Valley Girl Views: When Walt Whitman Came To Lewisburg

The Lewisburg Hotel was built in 1834. It was known as the Klein Hotel and the Lewisburger Hotel. The hotel had easy access to the Pennsylvania Canal, and the Old East-West Turnpike, along with two major railroads. It quickly became an important way-stop for thousands of travelers.

Hotel Lewisburger - Written By Dr. Lewis E. Theiss

"When you stop your car in front of the Hotel Lewisburger, pass under its striking Mt. Vernon portico, and enter its pleasant, comfortable interior, you would never guess that this quiet, little town of Lewisburg had ever been the scene of stirring events, or that history ever came marching down the thoroughfare before you. Nor would you guess that, for more than a century, guests in this ancient hostelry have peered out of its windows at exciting scenes on the historic highway before you.

In this town the sole remaining example of the places of accommodation of yesteryear is the Hotel Lewisburger. A century ago it was known as Kline's Hotel. To that caravanserie came the famed Dr. Stephen W. Taylor, when, more than 100 years ago, he moved to Lewisburg to create scholastically the University at Lewisburg, now for many years Bucknell University. And during the six or seven years he was here, this was his home. Here were held the first President's reception and the first "corporation dinner," with which Bucknell used to care for her returned alumni at commencement time. Traditionally the Lewisburger has been a center of hospitality where the good folks of Lewisburg gather to celebrate.

Yet Kline's Hotel changed hands and became the Revere House. Later the famed Camerons became interested in Lewisburg and one of them, William Cameron, built the great brick house diagonally across the street from this hotel. Bought by the Camerons, the hotel's name was changed to The Cameron House.

Had you been in this hostelry about the time that Lincoln's Secretary of War, Simon Cameron, came to Lewisburg to visit his brother William, you would have seen excitement aplenty as troop after troop marched past this hotel to cross the river bridge and entrain at Montandon for the bat-tlefront. You would also have seen the entire Bucknell student body, including its dignified president, march off to defend the State, when Lee invaded Pennsylvania.

Other notables who have been guests of the hotel were: Walt Whitman, the poet, who is said to have written one of his most famous works after viewing a scene of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River, George Francis Train, the famous "citizen of the world," and Glenn S. "Pop" Warner, coach of the Carlisle Indians and his great gridiron star, All-American Jim Thorpe. Nearly every governor from 1831-1900 stayed at the hotel.

W. W. Watkins, the present owner, acquired the 132 year old hostelry in 1934, when it was known as The Cameron House; he signed a lease in 1945 with Grenoble Hotels, operator of 25 other hotels in six states. It was Watkins who added in 1937 the stately Mt. Vernon portico. Miss Olive N. Smith is presently leases and manager of the hotel.

So, through the years, Market Street has witnessed exciting events. And the guests at the Lewisburger have had front seats to watch the passing show. They have also had more. They have had good service, good food, respectful attention. Those things can be taken for granted at the Lewisburger. We hardly need to point them cut. But these things which we have mentioned—these things so vital in the life of this hotel—have to be imagined. We have told you about them because we thought it might add a trifle to the pleasure of your stay in this old hotel, with its ancient Mt. Vernon portico and its fine modern service.

Written for the Lewisburger by Dr. Lewis E. Theiss

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The hotel was home of the first President of the Lewisburg University and the first graduation exercises were held on the premises in 1851. Members of the board of trustees in attendance included U.S. Senator Simon Cameron and James Buchanan. Buchanan became the fifteenth President of the United States within five years of his visit.

"The guest register, after the turn of the century, included sports figures Jim Thorpe, John McGraw and Christy Mathewson, and from the performing arts, such notable poets as Walt Whitman and singer Marian Anderson, as well as most of the “Big Bands” of the 1930’s, 40’s and 50’s. " https://lewisburghotel.com/our-history/ More recent guests are said to have included Ralph Nader, Kevin Costner, and Tony Hawk.

According to this newspaper clipping, Walt Whitman stayed here, and wrote one of his most famous works after viewing the Susquehanna River.

Walt Whitman, born in 1819, published his first novel in 1842.

Leaves of Grass, a collection of twelve poems, was his most notable work, and was published in 1855. He revised and republished the collection six times, finishing the "deathbed edition", the 1892 version he wanted to supersede all previous ones, a few months before his death.

I cannot guess what "famous work" was inspired by the Susquehanna River, nor do I know what year he was in Lewisburg.

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