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Stone School InnWhere Dreams Come TrueBy Toni Dabbs
Today, the Stone School Inn in Valier, Montana, is proof that dreams really can come true, provided the dreamers are willing to invest a lot of time, money and hard work.
Although its walls remained strong, the building still needed lots of work by the time the Bowmans took possession of it. "During rain storms, water would leak through the roof and run clear into the basement," says Doug. "So when we began restoration in 1995, we started at the top. We chased the pigeons out of the attic and replaced the roof. We then rechinked the exterior and restored or replaced all the windows."
Five guest rooms with individual personalities now occupy the second floor, where classes once were held. Two of their private bathrooms feature claw-foot tubs. All open into a library lined with bookshelves, where guests are welcome to sit and chat or read. Downstairs includes a game room, a fine dining room with fireplace and a commercial kitchen. The game room is the most historically accurate room at the inn, with the original trim and chalkboard. It also contains a pool table from the town's first pool hall. The kitchen and dining room, where breakfast is served to guests, also are available for special occasions such as receptions and, of course, class reunions. The original school bell still hangs in the tower ready to summon former students. Stone School Inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Photos by Toni Dabbs FOR MORE INFORMATIONStone School Inn Copyright 2002 by Toni Dabbs. This work, including photographs, is protected by copyright and may be used only for personal non-commercial purposes. All other rights are reserved, and commercial use is prohibited without permission of the author. |
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For
45 years, the building stood vacant. "We'd come here, and we'd dream our
dreams, and we'd walk away shaking our heads," say Debbie and Doug Bowman.
The couple originally just wanted to save the heritage building. "But the
idea for a bed and breakfast evolved," they say.
When
the Bowmans finally acquired the building in 1993, it was surprisingly sound
despite its years of disuse. The town fathers had spared no expense in 1911,
when they commissioned Great Falls architect George Shanley to design a
substantial structure as their new school building, with a hefty budget of
$18,500. Sandstone was the primary construction material, and large blocks
of it were transported by horse-drawn wagon from a quarry three miles away.
With
the envelope sealed, they turned their attention to the interior. They
salvaged many materials in an effort to keep their restoration faithful to
the period of the building. They refinished floors with oak from a Hutterite
colony and with tiles from the Montana capitol building in Helena. They
sanded every inch of the grand staircase and returned it to its original
condition.
The
transformation took more than five years. Fortunately, Doug is a contractor,
so he was able to do much of the work himself. Debbie provided labor and her
decorating expertise. When the bed and breakfast finally opened, a 1932
graduate of the old school was among the first to check in.