Date: Fri 09-Aug-1996

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDREA

Quick Words:

historic-district-inn

Full Text:

Historic District Panel Oks Inn Renovations

B Y A NDREA Z IMMERMANN

Acting on its first-ever application, the Historic District Commission

approved plans to renovate the former Hawley Manor Inn after hearing from

members of Hawley Inn LLC on Wednesday night.

"We welcome you...and feel confident that you will be a positive, tasteful

addition to our district," said commission member Lindell Hertberg, after the

application for certificate of appropriateness was approved.

The planned changes will restore many of the beautiful features of the inn,

remove many of the eyesores on the property, and renovate the interior to

create bright and enlarged dining spaces, according to Philip Manger and Dick

Mullen. They said the exterior of what will be called The Mary Hawley Inn will

be spruced up - awnings removed and black shutters installed, a box window

created, shingles repaired and painted, the parking lot reclaimed.

Guided by old photographs, the new owners will restore the facade of the wing

known as the Carriage House to its original character, including a working lit

clock. This part of the building will include three suites for overnight

guests.

The outbuildings in back of the inn will be removed and grass planted at the

site. The back portion of the main building will be taken off and the kitchen

squared.

"What you really have here in the rear is a magnificent view - unless you're

looking the other way at us ," said Mr Mullen, who hopes to close on the

property August 15 and complete renovations to open for the holidays. "But

we're going to correct that."

The owners will take down the wooden fence in front, plant trees at that

location and in the front center area of the parking lot. The pine tree in the

front will make way for a new garden. A second story porch, measuring 19« by

42 ft, will extend from the building towards the parking lot, but decorative

railing will obscure diners' view of the lot; lattice will surround the base

of the porch and will be planted with climbing flowers.

The owners said eventually they will install a pool in back of the suite area.

The interior of the building will have an English Pub in the front room which

was formerly a dining area, a Tea Room with a fireplace, and a 110-seat dining

room will be created where the kitchen was located. A handicapped ramp will be

located inside the building, instead of outside, and large restrooms will be

created in the rear of the facility. The bar downstairs will remain, for now,

but access to it will only be from the parking area.

The original structure, the home of Cyrenius Booth, was built in the 1820s.

When it was rebuilt in 1870 it was gutted, as it was in 1930 when the Hawley

Manor Inn was established, according to Town Historian Dan Cruson.

Mr Cruson, in attendance as consultant to the commission, asked if it were

possible to save the center chimney - the only remains of the original

masonry, which is slated to be removed. The businessmen explained that the

cost was prohibitive to install a supporting frame.

The consultant seemed satisfied with the overall plans, stating they new

owners plan to restore more integrity to the structure than what is there now.

Ed Baumer, whose residential property adjoins the inn's, offered his support

of the proposed changes during public participation at the meeting. "I'm 100

percent behind what they plan to do," he said. "One hundred and ten percent."

Now that the Historic District Commission has deemed the plans to be

appropriate, the new owners will apply for a building permit.

"We're just delighted with our whole experience in the past four or five

months - town officials, everyone has just been super," said Mr Mullen. "It's

a place where we're really trying to attract local people to. We hope after

night meetings or church, [local residents] show up on our front door."

Tom Belli, the third main member of Hawley Inn LLC, came to the meeting to

offer his support. "I like the fact that Phil and Dick have been so interested

in preserving the appearance of Main Street," he said. "[The inn] has been a

missing tooth in the smile of Newtown."