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Thomas Clapper Free Press Standard Writer
More than a century after travelers arrived by rail to spend evenings dancing in the Van Horne ballroom, guests can once again spend the night inside one of Carrollton's most recognizable historic buildings.
Following a 2½-year restoration, the Van Horne's original ballroom and the new five themed bed-and-breakfast suites are welcoming overnight guests while preserving the history that once made the landmark one of eastern Ohio's premier destinations.
Rather than simply restoring rooms, owner Randi Bake designed each suite to immerse guests in the era when the Van Horne flourished. The rooms are decorated around influential figures from the late 1800s while original architectural features remain throughout much of the building.
"I kept trying to find somebody super prestigious that stayed here," Bake said. "I couldn't. So I thought, 'What's happening in the world?' What was their world like?"
Bake said the idea became celebrating the people who shaped the period when the Van Horne was at its height as a hotel and gathering place.
"Each room I have themed and decorated accordingly to some person who was very, very popular during the period when this was a destination place," she said. "This was when we were booming and everybody was coming to Carrollton to stay here."
The themed suites, now available to reserve through Airbnb, occupy the building's second and third floors. Two suites are located on the second floor and three on the third. Each reflects a notable figure from roughly 1880 to 1895, the years Bake identified as the Van Horne's most influential period.
While the guest rooms offer visitors a chance to spend the night surrounded by Victorian history, Bake said the restored ballroom remains the centerpiece of the project.
Unlike the flooring throughout the rest of the building, the ballroom’s original wood floor could not be saved. Bake said the boards were in poor condition and carried deep marks from the dances once held there, so new flooring was installed as part of the restoration.
Other areas of the Van Horne retain their original floors, which were cleaned and refinished rather than replaced.
Standing inside the ballroom, Bake pointed to the stage where the Morgan Orchestra once entertained visitors during weekends when the Van Horne was filled with guests.
"This is where they filled out the dance card," she said. "This is where the Morgan Orchestra played."
According to Bake, the orchestra typically arrived Thursday evening, performed through Saturday and returned home Sunday morning as visitors danced, socialized and stayed at the hotel for several days.
"There were just so many things going on," she said. "It was a huge draw, and everybody came and just stayed for days."
The ballroom once served as the social center of the hotel while the guest rooms were used primarily for sleeping.
"The rooms are like Las Vegas years ago," Bake said. "All the action was here."
Historical items displayed throughout the ballroom help tell that story. Bake has collected reproductions and original artifacts, including historic dance cards, menus and photographs documenting the Van Horne during its busiest years.
The ballroom is once again serving as a gathering place, though with a modern purpose.
Bake envisions the space hosting anniversaries, meetings, community programs and the growing trend of micro weddings. She said the upstairs suites allow wedding parties to prepare on site while the Eddie Maple Conference Room provides space for refreshments and gatherings before ceremonies.
Bake said the conference room honors Carroll County native Eddie Maple, a Hall of Fame jockey who rode Secretariat during a Canadian race. She said Maple and his family embraced the idea, providing memorabilia for display, and she hopes he will visit to see the finished room.
Each suite reflects a different chapter of the late 1800s while also connecting guests to the history of the Van Horne and Carrollton.
The largest is the Queen Victoria Suite, which Bake described as the building's premier accommodation. Rich wallpaper, period furnishings, family portraits and decorative touches inspired by the British monarch create the feeling of stepping into a Victorian home. A sitting room, fireplace and family-friendly sleeping arrangements make it the largest of the five suites.
Next door is the Prince Albert Suite, designed to complement the Queen Victoria room. Rather than ornate floral décor, the room features darker wood finishes and furnishings reflecting Prince Albert's interests in science, industry and innovation.
"Victoria and Albert had a wonderful marriage," Bake said. "I wanted those rooms to be together."
Music fills the Jenny Lind Suite, named for the Swedish soprano whose popularity spread throughout Europe and America during the Victorian era. The room includes musical décor, period photographs and a restored melodeon Bake found while searching for authentic furnishings.
Bake said each suite was designed to help guests experience the period when the Van Horne thrived as one of Carrollton's premier destinations.
The Harriet Tubman Suite honors another important figure from the era while also complementing nearby McCook House Museum and Carroll County's connection to the Underground Railroad. Unlike the elaborate Victorian suites, the Harriet Tubman room has a simpler appearance intended to reflect Tubman's humble beginnings while honoring her courage and determination.
The fifth suite celebrates one of Carroll County's most famous visitors.
Cy Young lived at the Van Horne for approximately four months in 1898 while playing baseball in the area before being discovered by a professional scout, Bake said.
"Cy Young is the only person with a theme room who actually stayed here," Bake said.
Rather than Victorian elegance, the suite features baseball-themed décor honoring the Hall of Fame pitcher's connection to Carrollton and the hotel.
While the other suites recognize influential figures whose lives helped define the era, the Cy Young Suite celebrates someone whose own story became part of the Van Horne's history.
Creating the suites required balancing modern comfort with historic preservation.
The Van Horne originally contained dozens of small hotel rooms, many little larger than a bed. During the restoration, several of those rooms were combined to create five spacious suites while preserving the building's historic character and architectural details.
Guests can now reserve the suites through Airbnb by searching The Historic Van Horne Carrollton, allowing visitors to once again spend the night in the historic building while exploring Carroll County.
While the overnight suites offer visitors a chance to experience the Van Horne's history firsthand, Bake said she hopes the building once again becomes a gathering place for the community.
"We've already had Doc Carl and Molly Winters' anniversary," Bake said. "I think this building was meant to bring people together, and that's what we're trying to do again."
The restored ballroom accommodates up to 80 guests and is available for weddings, anniversary parties, meetings, reunions and other private events. Couples planning micro weddings can also reserve the entire third floor, giving wedding parties exclusive access to all of the upstairs guest suites.
The Van Horne is also home to the Living History Series, featuring historian Chris Hart, who has developed 65 historical characters for his living history presentations. Upcoming programs include Cy Young Sept. 16, Ichabod Crane from "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" Oct. 28 and a World War I Christmas program in December.
"It's history," Bake said. "History is important. If we don't know where we've been, we don't know where we're going."
Each overnight stay includes two fresh scones, a pot of tea and complimentary room service from The Grand Tea Room and Reminisce Ice Cream Parlor, located on the building's first floor. Every suite also includes a binder highlighting local businesses, restaurants and attractions to encourage visitors to explore Carrollton.
"I think we all need to work together and promote each other," Randi Bake said. "Hopefully if lots of people come a few more things will come to downtown."
The restoration was a family effort led by Grant Bake, who served as the project's general contractor and coordinated the work over the past 2½ years.
"I'm super happy with how it turned out," Grant Bake said. "It's a challenging project, to say the least, and we're excited to be done and to be open."
Bake said seeing the finished product made the work worthwhile.
"We're very happy with the results, and we think it's going to be a big success," he said. "I think it's good for the community, and we appreciate everyone's support."
Rex Sponhaltz, Bake's partner who also helped with the restoration, said years of planning and work culminated in a project that exceeded even their expectations.
"It has just been so long and it truly was a labor of love," Sponhaltz said. "We envisioned what we wanted it to look like and to be honest, I think it looks better than what I envisioned it would be."
An official ribbon cutting is scheduled Aug. 20, 4-6 p.m. Community members will have an opportunity to tour the restored ballroom, themed suites and first-floor businesses.
The Van Horne Building is located on West Main Street in downtown Carrollton.
