Date: Fri 06-Sep-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: KAAREN

Quick Words:

business-Hawley-Inn

Full Text:

Restoration Work To Resume On Hawley Inn

Work on the restoration of the Hawley Manor Inn is expected to resume now that

two local developers have bought the building and are arranging for financing.

Hawley Inn LLC of Newtown purchased the building on Main Street from Lowell

Hodgkiss Associates Inc of Trumbull on Thursday, August 29, for $475,000,

according to documents filed in the town clerk's office. Another closing was

scheduled this week in which Hawley Inn LLC was to obtain construction

financing from Nutmeg Federal Savings & Loan.

"We're really excited," said Philip Manger, who lives on Taunton Lake Road in

Newtown and who is, with Richard Mullen of Great Quarter Road, Sandy Hook, a

principal in Hawley Inn LLC.

"We've already started framing inside," Mr Manger said. "We have our

demolition permit, our building permit - everything that is needed. We see

four solid months of work ahead.

Mr Manger said that part of the delay in reaching last week's closing was

there were liens against the property which had to be settled before the sale

could take place.

As part of the sale, Lowell Hodgkiss Associates took back a $425,000 mortgage.

The property, operated for many years by the Vazanno family of Stratford, is

assessed at $443,000.

The new business, to be called the Mary Hawley Inn, is scheduled to be opened

by Christmas, according to the new owners. The building will be painted white,

with black shutters and the the awnings will be removed.

The facade of the wing known as the Carriage House will be restored to closely

resemble its original appearance, including a working lit clock, and will

contain three suites for overnight guests. The rest of the guest rooms will be

demolished.

Most of the changes that the new owners envision will be on the inside of the

main building. There will be a tearoom with a fireplace, an English pub-style

taproom with a U-shaped bar, a 110-seat dining room with a 20x40-foot

second-story porch and a new kitchen.

Built in the 1820s as the home of Cyrenius H. Booth, the house was gutted when

it was remodeled twice, in 1870 by the Hawley family, and in 1930 when it

became an inn.

Plans for the current renovation were approved last month by the Borough of

Newtown Historic District Commission.