Hotel Perry

Hotel Perry. . , Part of the original Lots 34 and 35 were sold by the Commissioners of Perryville to Barnabas Burns in 1823. The tax list of 1831 stated that he owned Lot 34, on which was a "dwelling house and storeroom for grocery". The property changed hands a number of times in the ensuing years. In 1856, it was transferred to Sallie Brown. Description of improvements on the lot, at that time, included a frame dwelling and a brewery. In the early 1870's, the hotel was owned by Joseph and Theresa Blechle and known as the Blechle House. Following their ownership, the hotel became property of Joseph F. and Barbara Hooss Huber. In 1895, the building was known as the East Side Hotel followed by a long history of hotel occupancy under several names. In 1904, John Ziegler was proprietor of what was known as the Koch Hotel. Within two years, the building had been sold to Dr. W.H. Hatcher, but still known as the Koch Hotel. Mrs. Hyram Haselhorst purchased the hotel building in 1915, which then became known as Hotel Perry. It was next purchased by J.E. Lottes, and once again referred to as the Juanita Hotel. Ownership changed again in 1920, sold by Mr. Lottes to Luther L. Yarberry of Cape Girardeau, who hired Gertrude and Sarah Schenk to help manage the hotel. Soon after, Mr. Yarberry sold his half interest in the Juanita Hotel to his business partner, Sarah Schenk. Under the ownership of John Schenk (the father of Gertrude and Sarah) and Harry Fritz, the hotel was renamed the Hotel Perry again in 1938. It remained under the direction of John and Sarah Schenk until it closed in 1972. The Southern two-thirds of the building was purchased in 1983 and is still owned by the John M. LaRose Trust, from Roger and Dorothy Tisher who purchased the entire building from Oliver and Mary Hoehn on the same date. The, 167-year-old building is currently occupied by MidAmerica Farm Publications Inc., AgWiki Inc., and National Conservation Systems Conferences Inc.