As the Stoneleigh project continues to progress towards it’s grand re-opening, one of the most important points I’ve learned from the players involved is maintaining the historical integrity of the hotel.  In fact, one of the biggest historical artifacts of the hotel, the old sign, has undergone a complete renovation and will be re-installed soon.  I will try and be there for the sign-lifting event and will snap some photos if I get the chance. 

In the meantime, yesterday I spoke with John Boehnlein, the Senior Development Manager for JaRyCo Development LLC , the company that is on-site working on the project, representing the hotel’s owner, A - P Stoneleigh Hotel LP.  He had some interesting things to share regarding historical elements of the hotel.  Here are a few quotes he shared with me from our conversation:

“We have come across several interesting artifacts along the way, such as the original electric switchgear, that will be on display on the first floor of the hotel.  It’s the main switchgear where all of the electricity was originally sent to and then re-distributed to smaller panels throughout the building.  The switchgear will be a great artifact that can provide a close look into the way the property was run back in the 30’s, when it was originally constructed.”

“Out in the front, we’re basically leaving everything intact, including the old baluster rails, the landscaping, and the lighting in the trees.  We are also renovating the original entrance lit canopies, which will reflect the original shape, color, and size of the canopies when the hotel first opened.  Thus, to complement the new restaurant patio, all of those classic Stoneleigh elements will still shine more than ever.”

“Throughout the whole project we’ve worked hard to preserve all of the historical elements, trying to incorporate as much as we can.  It’s been a challenge, but it’s also been a lot of fun.  At many times, working on the Stoneleigh has felt like an ongoing treasure hunt.”

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, December 5th, 2007 at 5:11 pm and is filed under Historic Features, Hotel Renovation. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.