Historic Colonial Hotel Listed in the National Register

Historic Colonial Hotel
Listed in the National Register
of Historic Places

MEYERSDALE – On May 10, 2005, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior officially listed Meyersdale’s New Colonial Hotel, 319 Main Street, in the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register is the nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. It is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our historic and archeological resources. The hotel joins the Second National Bank building, now Somerset Trust Company, as only the second property in Meyersdale Borough to be listed in the Register. The property’s listing in the National Register is a major step to secure tax credits, loans, and grants for the building’s ultimate restoration.

“This is not only an honor for our property, but for then entire borough,” said Adam Thomas, who owns the hotel with his wife, Cheria Yost. “We hope this is just one of many victories in preserving Meyersdale’s unique history and architecture.”

The Secretary of the Interior listed the New Colonial Hotel in the National Register for its association with the economic and cultural development of southern Somerset County during the area’s golden age, circa 1890 to 1930. The New Colonial Hotel was by far the largest and most elegant hotel ever built in the town. Through it flowed a steady stream of visitors, particularly traveling salesman, who used the hotel as a temporary office and storefront. As well, it became the area’s secular ceremonial center, hosting many of the town’s principal cultural events for nearly 60 years, including the first decade of the Pennsylvania Maple Festival.

The New Colonial Hotel is architecturally significant as the first and one of the only European-plan hotels ever constructed in rural western Pennsylvania. Also, the hotel is an intact example of the Colonial Revival style. The building’s gracious façade was remarkably sophisticated compared to much of the rest of the downtown and appears to have been a miniature rendering of the grand, urban hotels increasingly prevalent in cities along the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad’s Baltimore/Washington-Chicago mainline. The hotel’s dropped cornice and light well, common to large urban hotels and apartment buildings, represents the only time these features were constructed in Meyersdale. Moreover, it is significant for the high artistic value of its first-floor interior spaces, particularly the lobby furnishings, fireplaces, and dining room murals.

Most likely designed by one of Baltimore’s most renowned architects, Charles E. Cassell, the New Colonial Hotel opened on January 11, 1904. Its owners, Elbridge Kyle and Charles Knapp were former Meyersdale residents who returned to this bustling little town after successful careers elsewhere. Kyle had managed numerous inns, including Baltimore’s posh Stafford Hotel, and Knapp was a successful Baltimore attorney.

The hotel served Meyersdale for more than six decades, becoming the Stage Coach Inn in 1967. With a lingering economic recession in the 1970s, however, maintenance of the huge building became overwhelming and the hotel failed. In 1978, Blaine and Anna Sechler gave the old hotel new life as Sechler Sports Distributing. Had it not been for their foresight in finding a new use for the building, it would probably not exist at all today. Cheria Yost and Adam Thomas purchased the hotel in February 2004.

Adam Thomas and Rick Sechler, president of Meyersdale Renaissance, Inc., unveiled a bronze plaque signifying the hotel’s listing in the National Register at a Memorial Day weekend remembrance ceremony on Sunday, May 29, 2005 at the hotel. This was the first public gathering in front of the hotel in more than 30 years.

Thomas and Yost wish to thank all of those who supported them through the National Register review process, including State Representative Bob Bastian, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Somerset County Commissioners, Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, Somerset County Rails-to-Trails, Somerset Trust Company, Meyersdale Area Historical Society, Thomas Drug Store, and, most particularly, Kathy Bisko and Meyersdale Renaissance, Inc.

Property owners interested in learning about the benefits of listing a property in the National Register should contact Kathy Bisko, Meyersdale Renaissance, Inc., at (814) 634-8840.


Historic Colonial Hotel Listed in the National Register of Historic Places MEYERSDALE – On May 10, 2005, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior officially listed Meyersdale’s New Colonial Hotel, 319 Main Street, in the National Register of Historic Places. The National Register is the nation’s official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. It is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect our historic and archeological resources. The hotel joins the Second National Bank building, now Somerset Trust Company, as only the second property in Meyersdale Borough to be listed in the Register. The property’s listing in the National Register is a major step to secure tax credits, loans, and grants for the building’s ultimate restoration. “This is not only an honor for our property, but for then entire borough,” said Adam Thomas, who owns the hotel with his wife, Cheria Yost. “We hope this is just one of many victories in preserving Meyersdale’s unique history and architecture.” The Secretary of the Interior listed the New Colonial Hotel in the National Register for its association with the economic and cultural development of southern Somerset County during the area’s golden age, circa 1890 to 1930. The New Colonial Hotel was by far the largest and most elegant hotel ever built in the town. Through it flowed a steady stream of visitors, particularly traveling salesman, who used the hotel as a temporary office and storefront. As well, it became the area’s secular ceremonial center, hosting many of the town’s principal cultural events for nearly 60 years, including the first decade of the Pennsylvania Maple Festival. The New Colonial Hotel is architecturally significant as the first and one of the only European-plan hotels ever constructed in rural western Pennsylvania. Also, the hotel is an intact example of the Colonial Revival style. The building’s gracious façade was remarkably sophisticated compared to much of the rest of the downtown and appears to have been a miniature rendering of the grand, urban hotels increasingly prevalent in cities along the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad’s Baltimore/Washington-Chicago mainline. The hotel’s dropped cornice and light well, common to large urban hotels and apartment buildings, represents the only time these features were constructed in Meyersdale. Moreover, it is significant for the high artistic value of its first-floor interior spaces, particularly the lobby furnishings, fireplaces, and dining room murals. Most likely designed by one of Baltimore’s most renowned architects, Charles E. Cassell, the New Colonial Hotel opened on January 11, 1904. Its owners, Elbridge Kyle and Charles Knapp were former Meyersdale residents who returned to this bustling little town after successful careers elsewhere. Kyle had managed numerous inns, including Baltimore’s posh Stafford Hotel, and Knapp was a successful Baltimore attorney. The hotel served Meyersdale for more than six decades, becoming the Stage Coach Inn in 1967. With a lingering economic recession in the 1970s, however, maintenance of the huge building became overwhelming and the hotel failed. In 1978, Blaine and Anna Sechler gave the old hotel new life as Sechler Sports Distributing. Had it not been for their foresight in finding a new use for the building, it would probably not exist at all today. Cheria Yost and Adam Thomas purchased the hotel in February 2004. Adam Thomas and Rick Sechler, president of Meyersdale Renaissance, Inc., unveiled a bronze plaque signifying the hotel’s listing in the National Register at a Memorial Day weekend remembrance ceremony on Sunday, May 29, 2005 at the hotel. This was the first public gathering in front of the hotel in more than 30 years. Thomas and Yost wish to thank all of those who supported them through the National Register review process, including State Representative Bob Bastian, the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, Somerset County Commissioners, Somerset County Chamber of Commerce, Somerset County Rails-to-Trails, Somerset Trust Company, Meyersdale Area Historical Society, Thomas Drug Store, and, most particularly, Kathy Bisko and Meyersdale Renaissance, Inc. Property owners interested in learning about the benefits of listing a property in the National Register should contact Kathy Bisko, Meyersdale Renaissance, Inc., at (814) 634-8840.
(c) 2005 Historic Colonial Hotel, L.L.C.