HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-09-26, Page 13•I{
Target date. June 1990
Historic Queen's Hotel
to be restored, reopened
Belgrave's Queen's Hotel will be In the 1920s, it ceased operation
open for business again in 1990, if as a hotel, and was eventually con -
all goes well with the latest renova- verted to small apartments.
tion plans.
Five years ago it was purchased
The historic hotel is getting a mil- by Mr. Norris and a partner, Ralph
lion -dollar facelift this year that is Geisel of. Kitchener with the inten-
expected to restore the building to tion of turning it into a working
its old glory. hotel Getting e heritage designa-
A chance meeting at Hamilton's
Dundurn Castle between hotel
owner Albert Norris of Kitchener
and a history enthusiast from West-
ern Canada has brought Bill
Reuther, a former Alberta business-
man, to oversee the. hotel project.
"We have a lot of work ahead of us
if we're going to be open for busi-
ness in June,' Mr. Reuther says.
tion, the grants and the right person
to co-ordinate the projecttook some
time. Mr. Reuther encountered Mr.
Norris on a tour of Hamilton's
Dundurn Castle last June, "1 guess
he was impressed with my enthusi-
asm for historic buildings, because
after a very brief talk, he hired me
to co-ordinate this project," he sans,
"We feel the viflage's proximity
to Blyth places the hotel in a key
location for this type of accommo-
dation," Mr. Reuther says. "The
Last year, the hotel was designat- Blyth Festival already attracts a
ed/�a heritage building by the large number of tourists; and many
Ont ri i'oundation.
are looking for a place to stay."
This year the owners received a
$93,000 grant from the foundation
to restore the building facade. Work
on the site began about a month
ago.
Built in the mid -19th Century by
Christopher Morley, the hotel was
the centre of activity for Belgrave in
the mid -1800s, accommodating
travellers between Clinton and- the
northern part of the Queen's Bush
and providing a hall for early pub-
lic meetings. It is said that one of.
the Donnely clan stayed at the hotel
iertisPrr itelvas even shq 'here,, Mti
Reuthet htAtir), In 10 , 0 'nationa1
bank opened a branch in the hotel
and operated it until the Depres-
sion.
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Fishing, hunting and winter
sporting activities also attract peo-
ple to this area, he said, and will
round out the clientele in this year-
round resort.
Mr. Reuther envisions a number
of executive -type suites throughout
the old hotel, each with the build-
ing's original 10 -foot ceilings, a spe-
cial theme, and its own entrance.
The building will have two fire-
places, dining facilities and, if
permitted by the township, a
lounge bar:. Tiffs first Rhafn .e
"''teno. ►' i"st a.: ,.
$y5OOi'` and work crews have a
-'large task ahead of them. Bricks
have to be removed, restored and
replaced on the outer walls, Mr. '
Reuther pointed out. The original
galvanized roof has been restored
from under the old asphalt shin-
gles, and the framed structure on
the rear of the hotel has already
bean removed. Rebuilding'of cltim-,
neys, -resetting of window frames,
repairs to foundation and porch,
and interior renovations will follow.
The next phase, Mr. Reuther
describes, is the construction of an
addition with about 30 Moms bac
ing onto ;a. patio, a large parking lot, d.^
and a museum to be operated -by a.
local service club. •b
Architect for the project is John,;:
Clatckett of Kitchener.
"When it opens. in June, . we••
expect this hotel will be quite r:
showpiece;' Mt RePther FAY'S.
The gra..ttd Opening is scheduled
Tor June 14.
general contractor for the Queen's
restrora tfn Belgrave, hopes to breathe new life inin fhe
old build* .' Work on the project began about a month .age;', with
the rebuildingof the hotel's inter Was.
HISTORICAL HOTEL --'fie Queen's Hotel and Livery on Hwy.
4, Belgrave, was a hive of activity in . this old photograph taken in
the 1920s. The gentleman in the foreground with the moustache,
vest and chain is former owner Thoimas Hill. The old inn was
ark' 7 Oct 'cam ®d '" i� 7�x ` b
_ >C5, T S' i 5'.4t. "._...
.d°c / 3 Ak . . /' 4j t '� z3 'n-_.
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At let)
5— ib
recently designated a heritage building, and is in the i ce ifif
being restored by its present owners as a tourist attraction. —Photo
courtesy of Clarence Hannah
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