The Famed Hotel Easton, Once the Grand Hotel of the Roaring Twenties, to Host Public Auctions of Historic Treasures, Antiques, Memorabilia and Equipment

Press Release: Hotel Easton Restoration, LLC
October 30, 2000
EASTON, PA -- Hotel Easton, considered to be one of the grandest hotels on the East Coast during the roaring twenties, hosting such luminaries as Eleanor Roosevelt, Joe Louis and RJ Reynolds, will hold two auctions featuring equipment, historical items and antiques from the hotel's restaurants, guestrooms and ballrooms. The hotel's possessions are being auctioned in preparation of an extensive restoration of the structure by owners Easton Hotel Restoration, LLC, headed by Theodore W. Kheel and Peter Koehler. Hotel Easton closed in 1990 and is scheduled to reopen in late 2002.

The first auction will be held today, Monday, October 30 at 10:00 a.m. during which time hotel equipment will be auctioned. A second auction is scheduled for November 1, 2000 at 10:00 a.m. and will feature historic items, antiques and collectibles. Both auctions will take place at the hotel located at 400 Northampton Street in Easton, Pennsylvania. The auction will mark the first time in over ten years the hotel has been open to the public.

The public can view and bid on auction items over the Internet during a live webcast of the auction on http://www.kistauction.com .

Among the notable items being auctioned are four City of Easton flags from the 1920s, which are believed to pre-date the colonial flag constructed by Betsy Ross.

Some of the items to be auctioned include:

-- Antique cash registers
-- Silver flatware and serving pieces stamped with the Hotel Easton crest
-- Civil defense water bins
-- Cut glass and brass chandeliers
-- Gold leaf wall sconces
-- Etched glass doors
-- Antique chairs
-- Antique hotel keys
-- Concierge station
-- Hand carved French furniture

Upon the auction and removal of items from the premises, renovation will begin on the 200,000 square foot, nine-story hotel. When it reopens Hotel Easton will feature 80 guestrooms, suites, fine-dining facility, exquisite banquet/meeting facilities, fitness center and swimming pool. The hotel is expected to boost the local economy, which in recent years has been on the decline due to the departure of steel plants, a main source of employment for the city.

SOURCE: Hotel Easton Restoration, LLC