Such images typified America’s view of the hospitality industry in the first half of the twentieth century.  Travel in these times focused on cities.  Staying at an uptown hotel during their stay offered the guest a taste of glamour and sophistication.  Not much else existed in-between cities at this time.

Then, in the 1950s, freeway systems began to develop, the population grew and Americans began to spread out.  Travel became more affordable and available.  And all these people moving about required accommodations; a new need in hospitality was about to change the industry.  Visionary entrepreneurs offered a new choice to travelers: the motel.

First of its Kind

Here in Williams County, Bryan had its own luxury lodgings, such as the Christman Hotel just off the square.  But in 1950 Oscar Krill, a retired Bryan funeral home director, built and opened the Colonial Manor Motel on the eastern edge of town, the first motor lodging business of its kind in Williams County.

Mr. Krill, age 57 at the time of the opening, was assisted in his new venture by his wife Goldie and his son Max.  Krill built the motel, a 17-unit property, in an E-shape, 250 feet from the street.  He and Mrs. Krill also lived in the 197x56-foot facility.

“Floors are carpeted in either gray or green.  Simmons beds with matching chests, drawers, night stands and chairs are in deep tones of terra cotta, rose, and silver mist wood finish…bathroom walls are of ceramic tile in colors to blend with the adjoining sleeping room.  Some have showers, others have very modern tubs…”

A New Beginning

Decorating, redecorating and renovating are hallmarks in the lodging industry; staying modern, functional and fashionable ensures that guests will stay at a motel and decide to return.

Unfortunately, Krill never had the chance to stick with the business long enough to need to adapt.  His wife died in 1955, and in 1957 he decided to sell the motel and retire.

Howard Emme, 43, purchased the Colonial Manor and delivered the property into a new era.

After getting familiar with the business in his first year, Emme added two rooms to the building and began a program of upgrading the remaining rooms.  The fixes attracted more guests and business grew, allowing Emme to soon add eight more rooms.

In 1963 Emme converted the owner's apartment into a dining room and new lobby with colonial decor. More rooms were added to bring the total to thirty.

Krill and Emme brought much energy and spirit to the Colonial Manor and the community. Through their leadership the motel and its restaurant were awarded to Duncan Hines Recommendation and AAA ratings for several years.

Emme also acted as President of the Ohio Motel Association representing the state of Ohio. He also headed the Bryan Chamber of Commerce.

In 1970, Emme decided to leave the business, so he sold the Colonial Manor. Four years later, however, he would end up opening a new Holiday Inn in Montpelier.

A Personal Touch

The hotel/motel industry again began to change in the 1970s. Many of the smaller motels that sprang up during the 1950s, like the Holiday Inn, were now turning in to large and successful chains. Independent local ownership dwindled and, as with many other businesses during the 70s and 80s chains took over.

The Colonial Manor saw several owners during the 1970s and 1980s. During that time the motel degraded, until a new ownership group took over in the mid-80s. Warren Fisher, a local businessman, headed a partnership that also included two other local entrepreneurs, Ray Welling and Henry Ford.

This Solidarity of Bryan owners sought to maintain a local hands-on management for the Colonial Manor, to ensure a personal touch that guests of the motel had learned to appreciate and expect.

Fisher started by tearing down an older portion of the motel soon after acquiring the property. Ford then oversaw a refinishing of the remaining rooms, to get the Colonial Manor back up to standard.

The ownership has remained fairly consistent for nearly 20 years. Fisher is still involved in the ownership, but Welling's so Gary now owns the majority percentage of the motel. Margaret Fisher-Welling inherited her husband's share upon his death. And Kenneth Przybyla, the fourth owner and longtime Bryan resident, also currently acts as General Manager.

Local ownership has led to a special pride in work and a personal touch in service. In addition, the staff takes pleasure in being part of the city of Bryan; on several occasions in past years the motel has been awarded for accomplishments in landscaping, Christmas decorating, and charitable organization involvement.

A Unique Combination

The ever-changing flow of the hospitality industry now demands accommodating the ever-increasing number of business travelers. A series of added rooms and new renovations since the late 1980s now allow the 52-room Colonial Manor to offer a variety of amenities and services geared to meet the diverse needs of both the leisure and business traveler.

The spacious room designs begin with king-single, queen-single and double-queen bed arrangements. For added comfort and convenience, rooms are supplied with a variety of extras; including comfort furniture, sofa sleepers, exercise machines, desks and tables, and separate changing areas. All rooms provide air conditioning, hair dryers, a coffee maker, irons and boards, alarm clocks, 80-plus cable channels and HBO channels, a microwave and refrigerator, and free wireless high-speed internet access.

The Colonial Manor's newest and largest offering, the king Jacuzzi suite, treats guests to the luxury of a double-Jacuzzi tub, king wallaway bed, sofa sleeper and other fine amenities. With the wallaway bed folded up, the room can also act as a small meeting room.

All rooms are either designated smoking or non-smoking. The Colonial Manor also provides handicapped--accessible rooms, connecting rooms, on-premises coin-operated laundry, same-day valet service, and on-request wake-up calls.

The resteraunt and lounge, formerly part of the Colonial Manor, was renovated and reopened in early 2005 under new management. It continues to supply motel-guests and the general public with convenient and quality fine dining,

Times continue to change. The Colonial Manor continues to survive there changes because it has managed to adapt, and offer the best of both worlds: a unique combination of hotel-quality service, amenities and cleanliness with the convenience and affordability of motor lodging.