Architectural Style (Original): Second Empire Year Built: 1876
Architect/Builder (Original): Henry B. Curtis
Although the Curtis Inn on the Square dates back to the mid-20th century, it honors the great legacy of its predecessor, the Hotel Curtis, making this the longest operating hotel in the City of Mount Vernon. Constructed in 1876 by one of Knox County's most prominent citizens-lawyer, busine
ssman, and gentleman architect Henry B. Curtis-the Hotel Curtis not only served as a nationally-renowned landmark along the Public Square, but also as a living indicator of the local economy. Attesting to Curtis's good taste in architecture, he designed a large Second Empire structure, as elegant on the inside as on the exterior. The original Hotel Curtis stretched the entire length of the Public Square between the South Main Street and Blackberry Alley in three asymmetrical parts. The two outer sections of the building, one along South Main Street and the other along Blackberry Alley, both consisted of four bays with large mansard roofs, but that is where the resemblance ends from the main facade facing the Public Square. The Blackberry Alley section had three dormer windows facing the Square, while the South Main section only had two, flanked by two chimneys. This latter section did, however, have three dormer windows facing South Main Street, almost as though the roof was turned, likely because the western elevation served as the main entrance to the storefronts that occupied its ground-level space. The central unit of the hotel contained the lobby and registration desk, which patrons entered via an offset portico supported by slender, smooth columns with Corinthian capitals. Like the roofline of the two outer sections of the Hotel Curtis, the portico has a small mansard roof topped with a wrought iron balustrade and supported by Italianate brackets. Every corner of the Hotel Curtis was defined by stone quoins, which also helped to accent the arched window lintels. The decorative keystones at the top of each lintel resembles a lantern, the top of which looks like a thick cord of rope. was inscribed in the center of this lantern, and was identical to the keystones that he used at Round Hill, the large mansion that he originally built for his daughter. The Hotel Curtis's soaring 200 rooms were available for both local and out-of-town lodgers, with 100 baths available. Most of these facilities were shared among several different rooms in the hallway, though a washbasin and pitcher was available in every guest room for casual washing. By 1915, this grand hotel had become outmoded. Patrons began to turn away from the Hotel Curtis in favor of other establishments within the city that provided a more modern lodging experience, such as steam heat, more efficient indoor plumbing, full private bathrooms, and electric lighting. Business at the Hotel Curtis was so bad, in fact, that the hotel restaurant was closed to all but hotel employees-twelve of whom had to be discharged because of this decision. Initiative to "convert it into modern hostelry" began in May of 1915, when Rolla Warner, of Columbus, was brought to Mount Vernon to serve as the new acting manager for this and a handful of other suffering area hotels. Lavatories were installed in all of the rooms, with the additional luxury of providing taps for both cold and hot water. While there were still no private baths available, the hotel added twelve more washing facilities to the building, and updated the existing baths with modern fixtures. Despite the
gas heating that was in vogue at the time, the hotel opted to enlarge its steam heating plant, which allowed them to add heat to forty more rooms. In the event that the head did not work, or that any other issue might arise, telephones were installed in each guest room that rang directly to the manager's office. For local and long distance calls, guests were welcome to use either of the two telephone booths installed in the lobby. To further enhance the guest experience, two new reception rooms were added, one on the 2nd floor and one on the 3rd. The 2nd-floor lounge had beautiful oak furnish, as well as leather chairs and a piano. While the 3rd floor lounge was not quite as luxurious as that below, it, too, had oak furniture and provided a nice respite for guests of the Hotel Curtis. Every single space within the hotel was completely remodeled and updated with new wallpaper, carpeting, furniture, curtains, and most importantly, the building was completely wired with electricity. The dining room received some of the greatest attention during the modernization process, with the hope that a more elegant dining venue would bring non-guests back to the restaurant. A large chandelier hung down from the ceiling, with a series of sconces placed along each wall to compliment it, creating a "better and more beautiful illumination than that existing at present." Most of the new tables were capable of seating up to four patrons, though they were made to be easily arranged to host larger parties. For those guests desiring a little more privacy during their dining experience, seven "deuces" were placed in the more secluded sections of the dining hall. The kitchen was refitted with an electric exhaust fan to help regulate the temperature as well as the assortment of "offensive odors" associated with food preparation. Around 3:00 a.m. on the morning of July 17, 1946, night clerk Daniel Stokes discovered a potentially disastrous fire, which trapped most of the guests on the upper floors. Many of those sleeping on the 2nd and 3rd floor rooms jumped onto the roof of an adjacent single-story building. Stokes recalled that one woman "became hysterical and I had to conk her. I hope she doesn't remember it." Luckily, not a single death occurred. Only seven of the guests were injured, along with two employees and a couple of firemen performing their duty. The severely damaged upper portion of the building, located in the western section facing South Main Street, had to be rebuilt using contemporary brick. The scarred structure remained as a constant reminder to the citizens of Knox County of the near-disastrous fire until 1971, when the hotel was razed and the current complex was constructed in place of the grand Hotel Curtis. The Curtis Inn was constructed toward the end of Mount Vernon's Colonial Revival movement. It was completed in 1972 with only abstract hints of Colonial Revival architecture. The western portion of the building had a parapet side-gable that was reminiscent of an end-chimney configuation common in many early Colonial homes in the northeastern part of the United States. The main entrance was located beneath an arch that was intended to imitate the carriageways found in many early hotel establishments that would have led to stables in a rear alley. The 1970s version of the Curtis Hotel was razed in 2014, and construction will soon begin on a new five-story structure that closely resembles the original structure of the Hotel Curtis. The new hotel will be owned and operated by Mount Vernon Nazarene University.
