The William Watson Hotel has a long line of history preceding its current name. William Watson, the first settler of Pittsfield, originally built the building in 1838 and called it The Mansion House (pictured above). He and his wife, Diadema, operated the hotel for fourteen years. In these years the hotel was frequented by Stephen Douglas, Abraham Lincoln, John Hay, and John Nicolay when practicing law in the old Pike County Courthouse. It is said that you could always find a game of checkers in the lobby. Mr. Watson and his dutiful wife were never lonely. In 1938 the name changed to Parkway Hotel. Many have said that it was a fine establishment that served many. In the 1950's the hotel became apartments.
The rich history of these buildings intrigued the Pettys. Jonas knew through careful market research that the town could once again support a historic hotel on the square. In 2006 the Jonas and Jane Ann Petty bought the former Mansion House building. With Jonas’ father, John, at the helm the Petty’s gutted and renovated the property and re-opened the doors as William Watson Hotel in 2008, paying homage to Mr. Watson.
The hotel now boasts 14 rooms, a lobby, and a breakfast room. The hotel's central location on the South side of the Pittsfield square makes the hotel an ideal place to stay for hunters, business travelers, and couples on weekend getaways. There is no place quite like William Watson Hotel. The comfortable blend of understated elegance, personalized services, exceptional accommodations and modern amenities are more commonly found at higher priced hotels. The addition of Free Press Coffee to the property in 2014 is something that all guests enjoy! All of us here at WWH are passionate about Pike County, and want to share that passion with you. Our hotel has turned into a great meeting place and a secluded getaway all in one. We are always happy to help you plan your visit. We can't wait to meet you!