Historic Site Plaque; Brown Family and the Criterion Hotel; 1995

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DescriptionAn initial group of seven cast-bronze plaques was announced in the March 6, 1995 'Leader; this was one of them, unveiled at 142-144 Main Street, and worded 'On this site in June 1849 James Brown established the Upper Valley's first hotel. It was initially called The Halfway House, then the Shepherd and eventually the Criterion. The first Town Board office was later built here.' Mayor Rex Kirton is on the right, and the manager of Hugh Wright, Neville King, is on the left.

Another plaque had been placed outside Clarke's Travel, on the corner of Russell Street, in May 1992; it commemorated the Brown family's first homestead (1846) but also the Criterion Hotel (ca. 1851). That plate is flat, with etched lettering, which is deteriorating.

Recollect has two versions of the photograph they are holding; this one, which shows a veranda at the right, and a second, which shows more; however, the photo must have been taken after the Criterion was demolished in 1902; it is not visible. The building thought to be the Criterion was the Geange Carrying Company's. Last edited by: Don McLeod