Historic Colonial Hotel Best Preservation Opportunity in the Pittsburgh Area

Historic Colonial Hotel Named
One of the Best Historic Preservation
Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area

Volunteer Days Provide a Chance to Help and Explore Landmark Building

MEYERSDALE -- The Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh (YPA) has named Meyersdale’s Historic Colonial Hotel to its 2008 list of the Top-Ten Best Historic Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area. The landmark downtown building received the honor at the association’s annual awards gala, which was held on Friday, May 16, 2008, at the New Hazlett Theater in Pittsburgh.

Opened on January 1, 1904, the New Colonial Hotel was one of the largest and most elegant hotels in Somerset County and in rural western Pennsylvania. The European-plan hotel served the area for over 60 years, becoming the community’s social and cultural center before it ultimately closed in the 1970s. In recognition of the building’s historical and architectural significance, the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, listed the hotel in the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Current owners Adam Thomas and Cheria Yost plan to restore the grand edifice to its former glory and rehabilitate the property as a hotel and events center.

The Historic Colonial Hotel ranked number five on this year’s list, which recognizes the best preservation projects in southwestern Pennsylvania based on their potential to provide a return on investments while substantially improving the communities in which they are situated. The hotel’s listing not only recognizes the building’s potentially enormous economic impact, but also recognizes the efforts of Meyersdale Renaissance, Inc., to redevelop Meyersdale’s historic downtown. The hotel is the first property to be so honored in Somerset County and one of the few top-ten historic preservation properties outside of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area.

In celebration of this listing, the Historic Colonial Hotel seeks volunteers to assist with the restoration. The first scheduled volunteer days will be held on Sunday afternoon, May 24, and Saturday morning, May 31. Volunteers will not only have an opportunity to contribute to the restoration of this landmark building, but they also will receive a rare chance to explore portions of the building that have not been opened to the public in decades.

The hotel’s front porch will again serve as the stage for Meyersdale’s annual Luminary Service, which will be held at 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 25, 2008 (rain date Monday, May 26, 2008). The program will feature a variety of patriotic and inspirational music, highlighting local talent. Prior to the program, music, children’s activities, and light refreshments will be available and a bake sale will be held starting at 7:30 p.m. on Main Street in front of the hotel. Following the program, stroll the streets of downtown Meyersdale to see beautiful memorial luminaries.

For more information about the annual Luminary Service or to sign up to volunteer at the hotel, please contact Kathy Bisko Koscianski, Meyersdale Main Street Manager, for more information: (814) 634-8840. For more information about the history and proposed redevelopment of the historic colonial hotel, go to www.historiccolonialhotel.com.


Historic Colonial Hotel Named One of the Best Historic Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area Volunteer Days Provide a Chance to Help and Explore Landmark Building MEYERSDALE -- The Young Preservationists Association of Pittsburgh (YPA) has named Meyersdale’s Historic Colonial Hotel to its 2008 list of the Top-Ten Best Historic Preservation Opportunities in the Pittsburgh Area. The landmark downtown building received the honor at the association’s annual awards gala, which was held on Friday, May 16, 2008, at the New Hazlett Theater in Pittsburgh. Opened on January 1, 1904, the New Colonial Hotel was one of the largest and most elegant hotels in Somerset County and in rural western Pennsylvania. The European-plan hotel served the area for over 60 years, becoming the community’s social and cultural center before it ultimately closed in the 1970s. In recognition of the building’s historical and architectural significance, the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service, listed the hotel in the National Register of Historic Places in 2005. Current owners Adam Thomas and Cheria Yost plan to restore the grand edifice to its former glory and rehabilitate the property as a hotel and events center. The Historic Colonial Hotel ranked number five on this year’s list, which recognizes the best preservation projects in southwestern Pennsylvania based on their potential to provide a return on investments while substantially improving the communities in which they are situated. The hotel’s listing not only recognizes the building’s potentially enormous economic impact, but also recognizes the efforts of Meyersdale Renaissance, Inc., to redevelop Meyersdale’s historic downtown. The hotel is the first property to be so honored in Somerset County and one of the few top-ten historic preservation properties outside of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. In celebration of this listing, the Historic Colonial Hotel seeks volunteers to assist with the restoration. The first scheduled volunteer days will be held on Sunday afternoon, May 24, and Saturday morning, May 31. Volunteers will not only have an opportunity to contribute to the restoration of this landmark building, but they also will receive a rare chance to explore portions of the building that have not been opened to the public in decades. The hotel’s front porch will again serve as the stage for Meyersdale’s annual Luminary Service, which will be held at 9 p.m. on Sunday, May 25, 2008 (rain date Monday, May 26, 2008). The program will feature a variety of patriotic and inspirational music, highlighting local talent. Prior to the program, music, children’s activities, and light refreshments will be available and a bake sale will be held starting at 7:30 p.m. on Main Street in front of the hotel. Following the program, stroll the streets of downtown Meyersdale to see beautiful memorial luminaries. For more information about the annual Luminary Service or to sign up to volunteer at the hotel, please contact Kathy Bisko Koscianski, Meyersdale Main Street Manager, for more information: (814) 634-8840. For more information about the history and proposed redevelopment of the historic colonial hotel, go to www.historiccolonialhotel.com.
(c) 2005 Historic Colonial Hotel, L.L.C.