James unearthed a gem in his research of our home's history in the Brown County Ursuline Academy Alumni Association Yearbooks detailing their renovations of the Inn beginning in 1911.
We thought we might be pioneers in the restoration of the old house. Of course, we knew very well the Lamphiers replaced the heating system, restored the front portico, added new box gutters to the rear, remodeled the kitchen in the 1960s , and on and on. And we knew the Gendreaus replaced the roof, added new box gutters to front and side, re-papered the wall and carpeted the floors in the 1980s, and on and on. But the Alumnae Association, who had started managing the Inn in 1911, out-did us all in 1920-22. As of 1920, "everything inside and outside" the Inn "seemed to need renewal." Two years of renovations (which will be detailed in our little history of the Inn) refreshed and modernized the old building and, as the Alumnae reported, "the old Inn stood up and rubbed its eyes!" Later, the Alumnae minutes reported that the Inn was now "a thing of beauty and under new management, hopefully, a joy forever!"
We hope to mine more gems (and photos) from the Association archives. I am sure there will be enough to fill a book but for now, we will be sharing more time traveling reports from time to time.
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