1833 – Present
A Complete History
The First Years
1833
Stroudsburg House opens at the corner of Elizabeth and Franklin Streets. Stroud Hollinshead, grandson of Jacob Stroud, the founder of Stroudsburg, will operate the Stroudsburg House for the next 35 years. During his tenure, President James Buchanan is a guest of the hotel.
1868
Stroudsburg House is sold to Peter Haas of Nazareth for $16,000.
1875
Henry Fulmer purchases the Stroudsburg House and renames it the Burnett House, in honor of his friend Charlton Burnett, who served two terms in the Pennsylvania Senate.
The Burnett House is remodeled, including installation of gas and running water in each of the 110 guest rooms.
1897
Ownership of the Burnett House changes to Joseph Olldorf
1907
George W. Fabel purchases the Burnett House (then also known as the Fulmer House).
1914
Robert Coolbaugh takes over management of the Fulmer House for Benjamin Worth of New York City.
1918
During the influenza epidemic, the hotel is used as an emergency hospital. It is virtually filled with patients since the hospital is inadequate for the large number of people ill with the disease.
1920
After difficulty remaining open, the hotel is taken over by the Security Trust Co. and sold to Charles Von Broock for $62,000. Charles was the father of Carl and Walter, and father-in-law to Irving Harrison. The two sons and their brother-in-law the hotel as partners, changing its name to The Penn Stroud Hotel.
The Von Broock’s spend nearly three years renovating. The Penn Stroud Hotel becomes the meeting place of clubs, social affairs, formal and informal social events. Inside its walls, many projects are born that impact the trends of county, state and nation. The Penn Stroud became the regular meeting place of the Kiwanis, Rotary, and Lions Clubs.
1925
A ballroom and a deluxe soda fountain (before prohibition) are added to the hotel. The garage is expanded and extended to Monroe Street to accommodate 125 cars. The renovations include 240 additional guest rooms for a total of 350 rooms, a taproom and cocktail lounge, and the English Grille and Dining Room which later becomes famous in the area.
The owners of The Penn Stroud Hotel retain its covered porch, at times operating an open restaurant here. It also becomes a convenient place to meet friends and is much appreciated when it rains.
1926
The Penn Stroud Hotel serves as headquarters for Gene Tunney when he trains at Glen Brook Country Club for his Philadelphia championship fight with Jack Dempsey. Other famous figures visiting the hotel include Yankee manager Joe McCarthy, Connie Mack, James A. Farley (who dedicated the Stroudsburg Post Office), Gov. George H Earle, and Gov. Arthur H. James. First Lady Eleanor Delano Roosevelt is also a guest of the hotel during this period.
1946
Gerald P. O’Neill comes from the Benjamin Franklin Hotel in Philadelphia to purchase the hotel, operating it with his nephews Arthur and Edmund Flynn.
1955
Upon O’Neil’s death in February, operation of the hotel is left to his widow, Regina, who is assisted by Christie Shull and Glenn Sanborne.
1965
The Penn Stroud Hotel is sold to Rosemary and Rolf Oloffson. Numerous changes are made during this brief ownership. In November, the hotel is sold to Lee Andrews and Nick Vlamis. Shortly afterward, Andrews buys out Vlamis.
1968
The hotel undergoes its most extensive renovation to-date. The entire character is changed from a country inn to a modern, contemporary hotel. These renovations continue until 1971.
1970
The name of the hotel is changed slightly to The Penn Stroud Motor Inn. Billboards in the area announce that visitors can park a horse or car while dining at the Penn Stroud Motor Inn.
1972
The Penn Stroud Motor Inn joins the Hilton chain as a franchised operation, known as The Pocono Hilton. Sometime later, it changed affiliation to Best Western.
2007
The Pocono Hilton becomes an independent hotel again, known as the Pocono Inne Town. The Andrews family owns the hotel until February 2015.
2015
Rajesh and Keyur Patel, father and son, purchase the Pocono Inne Town, changing its name back to The Penn Stroud Hotel.
2016
The Patel family closes the guest rooms of the Pocono Inne Town for extensive renovations.
2020
“The Penn Stroud” opens its doors on June 18th.
