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Neff Hotel
In 1804, Lewis Davis purchased the land around the Yellow Spring, built a tavern at the spring, and began advertising its “curative effects.” Elisha Mills later bought the land and constructed a number of buildings to use as a hotel for visitors to the spring. The main body of the Davis house remained the same two-story log building, but Mills added one-story wings to the East and West, along with a 300-foot porch. These changes brought great economic improvement, but the area became truly popular when the Neff family arrived.
William Neff bought the property surrounding the Yellow Springs with the intention of creating a summer home for his family. Besides the house that the Mills had built, there were also several cottages for visitors to stay in. The property proved a nice respite from Cincinnati, so Mr. Neff encouraged friends and work acquaintances to visit with their families for the weekend. His indiscriminate invitations frequently filled the buildings, keeping Mrs. Neff busy playing from the mid 1800's hostess. Soon the summer home looked like a hotel.
In 1870, the old Neff House was torn down and an elegant hotel was constructed in its place. Four stories high, the New Neff House contained 246 sleeping rooms, a dining room 156 by 45 feet, a main parlor and 11 private parlors, all heated with steam. The front porch ran 450 feet around the entire house and reached up to the third floor.
The floors were carpeted and gas was manufactured on the premises for light. The hotel operated its own dairy, laundry, orchards, gardens, fire department, six bowling alleys and a stable for 125 horses. The fire department was only called to use once, but was successful. An amusement annex was also erected to the northeast, containing bowling alleys and pool rooms. This building, now called the “old barn,” stands next to the building the OEC interns live in. Despite these changes the new Neff House fell in popularity and was closed in 1882. Ten years later it was torn down.
Photographs courtesy of Antiochiana.