Historic Downtown London Ohio

Local businesses, organizations and concerned citizens of London Ohio are joining forces to make the Downtown London OH streets this beautiful for her Bicentennial Year festivities.  Every Summer - We all enjoy the beautiful "Crown of London" hanging baskets... and for this special year we are wanting to make the downtown truly shine. To keep our beautiful tradition going - we need at least $1800. Would you consider donating $50 or more? Any donation amount would be much appreciated.

May we count of you to help keep downtown London look it's best for her birthday? Mail your contribution to:

Downtown London Association
Post Office Box 335
London, Ohio 43140

The DLA will post contributors to our web page and the Madison Press. Thank you again for helping keep our historical downtown London Ohio a beautiful place to visit.

The Grand Central Hotel on South Main Street in London, Ohio was once advertised as the "only hotel in the United States having its own police and fire departments. The hotel that has made London famous."

They also touted the virtues of Budweiser Beer, saying it was "used in all Army and Navy hospitals throughout the world. Is a sure remedy and preventative for wasting and nervous diseases. It assists nature by supplying a gentle stimulant and a pure food in an easily assimilated form, thus curing indigestion and all its attendant stomach troubles by removing the cause. Is prescribed by physicians."

The following is a decription of the hotel from the 50th anniversary issue of The Madison Democrat newspaper in 1908:

"The Grand Central Hotel was opened January 1, 1908, with R. W. Burnham as proprietor, and Col. W. S. Squires, manager. It is a large substantial brick structure three-stories in height, having 60 well-lighted, airy, beautifully furnished rooms, large parlor, spacious office, telephone booths, bar, barber shop, hot and cold water throughout, elegant bath rooms, billiard parlor, large and elegant appointed dining room, sale stable and sale yards connected. Here you will find every convenience, every comfort, every luxury.

The table is supplied with the best in the market. The milk, butter and eggs coming daily from the Grand Central's famous vegetable and stock farm. One of the features of the hotel is the famous Horseman's Exchange, where you may not only be posted on horse sales and prices, but quench your thirst with the famous Anheuser-Busch Budweiser beer, in which beverage Mr. R. W. Burnham, the proprietor, is sole agent.

This hotel is fire, tornado and burglar proof, has its own sanitary and water system, supplying its guests with water drawn from wells three thousand feet deep.

Free carriages to and from all trains and to all parts of the city."

To the left of the hotel you can also see the Japanese Theater where vaudeville shows were held.

This hotel is used today as apartments. In more recent history, this hotel was the original home to Hotel Pizza which opened in the late 60's. That business has since moved to East First Street and is known today as Phat Daddy's.

From Madison Democrat 50th Anniversary
Published by the Madison Democrat, 1908