More good news for Littleton, from todays Caledonian Record - and even though weve got a new home coming along, were happy our old one is up and coming along! The historic Thayers Inn, shut down for nearly four months after a burst pipe fitting sent tens of thousands of gallons of water cascading down four stories, is easing back into business. As the summer season nears, three of the inns five floors are set to reopen Thursday morning for guests. We expect to be fully operational by June 1, innkeeper Harry Almeida said Tuesday. And provided the work still remaining proceeds as planned, a grand reopening of the entire inn -- to include all five floors as well as a new conference room, adjacent spa and new restaurant on the bottom floor -- will take place in July. The water damage that occurred in January was far more extensive than the damage caused by the March 2012 fire, said Almeida. As a consequence, much of the inn during the last few months underwent a major overhaul to correct the damage the water wreaked on the electrical wiring and plaster. In all, including electrical repairs and a new sprinkler system, the work cost more than $400,000, said Almeida. It involved replacing all of the inns old knob and tube wiring with new up-to-code wiring. Also replaced were ceilings and a large portion of the buildings old plaster from the 1800s. A new sprinkler system has been installed, the fire alarm upgraded and the hotel now has a direct line that goes to the Littleton Fire Department. The building is its safest ever, Almeida said. Currently, the two top floors remain closed as crews complete the rewiring of each of the inns 39 rooms. About 25 of the rooms will reopen Thursday. The eventual grand reopening will include a hot breakfast room in the street-level front space, a new business conference room that will seat about 30 people, and a small gym. We still have a lot of work ahead, but the biggest part is done, said Almeida. As the weather warms, exterior portions of the inn will be painted. Inside, several rooms will be converted to family suites through work that had been ongoing before the water main break. For eight years, Bailiwicks Fine Restaurant, soon to be reopened at Parkers Marketplace across the street, rented space on the bottom floor of Thayers Inn. With the new restaurant that will occupy that space, Thayers will enter into a partnership, said Almeida. Established in 1843 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Thayers Inn, at 111 Main St., is a Littleton landmark rich in history. Its guests included U.S. presidents and presidential candidates as well as celebrities such as Bette Davis. The inn is owned by Thomas Carpi and Steven DiPietro, of Lynn, Mass. While insurance covered about $300,000 in water damage repairs and inn upgrades, Almeida said the owners spent about $100,000. As the town advances on its river district revitalization project, Thayers will incorporate that project into its own future plans as the inn has a lot of space on the river side that can be used for retail, said Almeida.
Posted on: Wed, 30 Apr 2014 20:20:23 +0000
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