GITTINS HOTEL

Below is a very early photo of the Gittins Hotel on Manchester Road. It seems to be the earliest Dogtown photo I have on my web pages.

This photo came to us from Charles Haller, via his aunt.

Thanks to Mike Gittins for the following identifications:

Upstairs from Left to Right: William Gittins, Edward Gittins, Mary Ann Gittins, Mary Ellis-Gittins

Ground level: Center: George W. Gittins, 2nd Man from George's left = Edward Gittins Others unknown.

It is estimated the picture dates from the mid-1870s. Hotel was simply called: "The GITTINS HOTEL".

Enlarged photo of Edward Gittins

Also, sign above water well reads: "MARLEY the LEADING CLOTHIER" (we found a "Marley's" in a local business directory of the period).

Two other blow-ups from this photo

The little boy on the right end of the photo appears to be a black child. If this photo is before the Civil War he could have been a slave child.