Calhoun Historical Society is embarking
on restoring interior of Stump Hotel in 2015
Roger Jarvis shows display of layers of wall
covering, from 1890 newspapers to wallpaper
Twins Gordon Allen (L) and Roger Allen (R) with Roger
Jarvis, visiting their former hometown, graduates of
Calhoun County High School in 1972, both now teachers,
Gordon in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Roger in Salada, Texas
By Bob Weaver 2015
Calhoun Historical Society member Roger Jarvis said it has been a fascinating experience restoring the interior of the Stump Hotel on Main Street, a structure that is about 130 years old.
It is located next door to the groups museum.
"The history that the walls tell has been an experience," Jarvis said, with layers of old 1890 Wheeling Intelligencer newspapers, layers of wallpaper, cloth and other coverings.
Jarvis says the stories that the
walls are telling is fascinating
"We are preserving some sections for display," he said, having managed to recover old scraps of the newspaper to peruse.
The historical society acquired the structure from the Stump family in the late 1990s, with a major effort now being made to return the inside structure to its original appearance.
The society is always hampered to complete projects because of lacking funding, but members contribute endless hours of labor keeping history alive.
"We've torn out walls and erected stairs to the second floor, pretty close to its original design."
Oldtimers recall hotel operator Nettie Stump's brother,
much to her dismay, sitting on the second story porch,
imbibing and playing his fiddle into the late night
hours, while music lovers gathered on the street below
See 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"
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