...Another 100 years: What to expect from the Hotel?

In September of 2004, The SeaEarth Society, a non-profit, took control of the Hotel and its carriage house (garage) and its two adjacent lots - one of which is vacant and the other which houses "Henley's 76 station" which has not been in use for some years. What they found was a building that needed help. Indeed, the PRRRC had completed the basic steps for a restoration, but the building was still far from livable, even on the ground floor.

However, one thing was abundantly clear: This is a building that should be saved, because in the end, the good layout, solid construction, and limitless potential uses for a building with so much usable space will make this a most unique and charming facility.

What they found on the ground floor of the building was vines growing through bedroom windows, a few windows that had never been boxed in, most paint was old and drab, no floors had been restored and several were covered by asphaltic asbestos tile, and very little wood work had been done to preserve what was already there and fix what was broken. Furthermore, half a decade of dust and non-lived in conditions combined with piles of junk and sales goods from bake sales and other ventures cluttered rooms and hallways. In the basement, it was not a pretty sight. It was dark and dirty, the walls looked as though they hadnt been painted for 50 or more years. In the two upper floors, there was ankle deep rubble in most rooms, as most of the plaster has been taken off the lathe.

After several months of cleanups and grooming the hotel - inside and outside - the SeaEarth Society could see exactly what they had. The ground floor can be prepped for a three room manager's apartment with 1 1/2 baths, a small restaurant, commercial kitchen, enchanting lobby and restore the bar into a real delightful room - whether it be a bar or something else. The basement would only take some paint and cleaning. The upper two floors would need some serious cleanup but essentially that's EXACTLY what a remodeller or restorer wants - access to all walls to replumb and electrify. Soon plans and ideas were flooding in - This hotel has a ton of potential! Anything from an office building to a huge B&B, to a mixed use or even a private mansion or charter hotel - its all possible!

The SeaEarth Society then began the long process of completing the bottom floor with the goals of: cleanliness, 1920's ambience, and restoration where possible. Also, the following slogan was adopted: "People want to feel as though they are stepping into the 1920's, not actually be stepping into the 1920's." This means new sinks and toilets, but in a traditional style. Finally, the color scheme from the outside of the building would be continued inside: primaries of Hunter Green, Burgundy, trim of white and antique gold, wood of various medium to dark flavors - mostly Red Mahogany (despite its name it is much more brown than red).

New paint went onto all walls. Complete color schemes were set throughout the whole interior.

The Great Room changed from blue and white two tone with a sailboat border and decor with green & black asphaltic asbestos laminate tile to hunter green and polar bear white (a slight off-white, closer to white than eggshell or offwhite) walls with a sculpted antique gold trim. Completely lining the great room walls is 42" gloss white wainscot - cleanable, should this room become a restaurant again. Also features a checkerboard pattern floor of hunter green and burgundy porcelin tile with doug fir 3' wooden border around the outside.

The Lobby has received a matching treatment to its walls, however the wainscot in the Lobby is the same cedar as the Great Room, just varithaned naturally. Also, the primary walkway is now burgundy tile coming from the entryway with all 1"x4" doug fir floors and a patch of green tile surrounding. The effort here is to give the feeling of a "red carpet" laid out for the guests leading upstairs from the door or into the Great Room.

The kitchen now sports a happy yellow and white color combination, complimented by a See's Candy style black and white ceramic checkerboard floor.

Most of the Hallways have had their floors completely redone with brand new 1"x4" Doug Fir boards, stained and varithaned glossy. Most, but not all are new. The hallway leading from the Great Room past the hall bathroom, 1st bedroom and to the 2nd and 3rd bedroom and Sauna has been sanded to its original 1"x4" douglas fir boards and restained and varithaned - those are 1920's floors! Its not possible to buy lumber like that today - although they've done their best to match it and done a fine job. The Hallways have been lined with 42" wainscot as well, stained and varithaned or just varithaned. Hunter Green paint completes the walls, and the ceilings in all hallways have been dropped. The hallway previously mentioned with original floors has gotten a new stylish drop ceiling that must be seen to be be appreciated. It resembles patterned traditional drop tiles, but it is in fact painted t-bar ceiling panels (adding to fire safety).

...more to come!