FL Historic Hotel, Restored, Opens to Public
Lisa Mansell, 28.07.2010
The Fort Harrison Hotel of Clearwater Florida, is celebrating its 83rd year as an operational hotel. The facility, recently fully renovated and restored, is being opened to the public for tours and events.
In celebration of the 83rd anniversary of the Fort Harrison, the Church of Scientology Flag Service Organization, the owners of the facility, will be hosting “Sundays at the Fort Harrison”, a weekly Open House starting Sunday, August the 8th. The hours are from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.
The Open House will feature tours of the Fort Harrison highlighted by heartwarming stories of the Clearwater landmark, live entertainment and special culinary events.
“The Fort Harrison Hotel is a part of the heritage of Clearwater,” Lisa Mansell, Community Affairs Director for the Church. “We are encouraging groups, organizations and families to tour the Fort Harrison so that they re-connect with the history of our beautiful city.”
Built by businessman Ed Haley at the height of the Florida land boom, the stately Fort Harrison Hotel hosted the sparkling lights of Clearwater society for fashion shows, bridge tournaments, Kiwanis and Rotary Club meetings, wedding receptions and the annual George Washington’s Birthday Ball. Many local residents remember going to their high school prom, attending cotillion or swimming in the Fort Harrison pool.
Notable guests include noted humanitarian Helen Keller and the Rolling Stones, who stayed in the hotel’s penthouse in 1965, writing the song “Satisfaction” after an especially disappointing concert at Jack Russell Stadium.
The Church of Scientology purchased the hotel in 1975 and undertook detailed renovations to restore the aging facility to its former grandeur and beyond.
Completed in 2009, the renovation and restoration of the property started in April 2008, when it was stripped virtually bare and rebuilt from its core. This included installation of new state-of-the-art systems – plumbing, electrical and central air and heating – as well as fully modernized professional kitchens to service the retreat’s three restaurants. Particular care was taken to make the work and the final product environmentally friendly. This included recycled “blue jean” insulation, high efficiency water systems to reduce consumption and energy- efficient lighting, electrical and air conditioning.
Despite all the modernization, the Fort Harrison still bears its hallmark historical touches, including the replication of the lobby’s original black wrought iron work and gold leafed moldings, resurfacing of the entire exterior as well as restoring architectural detail that had been lost in the building’s “modernization” in the 1950’s.
The Fort Harrison is the international spiritual retreat of the Church of Scientology where parishioners come from all over the world to partake of the Church’s religious services. However, community groups and charitable organizations are invited to use the magnificent Crystal Ballroom, the grand auditorium and splendid gardens for their charity functions.
Since the Fort Harrison’s grand re-opening in March of 2009, groups such as the North Greenwood Community Coalition, Jazztorians, the Sunscreen Film Festival and the Clearwater Downtown Partnership have utilized the facility for their fundraisers.
For more information and for scheduling tours and booking private and community events, contact Lisa Mansell at (727) 467-6860.
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