By Paul Tuthill
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wamc/local-wamc-999180.mp3
Amherst, MA – A landmark historic hotel in downtown Amherst Massachusetts has reopened after a three year long, 14 million dollar renovation project. WAMC's Pioneer Valley Bureau Chief Paul Tuthill reports.
The Lord Jeffery Inn, located on the Amherst Town Common, has opened its doors to guests for the first time since November 2008 after undergoing the most significant changes and improvements since it welcomed its very first guests 85 years ago. The project was designed to keep the inn's historic character while adding modern amenities and state of the art energy efficiency features.
At a ribbon cutting and welcoming ceremony the changes were universally praised.
State Representative Ellen Story described the Lord Jeff, as its known locally, as the heart of the town, and said it was great to have it beating again.
The inn, which is owned by Amherst College, is on a list of America's 200 historic hotels. The renovations left the exterior appearance largely unchanged. The interior was gutted and the 49 guest rooms rebuilt, with such things as wi-fi and flat screen TV's put in. There's a new ballroom, a new restaurant and expanded and improved conference rooms.. To keep the historic charm, the public areas include wood plank floors, extensive crown moldings, built in bookshelves, fireplaces, and high back chairs.
The renovation brought the Lord Jeff into the 21st century when it comes to energy efficiency, according to James Brassard, the director of facilities for Amherst College
The closing of the Lord Jeff, coming right at the start of the Great Recession, was a further blow to businesses in Amherst. Now its reopened just in time to boost the economic recovery, according to Amherst Town Manager John Musante.
Amherst College president Carolyn Martin said the renovated inn will strengthen ties between the college and the town.
Some one who spent a lot of time at the Lord Jeff is Jane Treadway Noel. Her father, LG Treadway was the inn's first manager, and founded the company that managed hotel properties. She was six months old and slept in a bureau drawer the first night the inn opened..As a child, her father assigned her little jobs to do in the hotel..She stayed at the Lord Jeff just before it closed in 2008 for the renovations, and Noel, who lives in Boston, was welcomed at the first guest in the newly renovated inn
The Lord Jeff will have tours for the public on January 14th