Century Inn owner still plans to rebuild fire-gutted landmark
The fire-gutted Century Inn on Friday
The stone shell was about all that remained of historic Century Inn in Scenery Hill following last year’s fire.
This Whiskey Rebellion-era flag was saved from the fire at Century Inn and is now being kept at Heinz History Center.
SCENERY HILL – People stop by Kenny’s Grocery Store every day to inquire about what is going to happen to the historic stone tavern across the street that was gutted by fire a year ago, ripping the heart out of the quaint village of Scenery Hill.
Store owner Rick Mowl said he doesn’t have any answers because he stopped mentioning the subject to the owner of the boarded-up Century Inn, figuring she and her relatives are “sick of” talking about the building along Route 40.
“I don’t ask them,” Mowl said. “You’d think they would get it under roof before winter.”
Megin Harrington and her son, Chip, escaped her business and home unharmed when the accidental fire broke out Aug. 17, 2015, in a utility room on the first floor of the sprawling building. In the rush out the door, the Harringtons grabbed their priceless Whiskey Rebellion-era flag from the tavern, but the fire destroyed much of the art and antiques that decorated the inn.
Megin Harrington since placed the flag in storage at the Senator John Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh, said Ned Schano, center spokesman.
While restorations to the inn appear to have yet to get underway, Harrington’s daughter-in-law, April Harrington, said Friday the family still intends to rebuild Century Inn.
“We’re moving along,” April Harrington said in her Scenery Hill gift shop, the Velvet Envelope.” “We don’t want to disclose too much right now.”
Stephen Hill, the founder of what was originally a stagecoach stop, enlarged the inn in 1794, and another addition was built in the 20th century, creating a 20-room mansion. The inn hosted Gen. Marquis de LaFayette for breakfast in 1824 and Andrew Jackson for the same thing in 1829 before he became president, according to a 1955 story in The Washington Observer. Over the years, the tavern became the centerpiece of a neighborhood of specialty shops and boutiques in the North Bethlehem Township village’s houses, which date to the 18th and 19th centuries along what was once the National Road.
Some, however, fear it will be extremely difficult to raise the money necessary to recreate the inn inside the stone walls that are still standing.
“Megin told me they are going to begin in the spring,” said Charlie Ferris, who identified himself in the village Friday as a lifelong Scenery Hill resident and a descendant of Stephen Hill.
“I doubt it’ll ever get rebuilt,” Ferris said.
Donna Holdorf, executive director of National Road Heritage Corridor in Southwestern Pennsylvania, said she “reached out” to Megin Harrington a few times to let her know the state Department of Community and Economic Development was interested in taking a look at the inn, but she was unable to reach Harrington.
“It’s so sad,” Holdorf said.
Clay Kilgore, executive director of Washington County Historical Society, also said he’s had difficulty getting in touch with Harrington.
“In my opinion, because of the status that building holds in Washington County – everyone knows it, everyone has been there – there would be a ton of support for it,” Kilgore said.
North Bethlehem code enforcer Andrew Burchin said he planned to inspect the property this week.
“They haven’t been doing too much down there,” Burchin said.
Harrington did not return a message left for her Friday at her daughter-in-law’s shop.