about for teachers contact home Orford Bridge Street Lower Street Orford Academy Into the Woods Tillotson Poor Farm & Sunday Mountain Marston Morrison Farm Mt Cube

Click on thumbnails to learn more
Orford Social Library Orford Hotel Grafton County Turnpike Howard Hat Factory The Wheeler Store Ridge Homes Granite Fence Posts Hinkley-Bissel House Elms Howard House Willard House Willard Store Morey House Wilcox House Britton Law Office and Home Elisha Williams-Carr Two White Frame Houses Rogers Cushman House Wheeler House Mann House Green House

Orford Hotel

Orford's location on the Grafton County Turnpike meant that there were several inns—at one time there were 11 selling liquor. Orford began its history with two inns, one on the Ridge run by William Simpson and one to the north run by Samuel Morey. William Simpson was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and commanded ships in the Caribbean trade before settling in town. The Orford Hotel was originally operated by Solomon Mann and was known as the Soloman Mann Tavern. John Brooks Wheeler purchased the inn in 1806. In 1816 John B. Wheeler moved to a house on the Ridge. The inn became the Carlton House, after owner Rufus Carlton, until becoming the Orford Hotel. On the 150th anniversary of Orford, Henry Irving Cushman commented that "fire has wrought change." So would be the fate of the Orford Hotel in 1875. Today a new building sits on this site and is used for commercial purposes.  
Orford Hotel enlarge Orford Hotel Site