The Berry Hotel, one of America's
premier hotels, stood here from
1892 to 1974. Athenian Edward
Cornelius Berry, a free black who
had been educated at the Albany
Enterprise Academy, and his modest
wife, Martha Jane (Mattie) Berry,
built, owned and operated the establishment
until 1923. Mr. Berry is acknowledged as the first
hotelier to place bibles in the hotel room. The
rooms also included sewing kits, cologne, fruit
baskets, and individual closets. The hotel was
also outfitted with electric bells and gaslights at
a time when these items were revolutionary.
The Berry maintained its reputation of superior
service and atmosphere, entertaining many dignitaries well into the twentieth century. After
undergoing several transformations, including one
as an Ohio University dormitory
(Berry Hall), sadly, it was demolished
in 1974.
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