Hotel Stilwell features new doors

Many of the businesses along Broadway have new sidewalks. The Hotel Stilwell is probably the only one that also has new entry doors.
“These stately mahogany entry doors were custom made and given to us by a donor who wishes to remain anonymous,” said Laura Carlson, executive director of the Stilwell Heritage and Educational Foundation. “They complete our arched carved Carthage stone entry.”
She said that a committee composed of Shellie Blevens, Faith Coleman, Lura Patrick and Marianne Wachter researched the design to be sure it closely resembled the original doors from 1890.
The new doors replaced the old schoolhouse doors that were installed during the 1997 hotel restoration. Above those doors was a stained glass window that had been donated to the Stilwell by the Rinehart family.
“We needed to find a new home for that window, so we had it cut to fit above the Rose Room,” Carlson said. “It is continuously backlit, and adds so much light and beauty to the lobby.”
Also new to the Stilwell entry is a hand-woven rug donated by Dr. Keith and Brenda Mallatt and a photo mural created by Bob and Katie Blunk and Alex and Judy Barde.
“According to Bob, who was one of the charter members of the Stilwell Foundation, the mural was made using a small engraving used to promote Pittsburg in the 1890s,” Carlson said. “The mural was donated to us by the Kansas Community Teachers Credit Union.”