Hotel - Tuscarora House

Click On Image To Enlarge TUSCARORA HOUSE: The Market Street Crossing is in the foreground. Just across the tracks from the Crossing is the Tuscarora House. It was a three story brick structure and was built in 1851 by Samuel Rice. This structure served the public for 40 years until destroyed by a fire. (The picture was taken during the flood of 1889. The high water can be seen in the background.) (Photo from "Port Royal Sesquicentennial 1812-1962 p. 13). Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/13/19 - Image Year: 1889 View Additional Photos and Comments

The TUSCARORA HOUSE was located on the east side of the PRR tracks at the corner of Market and First "Water" Streets. It was a three story brick structure and was built in 1851 by Samuel Rice. This structure served the public for 40 years until destroyed by a fire. (Srr story that follows)

RITNER ASSUMES PROPRIETORSHIP OF THE TUSCARORA HOUSE

"The undersigned a former resident of Cumberland County, respectfully announces to the citizens of this county and traveling public generally, that he has taken that large and commodious new Brick Hotel, situated on Market street and the Pennsylvania Railroad in the borough of Perrysville [now Port Royal], Juniata County, recently kept by Samuel Rice, where he is prepared to accommodate all those who may give him a call.
HIS TABLE will at all times be supplied with the best the markets can afford.
HIS BAR will always be stocked with the choicest and best of liquors.
HIS STABLE is large and convenient, and will always be attended by careful and trusty hostlers.
The above named hotel is situated immediately on the corner of Market Street and the Pennsylvania Railroad, where the passenger trains stop going East and West receive passengers. It is therefore the one convenient point for those who wish to travel to stop at.
Nothing will be left undone to render those who may favor him with their patronage comfortable. He hopes that by strict attention to the wants of those who may make his house their stopping place to merit and receive a liberal share of public patronage.
JOHN R. RITNER
[Horses and carriages will always be in readiness to convey persons wishing to visit any part of the adjacent county.] Perrysville, May 20 1853" (Port Royal Times - April 7, 1853)

THE TUSCARORA HOUSE BURNS

"At 1:30 o'clock on Saturday morning of last week the startling cry of "Fire, Fire! the Tuscarora House is on fire!" was heard resounding through the streets of Port Royal, and as it fell upon the ears of our citizens, it caused many of them to be horror stricken.
The fire originated in the cellar of the hotel and was first discovered by Mrs. Moffet, wife of J. W. Moffet who had been superintending the house for his father-in-law, Dr. T. S. Pyle, formerly of Petersburg, Pa., having taken charge of the same almost three months ago. The fire had gained great headway when discovered and Mrs. Moffet ascended to the third story of the building and awoke the boarders, who were sleeping on that floor, namely, H. C. Kieferle, Frederick Daron, Emanuel Hoover and Joseph O'Brien, all of whom succeeded in getting the greater part of their personal effects safely out of the burning structure, except Mr. Kieferle, who lost his trunk, in which was a suit of clothes and many other articles of wearing apparel, books, etc.; he also lost a good silver watch and a valuable violin, owned by his brother F. W. Kieferle. By the assistance of citizens a lot of the hotel furniture was saved.
The hotel was a brick structure, three stories high and was built by the late Samuel Rice in the year 1851, clay for the making the brick having been dug from the cellar, ..." (Port Royal Times about 1891)