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The Fitzpatrick - A 100-year-old Hotel to reopen after 50 years.
reprinted from The Oglethorpe Echo - March 2003 article by JS Yearwood

The Dream of Two Centuries

The Fitzptrick brothers made their dream come true one hundred years ago: they built a beautiful, state-of-the-art hotel in downtown Washington, Georgia. Now, almost exactly 100 years after its first opening, their dream has been reborn. Jim Carter of Philomath and his partners Mike and Christy Todd of Athens, and Amit Mehta (Christy's father) have brought this Queen Anne Style hotel back to life with years of work, sweat and dedication.

After a year of intense renovations, these determined individuals are preparing to re-open this vintage establishment to the public once again. The goal is to be open for business in Summer 2004. This Saturday, April 5th, from 10-5, though, the public will have a chance to view the renovations in progress as Carter, the Todds, and Mr. Mehta strive to recreate the original ambiance, beauty and function of this historical building.

A Little History

In 1898, J.H. and T.M. Fitzpatrick completed the construction of the original Fitzpatrick Hotel. According to Jim Carter, the brothers spared no expense, and it is to their credit that the hotel has withstood the ravages of time as well as it has. Later the brothers sold the hotel to Mr. Johnson who renamed it the Columbus Inn, and later it was known at the Washington Inn. For a half a century the hotel maintained its integrity as a 'top of the line' establishment until it closed in1952.

What was it like to stay there in it's early days? Carter and the Todds are still trying to find out. Carter has spoken with at least one person who remembers living there in 1949. Anyone who has been there or has memorabilia from this early era is encouraged to contact them at (706) 742-7264. Carter has located one early photograph which depicts this regal structure as it was in 1918. A barber is caring for his customers on the deeply tree-shaded sidewalk. A shop owner has displayed the latest in women's fashions outside the store, and a row of neatly spaced, vintage automobiles share the curbside with a bicycle.

The downstairs floor of the original Hotel housed several commercial spaces including a barber shop, grocery, hardware store and a restaurant. The original clientele ranged from school teachers who needed a place to live, to salesmen and travelers who simply needed overnight accommodations. The restaurant was known for its fine food. People would travel from throughout middle Georgia to the hotel for a family outing and delicious Sunday meal. One could even disembark at the train station in Washington and arrive at the Hotel doorstep via a mule drawn trolley.

Prior Planning .... Group Effort .... Experience

Since 1951, the building has remained empty. A few other individuals have had similar visions to resurrect this hotel, but were unable to complete the project. It is reasonable to ask why Carter and the Todds have succeeded, because it took more than just having a dream. It took more than just finding funding. It took more than just trying to figure out how to remove a cottonwood tree which had grown through the back wall and two stories up into the building. It took more than the ability to correct 50 years of structural neglect and water damage.

It took careful planning, research, back breaking work and vision. 'We made a plan from the very beginning,' stated Christy Todd. There were three months of intense planning and scheduling completed before the first brick was even touched. They also had to ask lots of questions. There were issues concerning funding, grants, loans and how to hire high level experts to deal with special problems.

Experience and a careful division of labor was also the key to success. Carter has not only renovated his own 1840's home, but was instrumental in renovating other projects such as the Lyndon House in Athens. Mike Todd is an engineer with years of experience in renovation work. He met Jim Carter while working on an 1830's renovation project, in Athens. Mike's wife, Christy has been instrumental in navigating and completing the reams of paperwork required for writing the grant. She is currently focused on the public relations aspects of this project. Mr. Mehta is an experienced financial manager and fulfills his portion of the partnership by diligently attending to the management of funds. All four partners began this project by injecting their own savings into the original purchase of the hotel. Their current personal funds are low, but with the infusion of grant money and loans, they have been able to persevere.

While additional funding has been both essential and available due to government loans and grants, a person has to be both knowledgeable and resourceful in order to take advantage of them. This is another strength of the partnership. Also, the town of Washington has been supportive. Todd said the mayor has even personally carried paperwork to Atlanta himself in an effort to secure funding. A Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) for $250,000 has been awarded to the City of Washington who in turn is providing a low-interest loan for the hotel renovation.

Perseverance & Detective work

When you step into the lobby, Carter hopes that you will think you have gone back in time. Their main goal during this project, he said, has been to restore this hotel to its original state. Cabinet makers are reconstructing all the woodwork. Stained glass windows are being custom made to replace the ones which are now gone. Every light fixture, chandelier, door knob and window treatment is being selected with extreme attention to historical accuracy and detail.

The project has required a lot of detective work and creative problem solving. During the process of renovating, old doorways have been found hidden in walls. Postcards to (or from) past visitors have been found wedged behind mantel pieces. Small antique tonic bottles and other treasures have been unearthed as their work has progressed.

The most daunting part of the renovation was trying to figure out how to remove an old cottonwood tree which had grown through the back wall of the hotel, up into the building and back out a window, back into the building and back out a second floor window. To remove it they had to dissemble the entire back wall of the building brick by brick and then rebuild it again. This was only the first task they faced. Repairs had to be made to water damaged areas, plus they had to reinforce and add structures to facilitate the inclusion of modern utilities.

Today's visitors will have some special advantages over those from 100 years ago. Not only will they get to experience the past, but they will be able to benefit from modern technology at the same time. The renovated hotel will feature seventeen rooms, including at least two with handicap access features, a huge ballroom, a conference room and a kitchen. Carter emphasizes that each room will be uniquely furnished in period decor. Almost all of the original furniture was lost or sold he said, so they have been slowly accumulating vintage pieces to replace them. Each room will have either an operational open fireplace, a coal, or gas stove. This century's visitor will also have the benefit of air conditioning, and if during your stay in the 'new' Fitzpatrick you need to email a friend or conduct business on line, you will be able to do this in your room, or choose from several office areas all wired for Internet access.

The commercial spaces on the ground floor are currently being filled. It is speculated that there will be a demand for the conference room (on the ground floor), and the ballroom (first floor) for those who wish to conduct business meetings, seminars, classes or special social events.

It is hoped that you will venture down 78 to Washington this weekend (or next year!) to view the progress of this beautiful project. You may not be met with a mule drawn trolley, but you can still taste the flavor of the past. You can admire what our present technology can do to preserve our past. You can appreciate the efforts of those who care about both, and can give us a way to share it with them.

Anyone who wishes to learn more about this project can visit the website: www.thefitzpatrickhotel.com Those with any questions, memories or information are encouraged to contact the partners at 706-742-7264. The public is invited to attend tours this weekend, Saturday April 5, from 10-5. There is no cost. It will also be open for visits in the first weekend of May. According to Carter, this is an ideal time to view the progress: rooms and baths have been framed, but some walls are still open so that one can see and appreciate the structural details

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New Owners Check in for Extended Stay at Historic Hotel.
reprinted from The Rambler - March/April 2003

The old saying "when one door closes another opens" could apply to the history of the Fitzpatrick Hotel. In the last five years, two developers have attempted to bring the 1898 hotel back as a functioning member of downtown Washington, but it seemed no one could find success transforming the eclectic, Victorian-era structure. Considering the progress and dedication of its current owners and developers, the third time may be the charm.

Once a grand destination for travelers, the Fitzpatrick's rooms have sat vacant for decades. Years of storms had damaged many of the wooden support beams and to some observers it almost seemed as if the tree growing inside the structure was its main form of support.

Despite its deterioration, the old hotel had maintained many of its original features, including all but one mantel, elegant stained glass windows on the front facade, all the moulding, the staircase and the front lobby desk.

"Even in the decrepit state it was in when we first saw it, we could still imagine what it was like in its heyday," said Christy Todd, who along with her husband Mike and her father Amit Mehta and partner Jim Carter make up Fitzpatrick LLC, the owners and developers of the hotel. "We really think there is a lot of potential here."

They are planning to turn the building into a 17-room hotel with a conference room, ballroom and catering kitchen, in addition to storefronts, retail and restaurant space on the lower level. According to Sandy White, manager of the Washington Downtown Development Authority, nearby building owners are joining with Fitzpatrick LLC to deed land to the city behind their buildings to create a public parking lot for the businesses to share.

Since purchasing the building in March 2002, the developers began major work in August 2002 and hope to finish the project by summer of 2004. In the meantime, the Fitzpatrick owners are continuing the old hotel's tradition of hospitality by hosting a construction tour Saturday, April 5 during Washington's spring tour of homes and May 3 (10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days). For more information on the tour, call Christy Todd at 706-742-7264 or visit www.thefitzpatrickhotel.com.

With the planned hotel and conference accommodations, Ms. White said she is hopeful the Fitzpatrick will attract small conferences or meetings to Washington. "The Fitzpatrick has been the big 'white elephant' for years in our downtown," said Ms. White. "Now it's going to be a nice anchor."

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"We've put the brakes on; now we want to get going forward."
reprinted from the Washington News-Reporter article by Smythe Newsome

"We've put the brakes on; now we want to get going forward."

With a dozen short words, Michael Todd summarized progress on rebuilding and renovation of the historic Fitzpatrick Hotel in Downtown Washington.

Todd and Jim Carter, two of four partners in the project, hosted a tour through the majestic old structure Friday afternoon, December 27, even as workmen continued to rebuild areas which had deteriorated beyond the point of usefulness.

Carter confirmed Todd's appraisal. "We had to go back into the bad areas of the building first, clearing away, demolishing, replacing, and cleaning until we reached the point at which we could begin building outward again," Carter explained. "For two principal reasons, it is very important to discern when that point is reached.

"First, for historical and architectural integrity, we want to retain as much as possible of the original structure. Second, we don't want to spend money rebuilding areas which are already structurally sound."

Friday's tour of the project showed that quality craftsmanship, integrity, and safety are paramount considerations as the project moves along.

Progress is most apparent in the back side of the building where, incredibly, a tree had been allowed to grow inside, taking whatever room it needed and pushing aside whatever was in its way.

Today, the building is regaining its shape with extensive reconstruction and brickwork readily apparent from a drive through the alley between the hotel and Master's Wildlife Services.

Also apparent are the partners' pride in the project, their commitment to seeing it through to completion, and their attention to detail in reproducing, as much as possible, the original hotel.

The four owners are Todd and his wife, Christy, who live at Winterville; Carter, of nearby Philomath; and Christy Todd's father, Amit Mehta, of Waynesville, Va. Mehta does not take an active part in the project. All four partners own 25 percent shares.

Jim Carter is director of special education for the public schools of Oglethorpe County. He holds a bachelor's degree from UGA and a master's from Appalachian State. He also holds three 6-year specialist certifications and has completed course work for a doctorate in educational leadership. He has an impressive resume in historic restoration, including projects in Athens and the surrounding area.

Michael Todd is a Georgia Tech graduate who recently left a 14-year career as an engineer with ABB of Athens in order to devote full time to various real estate enterprises, including historic preservation and renovation. ABB is a European company which acquired the former Westinghouse plant and continues to produce electrical transformers in Athens.

Christy Todd is a graduate of UGA, where she studied advertising and business. She is bookkeeper and business manager for the Todds' enterprises and is employed by the Georgia Board of Regents with an office at UGA. Her parents are naturalized immigrants who came to the U.S. from India.

The Todds have restored 14 houses in the Athens area and have won Athens Renovations Awards for two of them. Their most recent restoration is of an 1830s house once considered beyond redemption.

As the work has progressed, a surprise discovery is the absence of structural steel in places where it was expected to be found. Steel is now being added strategically in the rebuilding, resulting in a structure actually better and stronger than the original.

The absence of supporting steel allowed the building to sag in time, causing cracks in the walls and masonry. Near one of the big bay windows on the second floor a crack in the plastered wall is about 1.5 inches wide.

"This is one big reason that the hotel has so overwhelmed other prospective renovators," Todd said. He went on to explain that engineers are being consulted on the introduction of steel to correct the problem in the reconstruction.

Todd further speculated that diagonal sheathing had held the building together and that the sheathing too would have given way in time. "In just a few more years, it is likely that the building might have been lost," he added.

Other surprise discoveries include 19th-century artifacts and evidence of the June 1895 fire which destroyed the west side of The Square and opened the way for construction of the Fitzpatrick Hotel. The ornate hotel opened March 1, 1900, according to historian Willis C. Lindsey.

After tearing away a subfloor in the ground-level shop on the south side, workers found charred debris in an abandoned basement area. It is believed to be debris which was pushed into the basement after the 1895 fire to clear the way for new construction. Wine bottles recovered in the debris were pre-Civil War, dating 1850 to 1860. Pieces of china were dated from 1850 to 1900.

Half of a steel bed frame with brass caps on the bedposts was found in the basement and matched with another half found in a storage closet. The bed may have been from the original furnishings in the hotel rooms.

According to Carter, the front part of the south-side space in the rebuilt hotel will again be a retail shop. The rear part will be a restaurant with entrance at the back of the building and access also through the alley.

Every effort is being made to reclaim original materials as much as possible. Todd estimated that 30,000 bricks have been cleaned and stacked for re-use. Todd is actively involved in the work, and he personally cleaned and pointed a large part of the reclaimed bricks.

"We will rebuild with these same bricks as far as they will go, and it looks as if we will have enough to finish the job," he said. He explained that additional bricks would be obtained from areas which would not be visible and where concrete blocks could be used instead.

Asked about a possible completion date, Carter said there are simply "too many variables and unknowns" to try to follow a rigid schedule. "As a guess, I'd say probably in the summer of 2004," he added, "but to this point our focus is completely stabilizing the building. Then we'll get the State Fire Marshal to approve our floor plan and go on from there."

Tentative plans call for 17 hotel rooms, three retail shops, a restaurant and dining room, a ballroom on the second floor and a conference room downstairs. The ballroom can accommodate about 150 persons and the conference room about 50.

"We are actively looking for lessees for the retail spaces," Todd said. "We might use one for our own souvenir and gift shop, and we would prefer tourist-related businesses or something which would cater to the hotel clientele."

Anyone interested in leasing a shop may call 706-742-7264 for more information.

The Fitzpatrick Hotel has long been regarded as the key to revitalization of Downtown Washington. A series of disappointing false starts and frustrations left it standing as a derelict and a liability, but with great potential for the right developer.

After a succession of would-be developers failed to deliver, the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) obtained title to the property and Washington real estate agent Deborah Rainey brought together the four partners and the DDA to negotiate the sale.

"This may be the most important historical event in Washington since the Yankees came to arrest General Robert Toombs," said Mayor Frank Thomas when the sale was finalized March 1, 2002.

The buyers were equally happy. "Everyone has been super helpful," Carter said appreciatively. "The members of the DDA, Mayor Thomas, [City Building Inspector] Dave Vanhart, [City Administrator] Mike Eskew, [RDC Representative] Ann Floyd, the people of the Georgia DCA, and so many others have been a pleasure to work with."

Todd readily agreed, and expressed optimism for the future.

"Once we start a job, we stay on it until it is done," he said. "We take pride in that we have never failed to finish a job."

Carter said his interest in the Fitzpatrick Hotel dates almost to his arrival in Athens from the Charlotte area in 1964. He first saw the building when he was a student at UGA. He became an Athens resident in 1971 and later renovated his present home at Philomath in 1994.

All through that time he remained interested in the hotel, and he welcomed the opportunity to join with the Todds in an effort to buy and restore the building.

In an interesting coincidence, the sale was closed on the exact 102nd anniversary of the Fitzpatrick's opening on March 1, 1900. A date on the building shows 1898, but a labor strike and possibly other factors delayed the opening about two years.

During the tour of the building last Friday, an architect friend of Jim Carter's visited.

Edward McArthur, formerly of Athens and a Georgia Tech graduate, is now an architect in New York City. He confirmed Carter's acumen and ability, and shared his enthusiasm for the hotel.

"Jim has the ability to spot hidden design features that most people would never see," McArthur said. "This building, for instance, has retained a lot of fixtures and finishes and clues as to how it was built and used, and Jim sees those things. A lot of projects in his experience have had much less to go on.

"Being a preservationist requires a lot of detective work, and he knows what to look for and how to find it. He has restored many structures to their original integrity and now he [and his partners] will do that for this building."

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New owners restore Washington hotel
reprinted from the Atlanta Journal-Constitution article dated September 28, 2002 by Bill Osinski

Washington, Ga. --- The orphaned anchor of downtown, the Fitzpatrick Hotel, has a new set of foster parents.

Jim Carter and Mike Todd are the third set of developers in the past four years to try to salvage the 17-room red-brick Victorian architectural gem.

Once the swankiest stopover in northeast Georgia and the heart of Washington's commercial district, the Fitzpatrick has had only pigeons for guests for the past 50 years or so.

But Carter and Todd, who have ripped out tons of rotten ceilings and floors, will soon start rebuilding the crumbling back wall and plan to have the place ready for visitors by summer of 2004.

"We like to take on the buildings that other people don't want," Todd said. "Money's not the first thing we're after. Saving the building and bringing it back to life is what we really want."

Todd is a chemical engineer who has gravitated to restoring private homes in the Athens area; Carter is director of special education for the Oglethorpe County school system and has a 30-year track record in restorations of historic structures, mostly in Athens.

Unlike some of the other developers, Carter said he and Todd wanted the Fitzgerald to resemble as closely as possible the original 1898 structure.

"We want it to be a living hotel again, one that people can tell has been cherished and maintained," Carter said.

Despite its stripped-down current status, Carter said, the hotel has retained a surprising number of its original features. The original front lobby desk, the stamped tin ceiling and ornate window frames in the ballroom, interior arches, wrought-iron railings, and the stained glass accent windows of the six street-front suites all have survived.

Besides restoring the hotel's guest rooms, the developers plan to add a restaurant and courtyard, a conference room and commercial spaces on the street level, Carter said.

Carter estimated the Fitzpatrick could be revived with their $1.4 million investment. He said their costs would be kept down since Todd will serve as the general contractor and he will do much of the interior design work.

Restoring the Fitzpatrick also means keeping its fin de siecle swagger, he said. The Fitzpatrick had "a little bit of brass" in its style, he said.

The interior decor reflected the typical Victorian flair for color, with plenty of reds, golds and greens, he said. Outside, the tin roof was painted blue.

A mule-drawn trolley was employed to shuttle guests from the railroad depot to the hotel.

The Fitzpatrick boasted central heating, telephones, and call buttons in all the rooms, he said. It was the first large building in the region to have electricity.

That is probably because the brothers who built the hotel, Thomas and John Fitzpatrick, also owned the local telephone company.

The brothers were born in Washington but moved to South Carolina, where they operated a successful mercantile business. After a fire wiped out much of Washington's town square in 1895, the Fitzpatricks came back to their hometown and built the hotel on part of the burned-out property.

Sandy White, executive director of the Washington Downtown Development Authority, said she hoped the restored hotel would help make Washington a tourist destination.

Washington is a city full of historic homes and plantations and boasts a downtown that is livelier than those of some larger cities.

What it does not have is conference space and a singular attraction to entice people to venture the 25 miles or so off I-20 to get here, she said.

Back in 1898, the Fitzpatrick brothers had pretty much the same obstacle to success.

In a newspaper advertisement for their new hotel and shops, the brothers said, "We were told time and time again that Washington was dead, that we could do no business. Was your prediction correct? No! A thousand times no!"

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Breakthrough for Downtown: Fitzpatrick to be restored
reprinted from the Washington News-Reporter article dated March 7, 2002 by Smythe Newsome

"This may be the most important historical event in Washington since the Yankees came to arrest General Robert Toombs," said a jubilant Mayor Frank Thomas when the sale of the historic Fitzpatrick Hotel was finalized Friday, March1, 2002, in the office of Attorney Charles LeGette.

"This is a tremendous step forward in the resurgence of Downtown Washington," said Joey Fievet, president of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA), a branch of the city government.

The signing party moved down the east side of The Square to Georgia Realty Sales for a reception for the new owners and a celebration of the sale, seen as an essential element in the revitalization of Downtown Washington.

The new owners are three enthusiastic developers with extensive experience in renovating, restoring, and revitalizing significant historic structures, mostly in and around Athens.

Two of the developers are Michael Todd and his wife, Christy Todd, of Winterville. Christy is employed with the Georgia Board of Regents at the University of Georgia and Michael is leaving a 15-year career with Westinghouse Corporation in Athens to devote full time to their real estate enterprises.

The third active owner is Jim Carter, who lives in a historic house he restored in nearby Philomath in Oglethorpe County. Jim says he is old enough to be the Todds' father and he has an impressive resume of historic restoration projects. He is director of special education for Oglethorpe County schools.

Carter earned a bachelor's degree at UGA and a master's at Appalachian State. He also holds three 6-year specialist certifications and has completed course work for a doctorate in educational leadership.

Actually, there is a fourth partner, Christy's father, Amit Mehta, of Waynesboro, Virginia, is a silent partner. All four own equal 25 percent shares in the Fitzpatrick Hotel.

"The DDA and all those who have loved this building and worked for its preservation welcome Christy, Mike, and Jim and wish them well," Fievet said. "We offer our new neighbors anything we can do to help and to welcome them to Downtown Washington."

Other members of the DDA, all of whom have worked diligently to find the right buyer for the Fitzpatrick, are Pam Eaton, Shirley Gunter, Henry Harris, Debbie Jackson, Charles LeGette, and Angie Richards. All the members are in business in Downtown Washington.

In a touch or irony, the closing date negotiated by real estate agent Deborah Rainey is exactly on the 102nd anniversary of the opening of the magnificent Fitzpatrick Hotel. Historian Willis Lindsey said he has determined that the hotel opened March 1, 1900. A date on the building shows 1898, but a labor strike and possibly some technical snarls delayed the opening for some two years.

The plans the partners have for the hotel restoration are exciting and it is impossible to talk with them for very long without being caught up in their vision for the restored Fitzpatrick.

"Our aim is to begin work sometime in April," Carter said in a telephone interview Monday night. "once we start we intend to stay on that job exclusively until it is done. We take pride in that we have never failed to complete a job."

The basic plan is to retain everything original and to restore the entire structure as nearly as possible to its original appearance. It will be operated basically as a hotel, with 17 rooms to rent, including a two and a half room luxury suite and five other luxury rooms. All rooms will have a private bath and six will have fireplaces. One break with authenticity will be the installation of an elevator for the guests.

The spacious ballroom will be retained and used for weddings, receptions, and other social and business functions. "All the elements are there," Carter said. "It's a joy to visualize how it will look when it is done. And there is a large, convenient kitchen off to the side that will be a joy to work in. I don't see anything that can't be restored and I'm just anxious to get started."

In the ambitious plan to return the hotel to its 1900 splendor, the new owners are calling for help from local citizens. "We need photographs of details, especially trim work like draperies, floor coverings, what the original lobby looked like, and really anything that shows any aspect of the original hotel."

Also, the developers have some pieces of original furniture to be restored and would like to obtain more. Furniture that was actually in the hotel is preferred, but authentic period pieces from any source are also wanted. Anyone who would like to donate or sell desirable pieces is asked to call Jim Carter at 706/274-3733.

One of the houses restored by Carter is house he occupies in Philomath. He first noticed the house when he was a student at the University of Georgia in 1965. He knew he wanted it but could not manage it at the time. He kept an eye on it and finally negotiated a lease with an option to buy in 1992. He restored it in 1996 and 1997 and has been living there since.

Before he got started, a tornado came through and lifted the roof, knocked the chimneys through the roof, and lifted the house up and set it back down. That setback failed to deter him and now the house is a thing of beauty and charm.

"I told you that to show that I am experienced with damaged buildings and as well as old buildings," he said.

He has also restored two major houses in Athens that were placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.

Carter first became acquainted with the Fitzpatrick through his friendship with Steve and Eleanor Blackmon of Washington. They sang in the Athens Chorale together and he has visited here often over the years.

"There are many good things about the hotel, especially the unique trim work, but there is a major problem in the back," Carter continued. "The roof has collapsed in the back and there is grave water damage in some of the rooms, but certainly nothing that cannot be overcome."

Mike Todd owns a 100-acre farm which formerly belonged to his grandfather in Oglethorope County. He and Christy have been married about five years and they have one son, age 3 years and 3 months.

Mike is a graduate of Georgia Tech with a degree in chemical engineering. He resigned from his job with Westinghouse in Athens in order to spend his time on the Fitzpatrick Hotel and other projects in the Athens area.

Christy is a graduate of UGA where she studied advertising and business. She is bookkeeper and business manager for their many enterprises.

Christy's parents are naturalized immigrants from India, and she and Mike hope to adopt a second child from India.

Together the Todds have restored 14 houses around Athens and have won Athens Renovations Awards on two of them. Their most recent restoration is of an 1830s house once thought to be altogether lost. It is now about 85 percent completed and they want to finish it before moving on to the Fitzpatrick.

"Once we start, we won't leave it until it's finished," Mike said firmly. "I think it will take about two years to complete the job."

"We have completed everything we have started, " he reiterated. "We really want to do a good job. This hotel has wonderful possibilities and we wan to keep it as beautifully original in appearance as possible."

"I think this is a perfect fit for them and for us," Fievet added. "The hotel is the key to what we hope to accomplish and these people have the experience, the energy, the interest, and resolve to do to do the job right. I just couldn't be more pleased."

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