This exhibit serves as an overview of the Brimfield Hotel and its history. Materials include photographs, registers, blueprints, menus, and newsprints from the 1940s through to the 1950s. Brief biographies of select owners are also included.
Brimfield is a small town of about 3,700 people located in central Massachusetts – only a ten minute drive north of the Connecticut border. Best known for its giant antique fair taking place three times a year in May, July, and September, hundreds of people converge on the town in search of antiques and unique items.
Early History, 1808-1859:
During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, Brimfield was also an important stop for travelers moving through central Massachusetts. The Brimfield Hotel was able to meet the needs of these travelers. First constructed by Elias Carter for John Gardener, the hotel would go through three iterations: the original hotel, a renovation, and a full rebuild.
During its existence, the Brimfield Hotel saw many proprietors. In one account, the “Historical Celebration of the Town of Brimfield,” by Hyde & Brown, the proprietors up to 1876 included:
- John Gardener
- Marquis Converse
- Joshua B. Vinton
- Eaton Hitchcock
- J.D. Browning
- Nye Moulton
- D.N. Green
- H.F. Brown (1848-1852)
- George C. Homer
- W.F. Tarbell
- S.C. Herring, Esq.
- Brown & White
- Amos Munroe
- George S. Osgood
- Charles Andrews
- Edward Sherman
- Amos Munroe – again, (proprietor at the time of the book’s printing)
The Brimfield Hotel would see other proprietors after 1876 through to 1941.
Marquis Converse:
Born on September 25, 1785, Converse was the second proprietor of the Brimfield Hotel, taking the position from John Gardner. He was also the second postmaster in Brimfield. In addition to the hotel, Converse built a sawmill on Mill Pond. Marquis died on October 12, 1842.
Fifty-three years after his death, a fountain was built on the edge of the common in the center of town. This fountain was dedicated to Marquis Converse and his family for the impact they had on the Brimfield community. In an article published by The Journal, Alfred Converse, Marquis’ son, stated, “We present this fountain not only as a monument to the memory of our father, but also as a token of our loyalty to and esteem for our native town, desiring that its beauty may be an added attraction to the town, and that it may prove a lasting source of blessing to both man and beast.” – The Journal, December 13, 1895.
Henry Field Brown:
The eighth proprietor of the hotel, Henry F. Brown was born on December 15, 1816. Prior to purchasing the hotel, Brown taught next door at the Hitchcock Free Academy. In 1848, a temperance movement swept through Brimfield, which led Brown to change the hotel to a temperance house and cease the sale of alcohol. This change led to problems between future proprietors and police when liquor was discovered on the property in later years. Henry F. Brown died on June 25, 1892 at age 75.
SIlas C. Herring:
Silas C. Herring was the eleventh owner of the Brimfield Hotel, taking over in 1860. Before he bought the hotel, Herring ran a successful safe manufacturing company, where he invented a fire-resistant safe (of which one can still be found in Hitchcock Free Academy). He is responsible for the second iteration of the Brimfield Hotel, as he renovated it at the cost of $15,000, which refreshed the interior and exterior; he also added a new carriage house. He owned the hotel until 1867, and had numerous managers during that time, including proprietors number twelve through sixteen on the list above, with Amos Munroe owning the hotel after 1867.
Amos Munroe:
Amos Munroe is one of the more unique owners and managers of the Brimfield Hotel, as he came back to manage/own it more than once. As a boy, Munroe lived with Col. Phillips in Sturbridge to learn blacksmithing as a trade. As other proprietors had in the past, Munroe maintained the hotel as a temperance house, and took pride in the fact that he did not sell a single ounce of liquor during his tenure at the establishment. Munroe was well-known and loved throughout Brimfield up to and after his death at the age of 82. His time running the hotel is documented in the ledgers held by the Brimfield Public Library detailing guests who stayed.
The New Brimfield Hotel:
On November 24, 1890, the Brimfield Hotel caught fire, and the entire building burned to the ground. Around 1894, citizens of Brimfield pooled money and resources to build a new hotel. With plans drawn up by George W. Lyman, the new hotel was built, and reopened its doors to weary travelers in 1898.
Blueprints of the Brimfield Hotel. The first photo depicts the “front elevation,” which includes the hotel entrance and porch. The second photo includes the plans for the first floor.
The Brimfield Hotel was not only a place for travelers to stay, but also hosted different activities and events for the town. One such event was a 4th of July celebration. One such activity, the “Boy’s Potato Race” was captured in a photograph on July 4, 1899.
The hotel through the 20th century:
The first proprietor of the rebuilt hotel was Dr. Silas Herring Ellery, a safe manufacturer, who returned to Brimfield to take over the hotel. Prior to his taking of the position, stakeholders who helped fund the hotel maintained daily operation and oversight of the establishment.
As the town and hotel moved into the twentieth century, both saw change. F. Edgar Brown captured an additional photograph of downtown Brimfield facing North Main ST.
These photos depict a dinner menu from the hotel. On the night of May 27, 1907, the nightly meal included soup, relish, fish, roast beef, salad, vegetables, pastry, and more. Tea, coffee, and milk were available to drink. The proprietor of the hotel was Geo. W. Brackett.
Despite being a temperance house for decades, the hotel caught the attention of the authorities on a few occasions regarding liquor. A news article from The Palmer Journal on December 18, 1906 details a police visit to the Brimfield Hotel. A search led to the discovery of numerous barrels and empty bottles of liquor. Charges were filed soon after.
The end of the hotel:
The prosperity of the Brimfield Hotel did not last forever. On October 23, 1941, the hotel caught fire in the middle of the night. The final proprietors, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Sullivan, among five others, suffered injuries escaping the blaze. According to newspaper articles documenting the fire, the entire hotel was destroyed, resulting in $20,000 in damages (approximately $424,941.50 when adjusted for current inflation). An investigation from Brimfield fire chief Harry Landen concluded the fire originated in a toilet underneath the main staircase. After this, the hotel was not rebuilt, and no other business was established on the plot. Currently, the former site of the Brimfield Hotel serves as the parking lot for the Hitchcock Free Academy next door.
Amos Munroe’s Hotel Registers:
Of all the proprietors to run the Brimfield Hotel, Amos Munroe’s period is best documented thanks to the holdings of his hotel registers at the Brimfield Public Library. Spanning from the 1860s to the 1880s, the names of countless guests are held within these volumes. A majority of guests have data on their name, where they are from, and how many guests in the party are staying. Additionally, some guests took it upon themselves to add flourishes to their names or advertise goods, services, and upcoming performances in the area. Below is one such ledger.
Exhibit created by James Damon, 2024.