The following was from “Indian Valley Reflections” in the Souderton Independent, Wednesday March 3, 1976
“Why did Jacob N. Souder begin building the County Line Hotel in Telford in 1856? Souder probably knew that the North Pennsylvania Railroad would soon be running through the village. Was that his reason? Probably not.
The village, known at that time as County Line, consisted of a small number of residences and a few services which were operated out of the owner’s dwelling. There was no real need for rail service.
It is true that this section was a prosperous agricultural area and that farmers needed the railroad to transport their goods to market, but the train was stopping at Souderton and farmers could handle their business at that location.
It is more likely that Souder realized traffic on the 103 year old County Line road would support the hotel business and that the railroad at Souderton would help to increase that traffic.
Hotels and inns were indispensable to the community as well as travelers at this time. Proprietors usually operated provisioning stores under the same roof.
Residents came to buy household necessities and paused to discuss the great questions of the day with the owner and their neighbors.
Travelers depended on hotels and inns for rest, food and fresh teams. Stagecoaches would make brief stops to exchange horses and give dusty and tired passengers an opportunity to stretch and seek refreshment. Conestoga wagons would park for the night and drivers would pen their animals for a needed rest.
Souder operated his hotel until 1865 when he sold it to Charles Daub. After this time, the County Line Hotel, which still stands at the corner of Main and Broad streets in Telford, passed through a long line of owners in rapid succession. These are too numerous to mention here.
The reason for the rapid changes in ownership is not known, but history tells us that the hotel, as well as the community, prospered after the opening of the Telford railway station in 1867.
Sometime during this period the hotel was enlarged with the addition of a large hall. The hall was made available to community groups for their use.
It was known that a singing group met there on alternate Sundays for 15 years. Other groups, such as literary societies, also used the hall.
Through the years, the hotel continued to serve the community as a gathering place. The circa 1888 photo shows a gathering of seven men and a young child. The child is being held by the second man to the right of the lamp post.
It is thought that one of these men is Daniel H. Daub, Souderton baker. The delivery wagon at far left is Daub’s. The owner of the wagon far right is unknown.”
