Our story
Two historic brick buildings on Cottage Street in downtown Middletown, restored together and run by the people who did the work. 52 Cottage Street opened as the Columbus Hotel in 1910 and carries that name still. 89 Cottage Street opened as the Hotel Neville in 1890, and today it is The Columbus Suites.
Mervin E. Pindar opened 89 Cottage Street as the Hotel Neville in 1890, for the railroad trade near the Wickham Avenue depot. Its advertisement charged commercial men $1.50 a day and offered railroad men a special rate. It became the Hotel Lee in 1917 and Mary's Hotel in 1961. It trades today as The Columbus Suites, its fourth name.
Francesco "Frank" Palo built 52 Cottage Street in 1910 as the Columbus Hotel, "remodelled with everything new, meals served at all hours, European or American plan." It had a private hall to let for dancing, dinners and weddings. By 1948 it was the Diana Hotel, and the restoration gave it back its first name.
We bought both buildings in disrepair and restored them ourselves: new systems behind the original brick, refinished floors, and furnished rooms, each with a kitchenette.
52 Cottage Street trades under its 1910 name, The Columbus Hotel. 89 Cottage Street, a short walk up the same street, trades as The Columbus Suites. Both are run as one hotel, with one phone number, one booking system and one set of house rules.
History
The Hotel Neville opened at Cottage and Prince Streets in 1890, and the Columbus Hotel at Cottage and School Streets in 1910. Both were restored together, and today they trade as The Columbus Suites and The Columbus Hotel.
Est. 1890
Mervin E. Pindar · Cottage & Prince Streets
Mervin E. Pindar opened the Hotel Neville in 1890 for the railroad trade, rooms for commercial men and railroad crews near the Wickham Avenue depot. It later became the Hotel Lee.
"Rates for commercial men, $1.50 per day. Special rates for railroad men, near the Wickham Ave. depot."
Est. 1910
Francesco "Frank" Palo · Cottage & School Streets
Francesco "Frank" Palo built the Columbus Hotel in 1910, "remodelled with everything new, meals at all hours, European or American plan." It later became the Diana Hotel; we have restored its first name.
"Remodelled with everything new, meals served at all hours. European or American plan. Private hall to let for dancing, dinners and weddings."
“Rates for commercial men, $1.50 per day. Special rates for railroad men, near the Wickham Ave. depot.”
Both addresses
Each building went by several names before the restoration.
The Hotel Neville
The Columbus Hotel
“Remodelled with everything new, meals served at all hours. European or American plan. Private hall to let for dancing, dinners and weddings.”
The founders
Est. 1890
Mervin E. Pindar
Mervin E. Pindar opened the Hotel Neville in 1890 for the railroad trade, rooms for commercial men and railroad crews near the Wickham Avenue depot. It later became the Hotel Lee.
Est. 1910
Francesco "Frank" Palo
Francesco "Frank" Palo built the Columbus Hotel in 1910, "remodelled with everything new, meals at all hours, European or American plan." It later became the Diana Hotel; we have restored its first name.
See rooms and prices for your dates.
Browse the suites