An undated photograph of the Central House, also known as Geist’s Hotel, 127 W. Market Street, Williamstown, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
The following brief history of the business was presented in the Williamstown Sesquicentennial Book, 1826-1926:
Located at 127 W. Market Street (corner of W. Market Street and West Street). It was built in 1891 by John H. Geist, who in 1903 was one of the oldest hotel men in the state, having paid license continuously for 42 years in Northumberland. John H. Geist was born and raised in the hotel business, so when his father died, he was prepared to step into harness with years of experience. It was known by many as “Geist’s Hotel.” The hotel was nicely furnished throughout. It had steam heat, electric lights, baths, toilets, and other modern improvements. It had one of the finest bars in the borough. The Legion owns this building now [1976], and has turned it into apartments. It rents the first floor (where the guests used to register) by the Employment Security Office.
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