During the first half of the 20th century, visitors to the county seat of Bucks could spend the night on the Lackawanna Trail (U.S. Route 611) in the States Tourist Cottages. Located at 300 S. Main St. in Doylestown, the motel grounds were accessed at Hart Avenue and spanned 4 acres, backing up to the Burpee show gardens.
The double cabins were 25 feet x 12 feet and each individual room provided heat and hot and cold running water. Rooms were named for states, 18 in all: Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Maine, Iowa, Texas, California, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, New York, Maryland, Vermont, Virginia, and Ohio. A separate cottage provided community showers and bath, and a swimming pool was available for guests.
The cottages were bought in 1926 by Frank and Anna Lewis (1888-1946). The owners provided meals for guests at a restaurant on the premises. In 1930 the local paper announced, “States Cottages Restaurant has new manager, Ferdinand Hirt, Viennese chef.”
By 1952 the motel was owned by Marie Rubin and her son and daughter; and the restaurant, located in a converted barn, was known as the Hustle Inn, which advertised “soda fountain and light lunches; phone Doylestown-9338. Located on the campus of States Cottages on Easton Hiway, one block from railroad station.”
Today, 300 South Main is the site of the Trans Shop auto repair. Behind it is Penn’s Court office buildings, and behind that is the Doylestown Hunt development of single homes.
Join our readers whose generous donations are making it possible for you to read our news coverage. Help keep local journalism alive and our community strong. Donate today.
