[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 121 (Tuesday, July 15, 2025)]
[House]
[Pages H3253-H3254]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  CONGRATULATING THE WATERVILLE HOTEL

  (Mr. Thompson of Pennsylvania was recognized to address the House for 
5 minutes.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize The 
Waterville Hotel, a cherished institution in Waterville, Pennsylvania, 
as it marks two centuries of service to the Pine Creek Valley 
community.
  In 1825, Abraham Harris founded what was then known as the Harris 
Hotel, strategically positioned on Route 44 overlooking Little Pine 
Creek.
  It quickly became more than a simple roadside stop. It provided rest, 
refuge, and warmth for lumberjacks, hunters, fishermen, travelers, and 
politicians traversing our rugged Pennsylvania Wilds.
  As the logging and lumber industry flourished in the 19th century, so 
did the hotel's significance. It hosted community meetings, business 
affairs, social gatherings, and even served as a way station for 
elected officials, becoming an integral part of the region's political 
and civic fabric.
  Through wars, Prohibition, economic strangulation, and the decline of 
rail, The Waterville Hotel pressed on. Under the stewardship of 
generations, most notably under Jess and William Smith from 1933 to 
1945, it reinvented itself, evolving along with its patrons and the 
purpose it served, the Pennsylvania Wilds.
  Fast-forward to 2023, when local residents Jason McConnell and 
Vanessa Brown, whose families had roots and ownership of the adjacent 
country store, joined forces with longtime friend Brad Wyland to 
revitalize both the hotel and the restaurant.
  Their vision has been rooted in pride and preservation, honoring 
family ties and restoring beloved menu items including a throwback menu 
featuring The Original Mountain Burger, a culinary emblem of community 
heritage.
  Today, The Waterville Hotel stands as a vibrant hub, serving hearty 
fare from burgers and fries to vegetarian dishes, complemented by local 
craft beers and wines. The interior is filled with photographs spanning 
generations, each snapshot a testament to traditions, memories, and the 
moments shared.
  For many, this hotel is far more than a place to eat or sleep. It is 
a community gathering place. It is their own Cheers, as longtime staff 
member Dan Collar described. It is a place where locals and visitors 
alike return year after year, bound by a shared experience of 
belonging.

                              {time}  1040

  The Waterville Hotel serves as a gateway to the spectacular Pine 
Creek Valley, the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, and the Pine Creek Rail 
Trail.
  From summer activities like biking, hiking, kayaking, and fishing to 
winter pursuits such as snowmobiling and snowshoeing, guests make the 
hotel their base for outdoor adventures throughout the seasons.
  As we celebrate 200 years from its humble origins in 1825 to its 
enduring cornerstone status today, we honor not just a building but a 
living legacy woven into the heart of Waterville.
  It has cultivated community, supported local economies, and preserved 
a connection across generations.

[[Page H3254]]

  Looking ahead, under the stewardship of McConnell, Brown, and Wyland, 
and buoyed by devoted staff and loyal patrons, the Waterville Hotel 
embarks on its third century with the same spirit of resilience, 
innovation, and community pride that has carried it this far.
  Mr. Speaker, I invite my colleagues to join me in celebrating the 
Waterville Hotel's bicentennial, a symbol of heritage, community, and 
hope.
  May its doors open to new chapters for generations to come.

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