The Calhoun County Historical Society has begun work on the first floor of the historic Stump Hotelâkitchen, dining room, lobby and bedroom.
The hotel has been renovated many, many times over the years since the 188os, and the first task has been to get back to the original interior.
During this process, several interesting discoveries have been made.
When the drywall was removed, layer after layer of old wall covering was found. See photos above.
The original walls are tongue and groove half-inch boards ranging from six to eight inches in width.
These boards were installed with "square" nails and paintedâwhite and off-white.
The next layers are wall paper of various beautiful patterns.
Later, a muslin type material was tacked over the wallpaper and paintedâseveral times with various colors.
In some rooms, burlap sacks were used. One sack was from a business in Parkersburg and labeled "crushed oyster shells."
Also, a few partial pages of newspaper were found. The drywall was the latest wall covering, probably installed when the Hotel was divided into commercial space.
Because the Society has only sketchy information about the hotel in this later era, the public is asked to assist.
If you can recall any businesses or offices that were located there, please contact any Society member. Also needed are interior pictures of the building as a hotel, or later as commercial property.
The Society is beginning a fundraising campaign to pay for these renovations.
Tax deductible donations may be made to the Calhoun County Historical Society, P. O. Box 242, Grantsville, WV, 26147. Contact Roger Jarvis, 354-6398, or Bob Bonar, 354-7507 for information.
See earlier storiesÂ
STUMP HOTEL HISTORIC GRANTSVILLE STRUCTURE - Spavy And Aunt Nettie Town Characters
STUMP HOTEL AND LIFE ALONG THE RIVER - Historical Project Calls For Preservation, Miss Nettie And Spav Remembered
AUNT NETTIE'S SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS - "My Heart Has Been Stirred"
NETTIE STUMPS "CITY OF THE DEAD" - Early Calhouners Response In Old Bethlehem Cemetery
"MRS. STUMP WANTS MORE TRAVELERS" - Needs To Pay-Off Husband's Monument
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