The Manor was first owned as a family home by Mr. Isaac. B. Ringland, originally from Pennsylvania, he moved to Malvern in 1869, working in the lumber business. He was married to Mary A. Evans, had five children. William (died in infancy), Harvey, Emma, Mary Eva and Margaret. During his time in Malvern, he was elected Mayor.
In 1890, after the passing of Mr and Mrs. Ringland, the home was in the possession of R. E. K. Mellor, a family associate. In 1891 The Cottage Hotel was open to the public. The Hotel was a convenience to many travelers due to its close proximity to the Burlington and Missouri River Railroad. Building of the Railroad itself was completed on November 18, 1869. Upon the Railroad completion many businesses opened up in Malvern. In the later years the Manor lost most of its early flourishing success as a Hotel because of the rise of the automobile, setting back the use of pedestrian travel via the railroad. The Manor was forced to close its doors because of the changing times. Malvern Manor re-opened as an entirely different kind of housing setting all together. The Manor was, after re-opening, a home for people afflicted with a wide range of illnesses. Those illnesses ranged from alcoholism to serious mental disorders. The years of positive impressions on the building as a hotel, now has a very negative visage seeping within its walls, due to some of its past dwellers/patients. There are many of a sad case of residents who resided at the Manor at one point or another. A resident named the Captain Colors had/has a room on the 2nd level of the Manor. The Captain was, and is stated to still be, one grouchy old man. The Captain was aforementioned to be very territorial, and did not/does not like people taking up his space.
There is one area of the building, at present, we call Shadow-man Hallway. Room number 2 in this hallway was padlocked, but this is a room that was occupied by a very large, 6' 7" man, in the home's mental health occupant days. This man was said to be very crazed, and non-verbal. The large man would scare and chase staff, who were conducting area checks, down the hallways of the Manor.
Gracie was another occupant at the Manor. Gracie had the mental disorder schizophrenia and had multi-personality disorder. At one point there were 3 Nurses that went in and sat with Gracie for an hour. The Nurses counted 13 separate personalities within the hour they spent with Gracie.
There is a room on the 2nd level of the Manor they call "Suzy’s Room." Suzy was a middle aged woman who resided at the Manor, but mentally had the mind of an 8 or 9 year old. Her room presently has many coloring books within, and some say she still uses them.
A 12 year old girl named Inez is a heart-rending story. Inez was found hanging by her jump rope, in a closet, but in a house close to the Manor. It is unknown what Inez's connection to the Manor is, but her spirit is said to reside in a particular room at the Manor. Inez's death was investigated and found to be an accidental death by the authorities, but how they came to that conclusion is unknown, and that conclusion was, and is, doubted by many.
Then there is Hank's or Henry's Room (on the 2nd level). Hank/Henry was described to us as the stereotypical grumpy old man. It was said he would like to sit out on the front porch and throw rocks at kids as they passed by. Hank or Henry has/had a strong dislike for females, and we were informed that the dislike continues to this very day.
Down the hallway from Hank's Room is room 18. Across from 18 is room 17. The man in 18, as it was told to us, would visit the man in room 17, after area checks had passed. Whether the activities between the 2 men were consensual can not be determined.
The Manor was a very interesting place, historically, and on the paranormal investigation angle. If you haven’t visited the Manor… give it a go.