Concordville Inn

The Concordville Inn was established as a public-house in 1830, in which year John Way was granted license there, and being centrally located in the township, after Joseph Hannum retired from tavern-keep-ing, the election polls were ordered to be held at that point. In 1858, John Way declined to apply, and the privilege for that year was granted to David M. Hannum, but he failing to take out the license, George W. Taylor was permitted to enjoy it in his stead. The latter continued annually to petition successfully until 1861, when he was followed by Zadock T. Speakman, who, in 1869, gave place to James Cloud. The latter called the house the Coucordville Hotel, and in 1871 he was the only person in the township who received the approval of the court. In 1872, Frank H. Cloud had the license, after which time it does not appear to have had the endorsement of the Quarter Sessions until 1876, when the present owner and landlord, James Neeld, secured that favor. Annually thereafter he was among the licensed houses until April, 1883, when two lengthy petitions, one signed by one hundred and twenty-eight men, and the other by one hundred and fifty women, were presented to court protesting " against granting of any hotel license in the said township, and especially against granting license for the sale of intoxicating liquors to James Neeld, of Concordville, or Jackson McFarlan, of Elani, . . . believing that such license and sale is fraught with results disastrous to the comfort, prosperity, and morality of a portion of our people and the disturbance of our peace, that their petitions are very generally signed by those who bear but a small share of taxation, and who are intoxicated to their own injury. We are fully persuaded that such licenses are not necessary for the accommodation of the public, and that our neighborhood will be better without them." After a lengthy hearing. Judge Clayton refused to grant the license. At the January court, 1884, the license was restored to the Concordville Hotel.[bib]703[/bib]