The Johnson House

Many events and photos that took place in Williamstown were centered around what was known as the Johnson House. It was a beautiful building that was used for events for locals and lodging for travelers. Many of the murders that took place at Dead Man’s Corner saw their victims carried into the Johnson House to await a doctor or their own death. The famous house was located right across from the Court House in the current parking lot next to the old bank building. By creating this post regarding this historic house, we hope it helps in understanding the connections in Grant County’s History.

From the Williamstown Courier, May 30th, 1901:

“Standing on the corner of Main and Falmouth streets is a hotel building of pressed brick, which was built directly after the close of the Civil War, upon the site of an old hotel that had just been destroyed, around which cling many pleasant memories, and whose hospitable walls have held many brilliant minds, and at whose tables have many a hungry traveller fed. The hotel was opened to the public in 1866, and for more than thirty-five years was never closed for a week until about a month ago, when J. W. Webb bought it and decided to have it repaired and put in order so that an up-to-date hostelry might be made of it.

Being the most centrally located hotel in the town, it has always had a large patronage, but it has changed hands so often in recent years that different landlords have allowed its once large patronage to get away from it. It was to again secure the confidence of the people that Mr. Webb decided to renovate it. Every piece of the old furniture was removed, the walls were newly papered, new gas lights were put in, and everything was put in order, so that a first-class hotel is now being operated by a management versed in the art of feeding the public and making it comfortable for the night. New carpets are on the floor, new fixtures ornament the office, and no guest who remains at this hostelry is allowed to go away dissatisfied with his treatment.
This old-new hotel seems now to be entering upon a reign of prosperity, such as it has not enjoyed since its halcyon days. The traveling public are rapidly finding out that it has been placed in charge of a landlord that knows his business, and frequently there are not rooms enough in which to accommodate the transient guests and many are turned away, who would gladly avail themselves of its hospitality. A number of regular boarders also make it their home.”

 From a Facebook post by The Grant County Historical Socie