The RAILROAD HOUSE, was an early rooming house in Port Royal. There is evidence that the building also served as a store. It is shown here in 1908. The Milford Street crossing of the tracks is visible in the middle of the picture. Most vehicular traffic crossing the Juniata River crossed the tracks here until the railroad bridge was built at Market Street. Its proximity to the original PRR Station gave it a strategic advantage for travelers.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/15/19 - Image Year: 1908
The RAILROAD HOUSE was a structure adjacent to the first PRR Perrysville Station on the First Street side of Milford Street. This structure was sometimes referred to as the RAILROAD HOUSE and apparently got some of the clientele from the destroyed Tuscarora House. (Because of its proximity to the Pomeroy property, this building may have also been known as the JUNIATA HOUSE and HOTEL POMEROY.)
Near the Tuscarora House on First Street were two other structures known as the PORT ROYAL HOUSE and the BLYLER HOUSE. These may have been more like rooming houses than hotels. Little is known about either.
LIQUOR LICENSE DENIED: "According to the report of the council proceedings, Port Royal has been refused a licensed hotel, and consequently the town will be obliged to endure another dry spell of at least one year's duration. We stood it last year and it didn't seem hard either. No one died for want of a 'hummer,' and the town moved on about as fast as usual. The bank remained solvent and its business increased, and everybody lived through the dryness without experiencing much inconvenience, If this state of affairs continues for another year and should leave in its trail bankruptcy, starvation, ruin and death, then the people will be justified in demanding of our council the same privileges that have bwwn accorded Mifflintown, Patterson [now Mifflin], Richfield and the Seven bright Stars of Greenwood, Until then we will hold our peace, and subsist on ice-water in the absence of something more exhilerating." (Article courtesy of Wayne Taylor)
Still, another was the rooming house at 304 North Fourth Street that eventually served as the residence of Clinton and Melissa (Horning) Bashore in what is commonly referred to as the Fairview Section of Fourth Street. This rooming house primarily served travelers on the narrow gauge Tuscarora Valley Railroad (TVRR).
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/15/19 - Image Year: 1920
RAILROAD HOUSE (The rooming house has seen better days) (One of the Pomeroy Houses is visible on the far left of the photo behind the House.)(The view is from across the PRR tracks on Milford Street) (Photo courtesy of Wayne Taylor)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/15/19 - Image Year: 1915
The RAILROAD HOUSE can be seen to the right of the photo. The newer Hotel Royal is at the far left of the photo. Estimate that the photo was taken about 1915 since the roof of the second station is visible in the lower left of the picture and the Milford Street Crossing appears to be closed. The photograph was likely taken from the Railroad Bridge looking north.
Contributed by rkohler3#comcast.net on 9/15/19 - Image Year: 1890
RAILROAD HOUSE REOPENS: "The Railroad House adjoining the passenger station, will be reopened about the middle of March [1890] by Mr. Wm. Zeigler, who has been proprietor of the Tuscarora House during the past year." (Article courtesy of Wayne Taylor)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/15/19 - Image Year: 1889
IMPROVIMG BUSINESS: The business at the Old PORT ROYAL HOTEL, kept by Mrs. W. S. Mills, is improving, numbering from eight to ten guests per day. There is also a petition circulating to grant the hotel a license to dispense intoxicating beverages." (Juniata County Newspaper, 1889) (Article courtesy of Wayne Taylor)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/15/19 - Image Year: 1903
BLYLER HOUSE FOR SALE: "FOR SALE OR RENT--The Hotel Blyler in Port Royal. Call on or address the owner, JOHN FOREMAN" (Juniata County newspaper, September 24, 1903) (Article courtesy of Wayne Taylor)(The sale may be due to the new competition from the HOTEL ROYAL.)
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/15/19 - Image Year: 2009
Prior to becoming a private residence, this house (that currently sits immediately north of the Community Building on Fourth Street (Fairview)) served as a hotel. It was located in close proximity to the tracks of the Tuscarora Valley Railroad as it branched off of its Milford Street route and swung northward to the Transition Area with the Pennsylvania Railroad. At one time it was considered part of Moorhead Enterprises. Moorhead had founded the Tuscarora Valley Railroad.
Contributed by rkohler3 on 9/15/19 - Image Year: 1893
JUNIATA HOUSE IMPROVEMENTS: "Hon W. C. Pomeroy is now making improvements to the Juniata House, in the way of painting and beautifying the interior. also placing a floor in the waiting room. Mr. Coxey, the proprietor, is superintending the work, making it as convenient and pleasant as possible." (This may be why the Railroad House was sometimes referred to as HOTEL POMEROY.) (Port Royal Times, June 4, 1893) (Article courtesy of Wayne Taylor)
