down the outer brick front walls it was discovered that the original walls were still there and painted thereon was the name "Tremont House."

On lower Stephenson Street there was a low grade hotel called the "Trivoli." It had its name changed to "Saar's Hotel." This building, now No. 219 E. Stephenson St. has been reduced down from three to two stories and somewhere near it, is the "Briggs House." It was possibly the two story building which is stills tanding at the southwest corner of Stephenson and Liberty.

"Winneshiek House" - Mr. Horace Tarbox, of New York, came to Freeport in 1841 and engaged in the hotel and livery business. In 1848 he completed a three-story stone hotel building at the corner of Chicago and Stephenson Streets. This hotel was opened to the public January 1, 1849, and called the “Winneshiek House.” This was then credited with being the only first class hotel in the county. The opening was celebrated with a grand ball and was attended by people for miles around. The ball was one of the big social events of the decade.

The two story frame hotel which stood in line with the old Illinois Central depot, was probably built at the time the I.C. was built into Freeport, in 1853, and it stood until the new depot was erected in the years 1886-88. That was the period in which the I.C. built its line from Chicago to Freeport, and the two branch lines from Freeport, to Madison and to Dodgeville.