At the corner of Main and Second Street in Washington, there once stood a building that symbolized prosperity, elegance, and quiet power.

The Meredith Hotel, a grand three-story Italianate structure built around 1880, was more than just a place to stay. It was a centerpiece of downtown life. Travelers passed through its doors. Deals were made in its lobby. Meals were served that reflected the tastes of a growing and ambitious community.

But the story of this place is inseparable from the man who called it home.

The Quiet Millionaire

William R. “Billy” Meredith was, by many accounts, the richest man in Daviess County.

And yet, he lived a life of remarkable simplicity.

He never married. He had no children. He avoided attention, didn’t drink or gamble, and was known for his strict frugality. He “made friends slowly,” and preferred a quiet life over public recognition.

Even photographs were something he avoided, so much so that the only known image of him was taken without his consent as he entered the courthouse.

But behind that quiet presence was a sharp and disciplined mind.

After serving in the Civil War, including fighting in the Battle of Franklin, Meredith returned home and began building his fortune. He started by trading horses, mules, and carriages, then moved into real estate, steadily acquiring land across Washington and Daviess County.

At one point, he was believed to be the largest landowner in the county.

Life Lived Within Hotel Walls

When his father died in 1895, Billy inherited the Meredith Hotel.

In time, it became more than an investment. It became his home.

He lived and worked inside the very building that bore his family name. And when he passed away in 1926, his “quiet and simple” funeral was held right there in the hotel lobby.

For a man who lived without excess, it was a fitting farewell.

The Fortune That Sparked a Legal Storm

But Billy Meredith’s story didn’t end with his passing, it only grew more complicated.

His estate was valued at $1.25 million at the time, the equivalent of more than $22 million today. It included the hotel, vast real estate holdings, and government bonds.

In his will, he left nearly everything to his “first cousins and second cousins.”

There was just one problem:

He never named them.

What followed was years of legal chaos. Claims poured in from across the country, with individuals asserting they were rightful heirs. Lawsuits multiplied, depositions stretched across multiple states, and 126 attorneys became involved in sorting out the estate.

It took years for the courts to decide.

In the end, 15 first cousins and 136 second cousins were recognized as heirs. The estate was finally settled in 1937—more than a decade after his death.

A lifetime of careful accumulation… dispersed in a way no one could have predicted.

Loss, Then an Open Sky

After Meredith’s time, the hotel slowly declined. Though it remained in use for decades, its prominence faded, and eventually, it stood vacant.

Then, in the early morning hours of July 10, 2007, fire broke out.

The blaze spread quickly, and despite efforts to save it, the damage was too severe. The building was demolished shortly after, bringing an end to a structure that had stood for more than a century.

Meredith Park Plaza: A New Kind of Gathering Place

Today, the site is known as Meredith Park Plaza.

Where a grand hotel once stood, there is now open space. A gazebo, a fountain, and a place designed not for travelers passing through, but for a community to gather, linger, and connect.

The walls are gone.

But the purpose remains.

A Legacy That Endures

This stop on the Landmarks & Legacies Trail is not just about what was lost, it’s about what continues.

From a grand hotel to a quiet residence…From a mysterious fortune to a decades-long legal battle…From fire and demolition to renewal and open space…

The Meredith story is one of transformation.

Because sometimes, the most lasting legacy isn’t the building itself…

It’s the space it leaves behind for others to fill.