Cornice Restoration Underway

Cornice Restoration Underway

MEYERSDALE -- On Thursday, September 16, 2004, Buddy Grimm and Michael Warnick, of Buddy Grimm Carpentry, began the restoration of the Colonial Hotel's graceful dropped cornice. This classical detail, spanning the century-old hotel’s entire front facade, is the building’s most important and distinguishing architectural feature. Years of deferred maintenance have left the cornice decayed and structurally unsound. As well, pigeons have roosted in the hollow box of the cornice of decades, creating an unhealthy and unsightly environment in downtown Meyersdale.

Grimm and Warnick have begun a careful, in-kind replacement of deteriorated components and the restoration of salvageable materials, according to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. Grimm is milling much of the detail moldings himself, insuring a match of the original profiles. After replacing and restoring the cornice’s materials, the entire feature will receive a new coat of white paint. Though the work is tedious, it will result in an immediate and dramatic improvement for the hotel and the skyline of downtown Meyersdale, signaling the beginning of the grand hotel’s redevelopment.

This project is funded in part by a facade improvement grant through Meyersdale Renaissance, Inc.


Cornice Restoration Underway MEYERSDALE -- On Thursday, September 16, 2004, Buddy Grimm and Michael Warnick, of Buddy Grimm Carpentry, began the restoration of the Colonial Hotel's graceful dropped cornice. This classical detail, spanning the century-old hotel’s entire front facade, is the building’s most important and distinguishing architectural feature. Years of deferred maintenance have left the cornice decayed and structurally unsound. As well, pigeons have roosted in the hollow box of the cornice of decades, creating an unhealthy and unsightly environment in downtown Meyersdale. Grimm and Warnick have begun a careful, in-kind replacement of deteriorated components and the restoration of salvageable materials, according to the Secretary of the Interior's Standards. Grimm is milling much of the detail moldings himself, insuring a match of the original profiles. After replacing and restoring the cornice’s materials, the entire feature will receive a new coat of white paint. Though the work is tedious, it will result in an immediate and dramatic improvement for the hotel and the skyline of downtown Meyersdale, signaling the beginning of the grand hotel’s redevelopment. This project is funded in part by a facade improvement grant through Meyersdale Renaissance, Inc.
(c) 2005 Historic Colonial Hotel, L.L.C.