Valley Girl Views: The Baker House Hotel In Lewisburg Pa 1882-1916

The Baker House, J.F. Krouse Proprietor

Located "west side of North Second just north of Cherry Alley", the building was razed in 1962 to make room for a parking lot for Weis Markets.

North Ward School, and on the south side, the Railroad Depot & The Baker House Hotel

The Lewisburg Chronicle, 1892

"The Baker House opened in June 1882 on the west side of North Second just north of Cherry Alley. The original structure was a three-story frame building. It was ideally located–the depot of the Lewisburg & Tyrone Railroad was less than a block to the north on St. John Street. Baker quickly began to enlarge the hotel, purchasing Dr. Beck’s estate for more space and then adding a large frame barn
behind the hotel. Baker also established a livery service that was adjacent to the hotel on its south side for the use of both his patrons and townspeople the north side that contained fifteen rooms, bringing the total number in the hotel to sixty. His dining room was well-known in Lewisburg and throughout central Pennsylvania: " - Richard Sauers

1893 - Attired in Blue

The Lewisburg Chronicle 1895

Undated Postcard of the Baker House Hotel

According to an article by Richard Sauers, "Lewisburg’s largest hotel began under now obscure circumstances. Its founder, W. N. Baker, appears on the Lewisburg Vendor List for the years 1878- 1881 as an “eating saloon” owner. In January, 1881, the Chronicle noted that Baker had just purchased a saloon property on North Second and would take possession in the spring. A year later, the Chronicle reported that Baker was tearing down a neighboring house to enlarge his establishment into a hotel."

January 1884

The Baker House shown in the background, behind the Railroad Station

There was a small lawn with “Baker House” spelled in flowers. Baker retired from the hotel business in 1906 and sold the hotel to J. F. Krause, who moved from Clearfield to Lewisburg.

A 1912 newspaper article noted that Krause “has made the old Baker House a spot equally as active as of old.” This article also mentioned John J. Fausnaught, the amicable clerk of the hotel, who had come to the Baker House from the Cameron House in 1894. “No man in Lewisburg or Milton or anywhere within three hundred miles is better known or more appreciated for his kindness and helpfulness and good cheer than Mr. Fausnaught.”