History of the Franklinville Inn (continued...)

In 1820 the Township of Franklin was formed. The first town meeting was held in that hotel which was then known as Cake's Tavern. The present site of that first meeting is now the lounge of The Franklinville Inn. The village of Little Ease evolved into the Town of Franklinville. The origin of this name is uncertain; however, many believe Benjamin Franklin's influence in the area, as a result of his trips to Cape May, may have been instrumental in naming the town.

Prior to the Civil War, the three story portion of The Franklinville Inn was constructed in front of and adjoining the original structure. With the completion of this addition the hotel accommodations were enhanced and thus became known as The Franklinville Hotel.

The Franklinville Hotel passed through the Cake Family descendents to Lawrence Cake who sold the hotel to Emma Larkin in 1865 for $5,000. Richard Stotesbury purchased the hotel from Larkin in June 1882 and operated the business for two years until his death. Daniel Webster Beckley purchased the hotel from the estate of Stotesbury in 1885 for $3,500. Beckley operated the hotel and livery stable until his death in 1893. He also served on the Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders representing Franklin Township.

September 4, 1894 Caleb Pancoast purchased the hotel from the estate of Daniel W. Beckley for $5,225 and operated the business until his death in August 1897. The Pancoast estate leased the hotel to Billy Davis until he purchased a hotel in Glassboro, New Jersey, which was known then as the Franklin House. Today that site is the location of the Landmark restaurant and tavern.

The Pancoast Estate sold the hotel on August 23, 1899 to Henry Finger, Jr. of Glassboro for $5,250. Mr. Finger renovated the building extensively. He installed a steam heating plant to warm the hotel in the winter and had Henry Lutz, an old friend of his from Glassboro, design a bathtub with a base of wood. Howard Moore, the local tinsmith, lined it with metal. To supply water to this bathroom a large wooden vat was installed under the roof. The water was pumped by windmill into the vat, which supplied the bathroom. Here was the first bathtub in South Jersey. Mr. Finger operated the hotel for approximately 16 years until it was sold on October 11, 1915. From that time forward the hotel was owned and operated by a Floyd Rogers, then an Edmund Kelly, followed by William Baldwin.

When the hotel was originally built, it stood in the middle of the present day intersection of Delsea Drive, which was a dirt road. As time progressed, the need for a wider roadway required the hotel to be moved three different times. This was accomplished by horses and log rollers and took three days for each move. The final move was around 1924 when Delsea Drive was concreted.

When the hotel was offered for Sheriff's sale on June 2, 1948, Bill Casazza and Alice Sowell acquired the property. Bill and Alice were the last owners to rent rooms at the hotel. This continued until the sale in 1962. During the tenure of Bill & Alice a one gallon size bottle of unopened Portuguese imported brandy dating back to approximately 1890, sat on the back bar. This unopened bottle was often a conversation piece and cherished by Bill. In the 1950's a colorful patron named Doctor Mills frequently threatened to open that bottle and sample the spirits. It was evident this comment appeared to annoy Bill. One day the bottle disappeared. For months everyone was questioned as to the whereabouts of the bottle. Suspicions lie heavily on Dr. Mills, as the responsible party but there was never proof. Then one day the bottle reappeared on the back bar unopened. When the good old Dr. was questioned he replied, "Just didn't have the heart to open it". However, he never admitted responsibility for its disappearance. That same bottle still sits on the lounge back bar unopened. Come see for yourself. 

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