NEW ARTICLE IN THE MARION NEWSPAPER!

Historic Elgin renovation takes shape
Entrepreneur making progress with renovation of historic Elgin Hotel building
By SUSAN BERG
Staff writer
It’s 1880s meets 2008.
It is a mix of the amenities of the original Elgin Hotel that are being retained where possible and being recreated when not, and the conveniences of this era.
The former Elgin Hotel, the statuesque three-story building at the corner of Third and Santa Fe streets, Marion, has been in the process of renovation for a few years.
For Jim Cloutier, it has been a labor of love and patience.
He had the vision of taking the Elgin apartment building and restoring it to its former beauty, making it and Marion a destination location.
The process started with gutting the entire building, taking the interior to bare wood.
Since that startling process, the interior is taking shape with wooden pillars and a marble floor in the main entry where a fine dining restaurant will be located.
The second floor, which is near completion, provides eight bed and breakfast suites, a common parlor, dining room, and kitchen.
The third floor will be the living quarters for Jim and wife Nancy, who currently live at Hillsboro.
A new spiral staircase near the center of the building is the primary access to the upper floors with an elevator remaining in operation for those less enthusiastic about the climb.
Ceiling tiles on the main floor rivals any tin ceiling from the turn of the century with gilded cornices and crown molding.
The ground floor used to have a dozen apartments or so which now have been divided into a waiting area for the restaurant complete with fireplace, a dining area, kitchen, and ballroom or reception area for special meetings or events.
The bed and breakfast area, also formerly divided into numerous apartments with narrow hallways, is now spacious with open areas for guests to sit and visit or eat meals.
The largest most spectacular suite will be named for Marion’s well-known first son, Kansas Governor Edward Hoch.
Furnishings will fit in with the historical significance of the 1880s building, Cloutier said.
So, when will the impressive project be completed?
“We plan to finish by Christmas,” Cloutier said.
Finishing touches include the installation of the original railing from the second-story balcony.
“We’ll have to update it some,” Cloutier said, referring to the height of the railing being about knee-high.
“We want to utilize the balcony area but will have to raise the railing for safety purposes,” he said.
And what about that spectacular restaurant?
“I’m not going into the restaurant business,” said the owner of Shawmar Oil Company.
Ideally, Cloutier wants to lease the restaurant area to an entrepreneur.