Midland Hotel Wilson KS, memories and beauty in a small town

Early Midland Hotel

Midland Railroad Hotel in 2010

Elsie Stoppel Rude stayed at the Midland Railroad Hotel in Wilson KS during the annual Czech Festival July 2010. The Festival is held the last weekend of July and celebrates the town's heritage. The small town of about 850 people is alive with visitors for the two day event when families get together to have some Czech fun. The recently reopened Midland Railroad Hotel was filled to capacity. The Festival and hotel are a testament to small town initiative. The hotel's history spans more than 111 years and even had a movie filmed there, (Paper Moon 1973)

Elsie was a chambermaid at the Midland Railroad Hotel 70 years ago and shared some of her memories about the experience. She and her two sisters worked there one summer when she was about 16. The going wage was about $4 a month plus room and board. She remembers that chickens were raised on top floor of the four story building to help defray the cost of operation. Elsie remembers getting up about 5am and working long hours in the kitchen and cleaning rooms each day.

Heddy Mahoney at front desk

Things have changed since Elsie worked there as the Midland Railroad Hotel underwent over $3 million dollars in renovation in 2003. Unfortunately after the renovation the hotel did not remain in operation and recently was sold to Tom and Heddy Mahoney of Dorrance KS.

It reopened just in time for the Czech Festival with Heddy at the front desk greeting guests and making sure everything ran smooth.

The Midland rivals any five star hotel experience but with the charm of small town living. It is within driving distance of Lake Wilson a boating, camping, fishing lake and if you have an inkling for antiques and treasure hunting the area is the place to do it. There are not any chickens on the top floor now. Restaurant is open Thursday, Friday, Saturday beginning at 5pm

Contact information for the Midland RailRoad Hotel: Telephone-785 658 226 Address- 414 26th Street, Wilson, KS 67490; email--midland@wtc/web.com. Owners Tom and Heddy Mahoney.