In 1867, George Severson, a great-grandson of early settler Jurrian Severson, built the Severson House hotel, the first hotel in the growing hamlet of Knowersville. Only a few steps away from the new train station, the hotel provided lodging and sustenance for Knowersville's early visitors. In 1869, John Stafford purchased the hotel and changed its name to Union Hotel. James Keenholts acquired the hotel in 1894 and changed the name again to the Commercial Hotel. In 1903, William H. K. (Dutch) Cornelius bought the hotel and operated it for over 20 years. As visitors gradually decreased, the old hotel was converted to apartments and a grocery store. The Commercial Hotel was demolished in 1942, and the Altamont Corners commercial complex occupies the site today.