Although it was not mentioned specifically in the initial building contracts of 1904, the Heilwood Inn was built in the fall/spring of 1905. It was a two-storied, wood-frame building meant to be utilized by the businessmen and coal officials who would be visiting the new town. The specific contractor for the building is not known at this time, but we do know that the Hoover & Miller Company of Glen Campbell, Pa. did some work in its interior.

Charles Nollenberger, Heilwood Inn Manager (1909-15)

In 1909, the Inn was enlarged. Jack London, formerly of the Hyde Murphy Company and by then the Superintendent of Building for the Penn-Mary Coal Company, supervised the addition of ten bedrooms to the top story. Each added room had two dormer windows (see second photo at left). As a safety feature for the additional floor, a steel fire escape was also added to the lower side of the Inn (see photos at bottom left). The fire escape was manufactured by Taylor & Dean, a subsidiary of the Pittsburgh Iron & Wire Works Company, located on Market Street in Pittsburgh.

While many of the specifics about the Heilwood Inn remain unknown, we do know that it had a bar (and the only liquor license in town), a dining room, and of course, rented rooms. Some of the boarders included the Constabulary (a state police force established in 1905), which was stationed in Heilwood to protect the citizens from the notorious "Black Hand."

As an interesting sidenote, in a letter from the Heilwood Inn's manager to the mine superintendent at the time, the manager stated that his wife "has gotten worked up to such a fever pitch with the... Constabulary, that we must make a change and find some other place for them to board."

Following Robinson as the manager (1906-07) of the Heilwood Inn were Timothy Van Belle (1907-08), Charles Nollenberger (1908-15), and Charles McGinley (1916-24).

In 1921, the Inn suffered a fire on the third floor that caused considerable smoke and water damage, but the building itself was saved.

Charles McGinley continued as manager of the Heilwood Inn through 1924. No information can be found concerning the Inn’s operation between 1924 and 1932, when the Heilwood Inn was taken off the Pine Township Tax Records (indicating either a cessation of operations or the destruction of the building).

Helen Kerniskey, baker for the Heilwood Inn, date unknown.