West Liberty History 1838-1938

Source: One Hundred Years of History
* Commemorating a Century of Progress in the West Liberty Community * WEST LIBERTY, IOWA
HOTELS of a CENTURY

From the early history of the Wapsinonoc Settlement we learn that Peter Heath kept the first store and it was used as a dinner station for the stage coaches, operating between Bloomington and Iowa City.

However, Freeman Alger kept the hotel and post office. So no doubt, these two were the first hotels in the new settlement.

At the time the first locomotive wended its way westward, it speaks of there being but one dwelling in the new town and that was on the corner of Spencer and Fourth streets, and it was used as a tavern.

In the year 1857, Mr. and Mrs. Lew A. Bowlsby built a hotel on third street. It was located about where the opera house now stands, and was a frame building, set about twenty feet from the sidewalk, with a picket fence in front.

Z. N. King, Reece Lewis, V. Morris, John Hudson, Albert and Abe Keith, Chas. Regnier, Will Hise and Fred Sheets were among those who made their home at the tavern.

In the year 1864 or 65, William Hise leased the home and operated it for some time.

This same hotel was known as the Lewis House.

William Hise sublet it to Fred Sheets, and rented the Moore House at the corner of Spencer and Fourth streets.

This he operated until he built the Hise House in 1873 or 74.

In the year 1876, the structure was burned, but Mr. Hise remodeled it and continued operation of the same until his death in 1883. His son Ed came into possession of it at this time. He for a short while sublet it to Job Wilson, later taking charge himself.

In the year 1893, The Hise House was again damaged by fire, it was a two story structure, and the entire second story was burned. It was in this same year that Ed's cousin Nora Hise came to help him operate the hotel.

Prior to this time the railroad had purchased the Moore House to use as a R. R. eating house and moved it to the present site of the hotel,and the building being unoccupied at this time, Mr. Hise rented it and continued his business, while he was repairing his own hotel. In 1901 the railroad wanted the ground where the hotel was standing so they offered to move the hotel to its present location. and to give them the ground and the Moore House.

So a deal was made, and the building moved, a part of the old Moore House is still used as living quarters and laundry for the present hotel.

The other part of the Moore House was moved to Elm and Fifth and is a residence.

Ed Hise continued the operation of the hotel with his cousin's help until 1912 when he passed away, and his cousin Nora sold it to Frank Moylan, who ran it for some time and then leased it to his brother Will Moylan; later the Newmans operated it and at the present time Mr. and Mrs. Moylan are owners and operators.

The Occidental House was located at the corner of Spencer and Third streets. It was also known as the S. B. Windus House. T. M. Campbell was the last proprietor, as the hotel was burned in 1884.

At the northwest corner of Spencer and Third streets was a hotel, where the I. O. O. F. now stands, at one time it was known as the Commercial house. Its proprietors were many, among them were the Cooleys, Kesslers, Sheldons and Mrs. Randall.

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