Snapshots of History by Mike Avitt

By Editor | August 12, 2026 |

This week’s photo comes courtesy of Nancy Thompson and shows the Mount Ayr Hotel in 1928. The hotel was started in 1865 or 1866 at 116 E. Madison St. by Francis (Frank) Ellis and his wife Susan. It lasted until 1985.
I don’t have much info on the hotel until the early 1870s because my digitized newspapers go back to 1872. Another hotel, the Dunning House, was built on the lot where Lefty’s Club Tavern sits and the two lots to the west. A man named John Currie was running a hack (dray) line out of the Dunning House before July 1873. The hack traveled to Afton from Mount Ayr to receive Ringgold County mail and newspapers from the Chicago, Burlington, & Quincy Railroad. Afton got the railroad in 1869. Mr. Currie made a trip to Afton, then made the return trip to Mount Ayr the following day. Currie took passengers for a fee. So, it was a freight and passenger service.
This service required a livery barn at both Afton and Mount Ayr. I believe Currie owned the livery in Mount Ayr which was located at the Dunning House hotel. Currie probably owned the livery in Afton as Currie moved here from Afton. In May 1874, John Currie bought the Mount Ayr Hotel from the Ellis family and moved his livery business to his new hotel. Frank Ellis would end up as the owner of the Dunning House changing the name to the Ellis House. This hotel burned to the ground in 1889.
In 1877, Currie sold the hotel to E. W. Critchfield so Currie could focus more on the brick building he was erecting with the Independent Order of Oddfellows. This brick building at 102-104 E. Madison still stands today and is the oldest brick building in Mount Ayr that I’m aware of. It appears Currie regained possession of his hotel after the brick block was built. One of many additions was built onto the hotel in 1883. Another addition was built in 1891.
John Currie died in 1897 and his sons, John Byars and Kenneth, ran the hotel but also leased it out, most notably to T. W. Foley, who left Mount Ayr in 1903 to take over the Kellerton Hotel from Mr. McDonald. In 1904, J. B. Currie sold the hotel to E. W. McDonald and in 1907 McDonald leased the Mount Ayr House to J. A. Logan. The hotel received another addition in 1909. Also in 1909 Logan left and McDonald was once again the landlord. C. P. Bresee became the owner in 1910. Charles Murray bought the hotel in 1914.
On January 5, 1920, the Mount Ayr House suffered a serious fire. There was much smoke and water damage though the building was still largely intact. Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Dalton were managing the hotel for owner Murray. In February 1922 the hotel was condemned with the Daltons still at the desk.
At this time, a public cry was made for Mount Ayr to have a new, modern hotel. The economy was good and auto travel was increasing. The other hotel in Mount Ayr was antiquated. A fireproof, brick hotel made sense. But, Mount Ayr would settle for less. Enter George Bartow.
George Bartow, an attorney, had been superintendent of schools at Beaconsfield and Kellerton among others. He had purchased the old hotel and had a force of men at work during the second half of 1923. The grand opening was held January 10, 1924 with formal opening to transients on January 14. The up-to-date hotel now boasted upgraded plumbing, electrical, flooring and laundry facilities. All new wallpapering, painting and plastering gave the interior a new and fresh appearance. The exterior was redone in stucco. The new name was Hotel Mount Ayr.
The banquet on January 10 was limited to 100 guests at an entrance fee of $2.50. The Camp Fire Girls acted as waitresses and music was provided. Tours were given and the guests left with a feeling of gratitude and satisfaction. Remember, in 1924 Ringgold County had been without a courthouse building for three years. The new hotel was a sparkling gem to be admired. Next week we get a first-hand glimpse of the hotel operations from someone who was there.

Posted in Snapshot of History by Mike Avitt