FORMER EMPLOYEE DEVELOPS BOOK TO CURATE THE HISTORY AND UNTOLD STORIES OF MENDON’S LEGENDARY TAVERN AND STAGECOACH INN

BY JODY LYNN GREER

point for travelers, those doing business in the area, and visitors of every variety, including a long list of live musical bands. e hotel was known for attracting patrons from all walks of life, and while the railroad has since gone away, the memories and stories of each visitor remain within the walls of e Cottage.

The Cottage Hotel of Mendon is a celebrated favorite among foodies and historians alike. However, most are more familiar with their menu or weekly events than the hotel’s historical signi cance within the area.

Located on Pittsford-Mendon Rd at the four corners of Mendon,thehotelwasoriginallybuiltasastagecoachinnaround 1822. e Cottage Hotel has seen a variety of owners since then, and each has le an imprint on this historical landmark. Guests and employees frequently claim to even have witnessed unexplained paranormal activity, a permanent reminder of the hotel’s days gone by.

One such former employee and University of Rochester graduate, Karen Mireau Rimmer, is so invested in studying the paranormal activity of the hotel, as well as its intriguing history, she is developing a book, e Cottage Hotel: e History and Untold Stories of Mendon Hamlet’s Legendary Tavern and Stagecoach Inn.

Mireau Rimmer worked at e Cottage during the daytime. Local cra speople and farmers would come in, sit around, and tell stories. is intrigued Mireau Rimmer, and she began to write down the stories because they were so interesting. She says, “I could hardly wait to get home and write all of their recollections down. at spurred my inspiration to write about it.”

Her goals in developing this collection of stories are to “give back to the Mendon community for all they gave me. ey nurtured me, they counseled me; it became very much like home. I feel like there’s a lot of people who feel like the cottage hotel has that same quality, even though they come from other states.” As the founder of Azalea Art Press, Mireau Rimmer specializes in memoir, poetry, visionary novels, and creative non ction.

For Mireau Rimmer, e Cottage le a lasting impression on her and she would like others to know about its heritage and contribution to the Mendon community and beyond. Years ago, the hotel played an integral role as it was centrally located to the railroad line, which meant the hotel was a popular destination

If there was one word to describe the hotel’s essence, it would be the bevador. Mireau Rimmer says “ ere’s an amazing cooler [at e Cottage] that has been there for y or sixty years called a bevador.” e bevador is a huge beer bottle-shaped refrigerator made by the Jewett Refrigerator Company in Bu alo, NY in the early 1950s. Mireau Rimmer explains, “Everyone I have talked to as I have been interviewing remembers the bevador. e bevador is the Cottage Hotel. Current owner, Hillary Stott, found someone who can repair it. ose are the kinds of things that Hilary and David Stott do that make people feel like it’s their place,” raves Mireau Rimmer.

Locals describe the atmosphere of the Cottage Hotel as reminiscent of the popular television show, Cheers, with its warm ambience and no shortage of friendly gab, but it’s so much more than just another restaurant in a local small town. With such a longstanding history within the hamlet of Mendon and the ability to evolve with modern times while still maintaining ties to its past is part of e Cottage’s unique charm.

Mireau Rimmer seeks your help. Do you have stories to share about e Cottage? If so, please reach out to Mireau Rimmer at cottagehotelstories@gmail.com. Let’s memorialize the legacy of this historic local landmark.

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