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Once on the brink of demolition, the Brick Hotel on The Circle in Georgetown is set to preside over what could turn out to be the largest Return Day in recent memory.
Built nearly 175 years ago, the landmark is being restored under the ever-watchful eye of owners Lynn and Ed Lester of Georgetown. The former inn, temporary courthouse and bank is being transformed into a showplace even more elegant than it was nearly two centuries ago.
Contained within its three floors and 13,000 square feet are 14 guest rooms, most furnished with replica antique furnishings, a rooftop terrace, restaurant, tavern, and private dining and meeting areas.
A vision to save history
Lynn Lester, who retired as the director of finance at the Seaford School District, said she has always dreamed of doing something different. Somehow, becoming an innkeeper was probably not one of those dreams.
She and her husband, a former mayor of Georgetown and owner of Lester Realty, have closely followed the story of the Brick Hotel over the past decade. Sold to the state of Delaware, it was scheduled for demolition to make way for a new courthouse.
Georgetown citizens were aghast that anyone would even think of tearing down the iconic Georgetown landmark, built in 1836 and one of only about a dozen brick structures built before the Civil War still standing in the state.
Public outcry forced the state to back down and the property was sold to H.P. Layton Partnership. As mayor, Ed Lester pushed for the town to purchase the property and convert it to a new town hall.
As Lynn says, to make a very long story short, they ended up purchasing the property four years ago.
“We talked about the best use for it, and he had one vision, and I had another. I won,” she said, laughing.
That vision has become an all-encompassing passion.
Fast-paced construction
Although plans for the project started in 2005, actual construction began this past January. “They are doing an 18-month job in 10 months – they are busting butt,” Lester said.
As kismet would have it, coordinating the construction is one of Lester’s friends dating back to her Seaford High School days. Donna Williams Albani of Sterling Enterprises relocated back to Sussex County after a successful career in Colorado as a construction manager and interior designer.
Miranda & Hardt Contracting of Ocean View is the builder.
While Lester worked to maintain much of the original charm of the old Brick Hotel, more space was needed. A modern 2,200-foot wing was added at the rear of the building.
The Lesters have not only had to work through the town and county building and inspection processes, but state and federal historical regulations as well.
The gauntlet has been thrown down – the massive project must be signed, sealed and delivered by the first week of November. Lester has big plans to open the Brick Hotel in time for Return Day. Most of the rooms have already been rented and parties have been planned.
A gala opening for special guests has been scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 5. The Brick Hotel promises to be the best spot for parade viewing on Return Day.
Each room or section of the Brick Hotel is named to reflect the history of the area. The third floor, Tinker Hall, is named after the merchants, or tinkers, who stayed at the hotel when selling their wares.
The largest suite is named after former Wilmington Trust bank manager and well-known Sussex Countian Calvert Richardson.
Exposing, preserving the past
Lester and her team have been meticulous in their efforts to salvage and reuse as much as possible from the original structure, which is on the National Register of Historic Places as a building with a rare mixture of Federal and Greek revival styles.
It’s also a mixture of old and new – the building’s heating and air conditioning system is geothermal.
What she found as construction started was a hodgepodge of building materials from eras that span nearly two centuries.
They removed the original plank flooring from the third floor and used it on the first floor; the mantels on some of the nine working fireplaces are original, as is the trim on most of the windows and doors; the master staircase has been preserved; and there is a wall of exposed original brick along a corridor where the old and new buildings are joined.
Lester is most proud that the second-floor porch is being restored, providing guests with one of the best views of The Circle in Georgetown.
And by saving history, the Lesters could also be saving big bucks. If they are able to meet all of the federal historic preservation guidelines, they could receive up to 40 percent of the total cost of the project back in tax credits.
“This has helped us to justify the cost of the project,” she said.
THE BRICK HOTEL: A QUICK HISTORY
• Built in 1836, the Brick Hotel at 18 The Circle in Georgetown was a sight to behold when brick structures were rare; the brick was made at a kiln in Georgetown.
• Known as the Union Hotel during the Civil War era, the inn was a favorite spot for Union sympathizers. Across The Circle, those who supported the Confederacy frequented the Eagle Hotel. One can only imagine the confrontations that ensued between patrons who had lingered too long at each of the bars.
• It also became an informal club for members of the Delaware Bar when court was in session.
• The Brick Hotel provided lodging for more than 100 years, also offering space for a post office and a temporary courthouse when the new courthouse was under construction.
• In the 1950s, the property was sold to Wilmington Trust and the building was converted to a bank. The second-floor balcony, which is being replaced during renovation, was removed in 1952.
• The bank moved out in the mid-1990s, and most of the building fell into disuse, except for space used for a coffee shop on the first floor.
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