I'M PRETTY SURE THERE IS NO CANNON AT THE MITHOFF
There ARE no cannons at the Mithoff, unfortunately, but there were cannons on New Providence Island, better known as the Bahamas. What does this have to do with the Mithoff? Not much really, except my love of old buildings. We took a little vacation (that's why my blog has not been updated recently) and the best part for me, of course, were the old forts in Nassau.
I went to both Fort Fincastle, built in 1793 and Fort Charlotte, built in 1788. Along the walls of the fort men have carved their names in the walls for years while they were on watch. This one is dated 1849. Seriously cool.
Asbestos Has Been Removed
As removal of the asbestos in the building began, the carpeting on the first floor in some of the retail spaces needed to be removed. Underneath we uncovered this incredible floor tile. It looks as if it is original from the grocery store that was in the Rokohl building. The unique part about the tile is that each part of the intricate design of the tile is an individual square. We are going to save as much of the tile as possible, and will utilize the pattern somewhere in the building.
The place is a mess right now.
The third floor has been completely cleared out, but the second floor, well, looks like a bomb went off. All the plaster has been torn from the ceilings and walls, it just has not been removed from the building yet.
A major supporting structural beam in the hotel was from the Hocking Valley Manufacturing Company.
The company was in business in Lancaster from 1869 to 1950. It came as little surprise to me when I learned that two of the officers of the company were none other than George August Mithoff and Theodore Mithoff.
Intricate pieces of trim.
The brick on the third floor is beautiful.
There are some great tin ceilings all through the building. We will salvage all that we can and use as much of it as we can in the first floor retail spaces.
I would say we have a long way to go, but we are making progress. The asbestos removal process is over, and we can apply for demolition permits. As you strip away the little tiny pieces of the past, you can see all the possibilities of the future. And as much as you hate to see those pieces disappear, I know that we are instrumental in this building continuing into the future. We are now, and will forever be, a part of the Mithoff's history. She'll last another hundred years because of us. We'll support her foundation and improve her walls, and we will give her a purpose again. That's a great feeling.
FHA HOME AND GARDEN TOUR
Your opportunity to see inside the Mithoff is coming on June 27th and 28th. Fairfield Heritage Association's Home and Garden Tour is pleased to announce the addition of the Mithoff House on this year's tour. Tickets go on sale soon. Check fairfieldheritage.org for details as soon as they become available.
