The northerly corner of Skowhegan's Elm Street and Madison Avenue became known locally as "Hotel corner" because there were no fewer than four hotel complexes here between 1820 and 1920. This early photo includes the first two of these, the red Dragon and the original Skowhegan House. R.T. Patten, writing in 1929, tells how the two came to be combined.

"This is a view of the corner of Madison Ave. and Elm St. and shows one of Skowhegan's earlier hotels, which then stood on that lot. This structure was burned September 25, 1865. It probably was built about ten years previous. Note the extension up Elm Street, standing on posts. The late Levi W. Weston is authority for the statement that this was originally the old Red Dragon and, when the Skowhegan House was built, was moved back from the corner and raised, as shown in the picture. It was used as a dance hall, and below, as will be noted, was a shelter into which teams could be driven. The picket fence mentioned in Number 94, or one like it, shows at the extreme left."

~ Roland T. Patten, Custodian of Historical Views, 1929"