Felton House
Before U.S. 40 as we know it existed, the road came through downtown Elkton. Old photos of the Main Street and North Street area show street signs for U.S. 40.
Since the traffic flowed through town, travelers had to find places to stay overnight. Several hotels existed downtown. Two of the best known are the Elkton Hotel and the Felton House. People who traveled by train found the Felton House more convenient.
The Felton Hotel stood across from the Elkton Armory. Today the parking garage of Union Hospital stands in that location. According to the November 13, 1862 Cecil Democrat, the hotel was a three-story brick building being built by Dr. Samuel Gilpin on the corner of Bow Street and Railroad Avenue. It was to be named the Felton Hotel, named for the president of the Pennsylvania, Baltimore, and Wilmington Railroad and would be ready by spring. William P. Morgan would be the manager of the hotel.
From the 1860s until the 1930s, the hotel went through numerous owners and managers. Five years after opening, the Felton was sold to James F. Brennan. An advertisement appeared in the May 4, 1867 Cecil Whig. Mr. Brennan’s advertisement boasted, “Having purchased this new and commodious and first-class Hotel at Elkton, Md., the subscriber will fit it up in the most convenient and comfortable manner for the public”. The hotel was described as having the best table the market will afford, and the Bar be supplied with the choicest of liquors. Also, the chambers are “airy, clean, and sweet”. The stables would be kept in the best order, and the animals would have the most careful attention by experienced grooms.
One advantage the Felton had over other Elkton hotels was that it was the closest to the railroad depot. An 1867 advertisement claimed it was a desirable location for travelers, as well as permanent boarders.
In the 1895, the owners of the Felton House had a bit of a legal problem. The hotel was fined and closed in March of 1895 for selling liquor to minors and keeping a disorderly house. The owners, E.F. Aykroyd & Bros., were fined $100 and costs, and their license was annulled. The charge of keeping a disorderly house was stetted.
In the 1900s, advertisements in local newspapers began referring to the hotel as the Felton House. A new proprietor, Delphos Price, described the hotel as “thoroughly equipped and well managed”. The Felton House had been newly papered, painted, and furnished and a February 2, 1902 advertisement stated that it had a telephone connection. Also, the stable, sheds, and hitching yard were commodious.
Weddings were conducted at the Felton House. A photo from the 1930s era shows that the hotel even had a separate office for the “marrying minister” Rev. Moon on the side of the building. A large sign proclaimed that the hotel was for “Newlyweds, tourists, and travelers” and had “Hotel Accommodations and reasonable rates”.
