Back in Grinnell! Last October, I stood in front of Hotel Grinnell, in my Grinnell College sweatshirt, grinning like a kid... after 2 notable nights! I was happy to be back in the town, where I lived the first decade of my life. The Hotel Building I was happy about spending some time with 2 special people, in this old building, which became a hotel in 2016. My older siblings spent a lot of time in this building, but I have few memories of it. That's surprising, since our home for a few years, was just a minute walk away. With My Sibs in 1967 In this photo I'm the one wearing a (smaller) Grinnell sweatshirt, standing between my older brother and sister. I was in 4th grade. Chris and Jenni were in high school and junior high. Little David hadn't started school. Chris and Jenni have many memories of the building where I slept, last October. It was their school. Grinnell Junior High The bold structure that now houses the boutique hotel, was originally built as a junior high school in 1921. Before my trip, I asked Jenni what she remembered. She recalled sitting in class and staring out enormous windows. (note the arched ones above the doors) Joanna and Debbie My family moved away after 4th grade and I never got to attend Grinnell Junior High. My friends Joanna and Debbie did! The photo below, shows the 3 of us in 1967. We look mighty proper and subdued! The other photo was taken 56 years later, when the 3 of us reunited in Grinnell! Deb and Jo were my guides at the old school. School Memories Most of my school memories in Grinnell, involve this amazing building. I went to 2nd and 3rd grades at Cooper School. My buddies and I share interesting memories of strict teachers and dangerously fun playground equipment. Oh what I would give, to step inside Cooper School one more time! But it became a parking lot, instead of a boutique hotel. A Friday in October On a Friday last October, Deb and I traveled in separate cars to meet up in Grinnell. (Jo would come the next day) I was excited and just a bit nervous about this meet up adventure. I parked near the ivy covered building and headed towards the entrance, with automatic doors. I had spoken with Debbie minutes earlier, when she called to say she had checked into the room. It was surreal to hear her voice! The last time we'd had a "sleepover" we were 10. The last time I'd heard Debbie's speak, it was when we were 18 and met up for an evening in St. Louis. Crazy that we planned the reunion through texts! Lobby I stepped inside the glass doors and took a deep breath. No smells of sassafras, like the cleaner that Mr. Smith (our janitor) used at Cooper School. I'd read intriguing details about the renovation of this building. But mostly my brain was focused on the reunion ahead. I absorbed a few details quickly. I walked towards the giant "g", recognizing it from the sign in front. I would see many more of those gs during the stay. I headed for the reception desk and absorbed the fun mix of old and new. The travertine floors and lighting fixtures over the desk, looked vintage. The refreshing wall garden looked very current. I spoke with the woman at the desk and babbled something in my nervous voice, about meeting up with childhood friends. My words were too fast and she was too young, to grasp the importance of this exciting reunion. The host gave me directions to the room, just as a young man wheeled a bike out the door behind me. I turned down the main hall and saw a lineup of more bikes. Complimentary hotel bikes! Just grab and ride when you like! I suddenly remembered my Red Schwinn, named Nelly. The nostalgia of it all! I passed a chalkboard and felt tempted to leave a message... but Deb was waiting. I passed some sitting spots with retro and trendy furniture. Modern-hip artwork decorated the walls. I'd read that Hotel Grinnell had 300 original pieces of art. No duplicates. Cheers With Debbie Debbie and I reunited in the third floor hallway. Nerves disappeared. It felt totally normal, hugging my childhood friend, even though we never hugged as kids! We explored the building together and ended up with early happy hour drinks, in "The Periodic Table" lounge. Yum! Almost as tasty as the Kool-aid we drank from Dixie Cups as kids! Fun at School School was never this fun, when I was young! Our bartender Chad, (I think!) certainly helped make it fun. He whipped up our drinks and took pics with my phone. Chad seemed genuinely impressed with the idea that the 3 of us would be were having a reunion, for the first time in 50+ years... and that Deb had gone to school in the building. Chad was young enough to be our grandson, but he didn't treat us like old grannies! Play! In the '60s, Debbie lived down the street from me, so we have a lot of memories of playing. Rollerskating, hopscotch, iceskating, Liddle Kiddle Dolls... dancing to the Monkees! But we were too busy catching up to make use of all the "Play Space" surrounding us! The renovated gathering areas were done so well! But why so empty on a Friday evening? It turns out that Grinnell College was on fall break. That actually worked to our advantage. If we'd had a few more days, maybe we would have taken full advantage of all the games. Skeeball... Scrabble... Shuffleboard! Scoreboard... Gymnasium The scoreboard decoration was a reminder that there was more to explore! The glowing board was relocated from the school's gymnasium. I needed Guide Debbie to take me to the gym... which is now called The Ballroom and used for events. If only I'd been wearing some old Ked's sneakers, I could have jumped and made echo-y squeaks on the original maple floors! Debbie's memories kicked in when she set foot on the gym floor. She told me some stories about a certain (very mean) gym teacher, while she stepped on one of the original court lines, using it like a balance beam. I took a video of her comical impersonation of a junior high cheerleader, which I promptly texted to Joanna... so she'd know what kind of fun to expect! New Wing We left the gym and did some exploring outside. I spotted probably the largest of all the gs. It was on the rounded structure which holds a stairwell. I believe this section of the hotel was added in the recent renovation. There was a large patio off to the left, that would have been nice, on a warmer and less windy evening. The sounds of pounding and blasting that we'd heard earlier had ceased. The workers on the roof were cleaning up for the day. I wonder if they'd been amused by the giant fried egg, on the far end of the building? The Auditorium There's only one part of the school that I actually do remember from childhood. I once saw a production of South Pacific on this stage. I could be confused, but I think this auditorium, (as well as the gym) may have been part of the old original 1904 high school. The gym and theatre were saved when the school was later demolished. Up to Third Floor There was another set of stairs that we could climb to our third floor room. The terrazzo patterns were impressive. Debbie told me a very embarrassing story of falling down these stairs. Everything is embarrassing in Junior High, but especially back in the days of mini skirts! Room 313 The hall was quiet. No bells ringing. No voices echoing. No lockers slamming. Our room was at the end of the hall, up a few more stairs. The first thing I noticed was the soaring ceiling and the tall window! We were located right above the entrance. Then I noticed Andy Warhol through the canopy bed. And a chalkboard on the wall. The iron furniture was created in Iowa, for Hotel Grinnell. There was a "g" cut right into the head board! The room was a little smaller than I had hoped for and the little blue couch/bed was not as useable as we'd expected. But the high ceilings made the room feel more spacious. Stuff The rolled towels and iron shelf reminded me of something we might have seen in a vintage locker room. The coffee maker and water bottles reminded me it wasn't the 1960's. I loved the "Not Now" tie, that served as a do not disturb sign. There was a desk in the corner, below a framed "ink blot". (very 1960's!) The desk looked nothing like the desks that I imagine once filled this room. The goodies on the desk were fun. Our key cards were in a Hall Pass sleeve. A number 2 pencil and a report card allowed us to "grade" our stay. The Big Window The most impressive part of the room, was the window. I had an easy time imagining my sister daydreaming out this window. Later that night, Debbie and I ended up spending a lot of time peeking through the glass, from our darkened room. It was around 9 pm when we heard some commotion below. It was coming from a very troubled man who seemed to be conversing loudly with some kind of wheeled cart, while his worried dog watched. It was a bit unsettling until Chad from the bar made call the police to do a check. Deb is a psych nurse and was concerned for the man who needed help not an arrest. Joanna Arrives The next day, Joanna arrived before lunch and we spent the day acting like we were 10 again. At some point we kindly asked to borrow some extra ties, for a little photo shoot. Luckily Chad was back working the bar and was willing to be our photographer. Going to the Office For our second night we were able to get a room upgrade. Room 112 was much more spacious. I pulled out a pack of candy cigarettes (Thanks airport gift shop!) and we enjoyed some more posing, near the entrance of our new room. Room 112 was located on the first floor, between the entrance and the reception desk. Jo and Deb recognized the location right away. "Yep! This is where the principal's office was!" Huge Improvement! Here are a few photos to show just how much more you get for an extra $20.! However when I checked out the next day, our kind host said the upgrade was complimentary. We had the same great floors and canopy bed, but there was a sliding barn door for privacy. The door from the lobby opened to a black & white tile floor. Double sinks on one side and chalkboard on the other. The toilet and shower had their own large room. The wooden bench reminded me again of a locker room. I pondered the mystery spot on the wood floor. What had been removed from that part of the floor? Gathering Area Our little sitting area had a TV and a couch sleeper, that was much more useable than the one from the night before. There was more colorful art on the walls. I especially liked the "shoe art" in the hall. Looks like colorful fish! Serious Discussion? I wish I'd captured some of the hysterics and laughter from our stay at Hotel Grinnell. Instead I snapped pics during quieter moments. This photo looks terribly serious! We were probably talking about where to go to lunch, but it looks like Deb and Jo were disagreeing about something very serious... Like, No! Cherry is the best flavor of Tootsie Roll Pop!... or These salty Bugles taste awful now and they don't fit on fingers like they used to!" Maybe the discussion had more intense questions. Was Mister Magoo a woke comic book? or, Is it a sin to pretend your Necco candies are Communion wafers? Old Photos Actually we didn't discuss those things, but we fiddled with silly puddy and talked about our kids and grandkids and even about politics. Thankfully we all are in agreement... We gabbed and reminisced and looked at old Grinnell photos on the laptop, Most of the photos made us laugh or sigh. Some made us stop and ponder and try harder to remember details of the past. Exploring Campus The best remembering surfaced when we took off on foot, to explore the nearby campus, where my Dad taught and Jo's dad was president. We 3 knew the campus well. As kids, we rode our bikes all over campus. We played in the grass and explored the buildings. It was incredible to wander and recall with friends, who shared memories. So many memories flooded back on that beautiful fall day. Downtown Hotel Grinnell's location was ideal. It was less than a minute walk to "downtown", where we 3 had more memories. I remember choosing boxed Halloween costumes, for sale at Ben Franklin's. At the Cunningham Drugs. (Now Merchants' Row) my doctor wrote our "ice cream prescriptions" on his pad, so we could have a treat at Cunningham's soda fountain! Our hotel wasn't just close to downtown. It was only a minute walk to my first home that I remember, on Park Street. A few steps further was St. Mary's Catholic Church. I stared at the babies and the ladies hats, while our Father Kubrick did mass in Latin. I'm so grateful that I had some time to wander and swap stories with Debbie and Joanna. Back to the Periodic Table The bar was little livelier on Saturday evening. We spotted a few Halloween costumes and a curious and colorful assortment of liquids on the bar. There seemed to be an eyeball in the beaker! We toasted with green eyeballs instead and ordered some tacos off the light menu. Then off for an evening drive and a visit with Joanna's step mom. Simple and lovely! Morning The 2-night stay went quickly. It was suddenly Sunday morning. We enjoyed a complimentary breakfast in The Periodic Table. Jo and Deb had to hit the road pretty early. My plane was later, so I did some art on the chalkboard and took time packing up my rental car. Hotel Bike Check-out wasn't until noon, so I grabbed one of the bikes from the hall and took off to explore on my own. I rode to my favorite park, then I rode down Summer Street and knocked on the door of my old house. It wasn't yellow anymore. Not sure what I would have said, had someone answered. But it gave me an excuse to stand on the porch where we kids once drank lemonade and played, "Kitty in the Corner"! Oh Summer Street! You were a good one! What's Notable? As I flew home that afternoon, I felt such a sense of satisfaction. I had combined a unique hotel stay with 2 special friends. The playful, creative reinvention of this old school was just what we 3 needed to rediscover our own playful selves! My memories will be more about friends and nostalgia, than luxury sheets and welcoming staff. That certainly helped though!
I would happily return or recommend this hotel to others. However it would be hard to duplicate the full package experience I enjoyed!
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Where? Last October, Don and I stayed in the modest little town of Perry. About an hour from Des Moines. I found photos of Hotel Pattee on the internet. What was the story about this spiffed up little beauty, in small town Iowa? Why? Before heading on our trip, people kept asking the same question. "Why are you going on a road trip in Iowa?" The easy answer was, "Oh, I like Iowa. I used to live there." But that was 56 years ago. No family in Iowa now. Mostly, Don and I just love simple, meandering-trips, driving on chill country roads. Iowa has a lot of them. The state also has a lot of very curious small towns, as well as historic inns that aren't expensive. Perry and Pattee seemed like a good combo. Flags and Canopy I was happy to see the flowers and waving flags welcoming us. The canopy added a bold city-look to the hotel. I learned later that the ritzy canopy was actually removed in the 1960's, when the hotel became apartments. That happens... I'm glad it came back. The planters with healthy ferns, added a retro hotel feel. And I loved the classy "HP", built into the bricks. "Hotel Pattee"? Harry Pattee I spotted more "HP" decor on the terra cotta floors, when we entered. Were the letters for Hotel Pattee or Harry Pattee? Harry Pattee and his brother began building the hotel in honor of their father, in 1912. (Harry seems to be the name more associated with the hotel) Sadly, their dad died before the hotel's opening in 1913. 1913... Perry was a prosperous agricultural and railroad town, when the Pattee brothers decided to build. Seems odd that they sold the hotel less than a year after its opening. This is how the lobby looked in 1939 after quite a few owners and re-openings. But by 1993, the hotel was in sad shape. Luckily, multimillionaire philanthropists, Roberta and Howard Ahmanson bought the hotel. Roberta had the needed passion, for rescuing an iconic hotel in the town where she grew up. Howard had the family money. They did an amazing top dollar renovation job. Re-Opened in 1997 After a massive remodeling the hotel reopened in 1997, with 40 theme-based guest rooms. The only theme I could spot in the lobby and common areas, was an Arts and Crafts theme. Which isn't really a theme. That's just the decorative trend that was still popular in 1913. When we arrived, we were welcomed by Gabby at the front desk. We were also greeted by Lopso the 3-legged pup, who was lounging on the carpet. Fireplaces and Art Don and I wandered the first floor common areas and were blown away by the quality of craftsmanship. The leather furniture and Persian rugs added a classy warmth. I was drawn to the 2-sided stone fire-place, with artwork on both sides. Words on the Wall We spotted quotes stenciled throughout the hotel. Some words were thought provoking. Some made me feel like I was at church. The artwork throughout the hotel was quite impressive. From what I've since read, the Ahmansons are both passionate about the arts and religion. Artwork Supposedly there are 117 pieces on display, all from regional artists. I liked some of the small town scenes. Much of the art reminded me of the the work of Iowa native Grant Wood. Wood actually created a lot more than the well known American Gothic couple. Louie in the Ballroom There was a huge mural in the Spring Valley Ballroom. There was a lot going on in this mural. Louis Armstrong and his horn, is shown just above a circus tent. Evidently he stayed at Hotel Pattee long ago, when he was not welcomed in any of the Des Moines hotels. The Basement I was excited to get down to the basement level and find more artwork. I don't know the story about the funny floating lady, but she reminded me of a whimsical marionette. Beneath the painting of a farmer, I saw a collection of doggy toys. Lopso's Story The toys of course belonged to the 3-legged hotel mascot, Lopso. He had a lot of toys and numerous lounging spots in the hotel. Gabby at the desk, told me the story of Lospo. In 2020, the sweet pup belonged to a homeless man, who got into an issue with a man and his gun. Lopso ended up with more than bullet injuries, but was given good care by a local vet. Hotel Pattee became his new home, where he now has many fans. Arthur "Oley" Olson's Bowling Alley There were more fun surprises in the basement. The hotel has had a bowling alley since its opening in 1913. The bowling alley was given a huge makeover and a new name, when the Ahmansons renovated 25+ years ago. They named the 2-lane bowling alley after Roberta's grandfather, who happened to be a champion bowler in the 1920s and 1930s. Chapel There seemed to be no end to my basement exploration. I found artwork and bowling options and doggy toys. I think there was possibly a fitness room, that I totally missed. And I found a chapel, that wasn't exactly big enough for a hotel wedding. This was a tiny space with enough room for 4 praying people. I started thinking about some of the bible quotes and wondered if the hotel actually opened in 1913, with a chapel and stenciled bible verses. I don't know that I've ever stayed in a hotel with a chapel. I should have taken a seat (or kneeler) to ponder that. Up We Go The 3-story building had an elevator, but the marble stairs were so lovely. When I'm not lugging suitcases, I always prefer stairs... especially when we're not on the top second floor. With each climb, I admired the dramatic view of artwork and skylight. Sitting Areas There were comfy sitting areas on both guest floors. I loved spotting the horse sculpture out of one window! The hall decor (along with the plaque outside of our room) was perfectly in touch with the Craftsman style. R.M. Harvey Room There were 40 themed rooms to chose from and I chose a room with a name that I didn't even recognize. Don knew he had no say, about our room choice. I was too excited to pick the theme. It was a quick decision. Circus Room! I didn't really care who RM Harvey was. I just knew I wanted to be in the circus room. I can't help it. I have a thing about circuses. This room just made me grin and clap like some kind of amused 2-year-old at the circus. It's embarrassing how entertained I was. Tiny Room with Lots of Stuff! I knew our room wasn't one of the large ones. But they squeezed in 2 rooms worth of colorful circus themed decor. The walls were packed with photos and news clippings about R.M Harvey and his involvement with numerous Iowa circuses over 60 years. There was lots to read above the desk and even in the bathroom! I didn't read it all, but I quickly learned Mr. Harvey was a business man, not a performer. If he'd been a lion tamer or trapeze guy, I'd have read every word. Colorful Accents My eyes got busy taking in every detail! Performing animals on the lampshade... ... a tidy little pillow and blanket set with lions and clowns, on a cozy red chair. The Big Picture I love a kitschy, themed room! Even if it's a little worn or dusty, like the Clown Motel in Nevada, I'm so easily amused. But honestly this dandy little circus room was spotless. It was 10 times cuter than the website photos. Our queen bed fit neatly between 2 tables, holding circus animal lamps. (The horse and lion kept an eye on us!) Above the colorful pillows was a striped circus tent canopy! The ceiling light glowed through a clown hat. Love it! Spotlight on Details I was thoroughly impressed. The room was not decorated with random circus-theme decor purchased from a thrift shop or Kids-R-US. Every detail was thought out for adult circus fans. Even the mural border surrounding the room, was entertaining with a lively circus scene. There was a ledge with extra lighting to enhance our viewing. Ta da! Quilt, Curtain and Dishes! I do love an old quilt! But I was happy to sleep under one that wasn't faded and musty smelling. This one had a tag saying a local quilt group had made it for the Circus Room in 2022. The colorful patchwork design made me think of the painted stands, that roaring lions sit upon, in the ring. And look at how the window curtains part, just like the opening of a circus tent. Then zoom in above the headboard to see the display of children's dishes. I looked for the china (with creepy clown faces) on Ebay and learned that the dishes were put out by Union Pacific RR! Not cheap! Popcorn in the Circus Room After looking out the window a moment, I noticed a wooden popcorn wagon, parked in front of the library across the street. Kids were stopping by on their way home from school, to buy a bag or 2. I was inspired! I dashed downstairs and bought some popcorn, to enjoy in the circus room! "Tomfoolery Supreme" What a caption! And what good news, that Tom Mix and his horse Tony, "Will positively appear at each performance!" I studied the fine vintage posters as I nibbled my popcorn. You just can't beat this Tom Mix circus poster, with a plate of pancakes and a winking clown holding Castor Oil! This would freak out a lot of people, but I chose this side of the bed, just to be near those pancakes! Happy Hour Don and I were excited to make use of the lounge and restaurant, just off the lobby. The classy Inter-Urban Lounge was a bit quiet, on a weeknight at 5:30. The lounge was named for the electric train that used to take folks from Perry to Des Moines. The beautiful remodel was done in the style of Frank Lloyd Wright, who spent a lot of time in Iowa. Back in the Day I'm guessing this photo from Hotel Pattee, is from the 1940s or 1950's. No FLW Prairie Style in this bar. I wonder if Mr. Wright ever visited Hotel Pattee? Wright actually designed a hotel in Mason City, Iowa around the same time Hotel Pattee opened. Wall of Photos While Don ordered us drinks, I glanced at the display of photographs. The walls were covered in framed images of the town's railroad history. A few spotlights on Perry locals as well. Willis Library The lounge was eerily quiet, so we took our drinks to the library. This cozy place with copper hooded fireplace, needed some appreciators. We moved right in! I liked the quote above the painting of the mysterious faceless farmer. I studied the book selections and studied the vases and treasures, tucked into the shelves. Don tried out one of the Mission Style rockers, resting on the lovely William Morris replica carpet. Ok, I didn't know the name William Morris. Had to look him up. Cheers! Don and I put the timer on the cell camera and had a quick toast. It was the evening before our anniversary and our last night together in Iowa. Cheers to 44 years of crazy travels! Pattee Cafe And then there was dinner in the railroad themed restaurant! The Hostess Station/Ticket Booth delighted this theme-lover! The hostess told me the train on the track above our heads, wasn't working at the moment. But it looked pretty festive anyway. Dining Room I snapped a photo of the empty dining room earlier, so I wouldn't annoy diners. But at 7:30, there was no one to annoy in the dining room anyway. We had it to ourselves. We sat in a cozy booth, with seat cushions that made us feel like we were on an old train. Above us we enjoyed a mural of the Perry Train Station. There were also painted images on the panels above our seats. My eyes couldn't stop wandering. I looked across the tables and studied another mural from an earlier decade. I wish I could go back in time... Food! First we split a humongous Caesar salad with sliced egg... which was wonderful. Then we devoured our entrees. Don's Cornmeal Sautéd Walleye Filet and my Chicken Parmesan were both over the top. It seemed impossible that we were getting this big city quality food, with small town prices. And where was everyone? We had nothing but good things to say as we dined, but we found ourselves practically whispering. The place was so quiet. No music to muffle our voices as we discussed how bewildered we felt about the hotel. "How can this food be so good and cheap? How hard is it to keep a good chef in this town? How much did it cost to renovate, with such expensive materials and craftsmanship? How can the hotel like this even break even, with so few guests?" Night Time Luckily we stopped stressing and just enjoyed the feast and the hotel for the rest of the evening. I loved stepping out and seeing the hotel lit at night. Soumas Court was also glowing, right next door. The hotel's art-filled outdoor gathering space, was lovely in the day and night. Around Town At night, I took a few photos of some of the lit up art installations, along the street. In the morning Don and I wandered the curious town. We spotted the train tracks that once made Perry so prosperous. A couple times we caught a whiff of the Tyson meat packing plant, that later brought jobs and new smells to Perry. Funny how it didn't bother me. It was just another piece of the Perry story. I felt drawn to the town. What's Notable? I've rambled way too long, so I'll be short. Hotel Pattee delights me! Perry intrigues me. The hotel's history and themed rooms are curious and fun. The fabulous top dollar renovations make the stay comfortable and classy. I'm glad the city now plays a part in the ownership. (There were a few owners after the Ahmansons suddenly closed in 2006) Hopefully the hotel will never close again!
Update: Since I posted this piece, Perry has gained a spotlight in the news, that they never wanted. Learning of the horrific shooting at Perry High School was jolting and infuriating. My heart goes out to the residents of this special town. |
Ninety Notable
Nights My New Year's Resolution for 2014 was to start documenting some of the memorable overnights I've had in some very odd and curious motels and hotels. Like the adventures in my Dining Blog, I have learned to enjoy the surprises that happen when you step out of the comfort zone, far away from the well-known chains. I began with a few entries recalling my very first home away from home memories from my youth. Then, I started sharing about some of the quirky and unforgettable motels, hotels and inns that my husband and I have discovered in recent years. The best part about this challenge was making some lists with Don and getting on the road in search of new overnight adventures. I gave myself a 2-year goal to write up 90 stories and the goal was met. Now we just keep on adding! Archives
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