Interesting Facts You May Not Know About The Casselman Historic Hotel
The Casselman has been recognized by many names over the years and has been in operation since before the Civil War, making it a top travel destination for history buffs. Today, The Casselman continues as a historic hotel, motel, restaurant and bakery, serving travelers from near and far and the community of Grantsville, Maryland. Continue reading to learn about interesting facts that you may not know about the historic Casselman Hotel.
#1. LISTED ON THE NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
The Casselman Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Years ago, The Casselman was known as the Drover's Inn along the National Pike. A drover was someone who moved herds of cattle or sheep from one location to another. A plaque from the National Registrar is hung by the front entryway of our historic hotel and restaurant, which you can view when you visit.
#2. BUILT NEARLY 180 YEARS AGO
The Casselman Inn was built in the 1840s by Solomon Sterner. With over 180 years of history, The Casselman has been called Drover's Inn (as previously mentioned), Farmer's Hotel and the Dorsey's Hotel. Each room in the original three-story federal brick house contained a fireplace, the only heat source for warmth and cooking.
Daniel Grant, an English engineer from whom Grantsville took its name, was the original owner of a tract of land that he called Cornucopia, where the historic hotel sits today.
#3. LOCATED ALONG THE NATIONAL ROAD
Now known as US Route 40, The National Road is probably the most historic road crossing the Appalachian Mountains. The Casselman was one of the numerous inns along the National Trail to serve the stagecoaches, covered wagons, drovers and riders that made the Old Pike the busiest thoroughfare crossing the mountains. It included much of Grantsville and 1,000 acres around the town.
The National Road became a military road when General Braddock marched west from Fort Cumberland in 1755 on his ill-fated expedition to Fort Duquesne. For 25 years, this rough military road was the main travel route connecting the East with the Ohio Valley.
Early in the nineteenth century, the National Congress appropriated funds to rebuild the road from Cumberland, Maryland, to Wheeling, West Virginia, and thus it became our first national highway. Today, US Route 40 skirts Grantsville by following I-68, but the National Road runs right into town as Main Street.
#4. ONE OF THE LAST OF ITS KIND
Years ago, there were dozens of inns and taverns along the National Road. Today, few of these remain, as the roads are a lot less traveled. However, eleven buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places under the "Inns on the National Road," and one of which is The Casselman, as we still serve our original function.
#5. ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH HANDMADE BRICK
Solomon Sterner purchased the land from Daniel Grant and built The Casselman out of brick. The bricks were handmade on the ground nearby, and much of the woodwork is hand-hewn timbers and hand-planed boards. One of the most beautiful features of our historic hotel is the cherry handrail ascending to the inn's third floor, which remains today.
#6. FEATURES THE HISTORIC DORSEY SUITE
One of our favorite parts of The Casselman Inn is its charming, two-room historic Dorsey Suite with its newly decorated bedroom and sitting room areas available for our guests to experience if they book a stay. In the early 1970s, the Miller family, who were the owners of The Casselman, fondly re-named Room 5 of the inn the Dorsey Room. This was done to honor the Dorsey family, who owned the inn and lived there in the early 1900s. So take a step back in time with us and learn more about the historic Dorsey Suite at The Casselman Inn by reading our blog, The Historic Dorsey Suite.
#7. GENERATIONAL FAMILY CONNECTIONS
In August 2017, the Miller Family sold the business to Elissa and Ben Riegsecker, who currently own and operate the restaurant, historic hotel, bakery, cafe and 40-room motel. Elissa's mother, Alice Orendorf, and the Miller family members are double first cousins. Elissa worked in the historic hotel for her great-aunt Della as a teenager as a hostess and cashier. Della, along with her husband Ivan, purchased the inn from Joe and Wilda Fahey in 1964.
#8. HISTORY OF CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT CONTINUES TODAY
If you have ever visited The Casselman, you know that we take great pride in our customer service. We treat each customer with respect and strive to provide the best and the same legendary hospitality that was offered when the inn opened in the 1840s. In addition, our professional and friendly staff are committed to making your stay both enjoyable and relaxing. If you want to learn more about our outstanding customer service, check out our blog, The Casselman Promise to Exceptional Customer Service.
#9. THE CASSELMAN CONTINUES TO GROW
What once started as an inn now has multiple other offerings. A kitchen was added in 1903 by the Dorseys for the restaurant. The Casselman soon outgrew the facilities, and the Millers added a dining room in 1973, which enlarged the seating capacity to 120 people. The forty-unit motel was built and added in 1979, which still serves guests today.
Today, The Casselman continues as a second-generation family-owned business and is an essential historic landmark in Western Maryland. Although there has been additional construction and upgrades to The Casselman, the face of the historic building remains the same.
VISITING GRANTSVILLE? STOP BY THE CASSELMAN HISTORIC HOTEL AND VIEW ITS CELEBRATED GLORY!
If you are looking to visit Grantsville, Maryland, we would love for you to book a room with us at The Casselman Inn or The Casselman Motel or check out The Casselman Inn Restaurant for a delicious meal. If you have any questions, please feel free to call us at 301-895-5055, or you can contact us online here. We look forward to the opportunity to serve you!