Fountain Hotel
Encyclopedia
The Fountain Hotel is a historic former hotel
in downtown St. Marys
, Ohio
, United States
. Built in 1889 in a mixture of the Queen Anne
and Victorian
architectural styles, the hotel building sits in the 100 block of West Spring Street.
Also known as the "Fort Barbee Hotel," the Fountain Hotel is a brick building that is built on a foundation of sandstone and covered with an asphalt roof. On the first story
, the facade is divided into multiple storefronts, but the rest of the hotel has been converted into housing for low-income individuals aged fifty-five or older. Conversion to its present format was carried out by the Muskingum Development Corporation in the 1990s, at a cost of $2 million to $3 million; aid was provided by the Minster State Bank, which offered reduced interest rates to the redevelopers.
Surrounding the Fountain Hotel are several other important community locations, such as the municipal building
, the Buckeye Trail
route along the Miami and Erie Canal
, and a community park. Adjacent to the hotel is a small spring
; once tapped to provide water for Fort St. Marys, which once occupied the location of the city's downtown, the spring was later converted into a fountain that became the hotel's namesake.
In 1997, the Fountain Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. Key to this designation was its place in local history and commerce, as it once played the role of a hotel, specialty store
, and restaurant. Two other properties in St. Marys are listed on the Register: the Dr. Issac Elmer Williams House and Office
, built in 1903, and the former Holy Rosary Catholic Church
, which was destroyed one year before it was placed on the Register.
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
in downtown St. Marys
St. Marys, Ohio
St. Marys is a city in Auglaize County, Ohio, United States. The population was 8,342 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Wapakoneta, Ohio, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Built in 1889 in a mixture of the Queen Anne
Queen Anne Style architecture (United States)
In America, the Queen Anne style of architecture, furniture and decorative arts was popular in the United States from 1880 to 1910. In American usage "Queen Anne" is loosely used of a wide range of picturesque buildings with "free Renaissance" details rather than of a specific formulaic style in...
and Victorian
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
architectural styles, the hotel building sits in the 100 block of West Spring Street.
Also known as the "Fort Barbee Hotel," the Fountain Hotel is a brick building that is built on a foundation of sandstone and covered with an asphalt roof. On the first story
Storey
A storey or story is any level part of a building that could be used by people...
, the facade is divided into multiple storefronts, but the rest of the hotel has been converted into housing for low-income individuals aged fifty-five or older. Conversion to its present format was carried out by the Muskingum Development Corporation in the 1990s, at a cost of $2 million to $3 million; aid was provided by the Minster State Bank, which offered reduced interest rates to the redevelopers.
Surrounding the Fountain Hotel are several other important community locations, such as the municipal building
Seat of local government
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
, the Buckeye Trail
Buckeye Trail
The Buckeye Trail is a 1,444 miles long-distance trail that loops around the state of Ohio. Part of it is on roads and part is on wooded trail...
route along the Miami and Erie Canal
Miami and Erie Canal
The Miami and Erie Canal was a canal that connected the Ohio River in Cincinnati, Ohio with Lake Erie in Toledo, Ohio. Construction on the canal began in 1825 and was completed in 1845. It consisted of 19 aqueducts, three guard locks, and 103 canal locks. Each lock measured by and they...
, and a community park. Adjacent to the hotel is a small spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
; once tapped to provide water for Fort St. Marys, which once occupied the location of the city's downtown, the spring was later converted into a fountain that became the hotel's namesake.
In 1997, the Fountain Hotel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Key to this designation was its place in local history and commerce, as it once played the role of a hotel, specialty store
Specialty store
Specialty stores are small stores which specialize in a specific range of merchandise and related items. Most stores have an extensive depth of stock in the item that they specialize in and provide high levels of service and expertise...
, and restaurant. Two other properties in St. Marys are listed on the Register: the Dr. Issac Elmer Williams House and Office
Dr. Issac Elmer Williams House and Office
The Dr. Issac Elmer Williams House and Office are a pair of buildings in St. Marys, Ohio, United States. Built in 1903, both are fine examples of the Queen Anne style of architecture....
, built in 1903, and the former Holy Rosary Catholic Church
Holy Rosary Catholic Church (St. Marys, Ohio)
Holy Rosary Catholic Church is a Roman Catholic parish on the east side of St. Marys, Ohio, United States. Established in 1852, the church has been recognized for its historic 1860s church building, which was demolished amid a period of growth in the 1970s and replaced with a modern...
, which was destroyed one year before it was placed on the Register.