History of Fargo Hotel recounted

Passersby may have noticed all of the work going on around California and State streets, most recently home of the Jane Fargo Hotel and Mitchell Lounge.

The building is going through a transition, but that is only part of the Fargo’s story, how over the years this space has adapted to the times.

“The old mansion part of the hotel may be gone, but we can continue sharing that story as part of our community’s history. Meanwhile, other changes, like opening the windows on the lower level, will bring back some of the building’s original charm,” Michelle Donahoe, executive director of the Sycamore History Museum, said in a news release.

One of the most interesting and truly unique properties in the county, the Fargo Hotel stands proudly on the corner of West State and California streets, the site Geneva millionaire Henry Fargo insisted was the best spot for a hotel in Sycamore. This parcel was first owned by Sycamore’s first permanent settler Carlos Lattin, and then served as a stagecoach stop for Timothy Wells. Several owners built on to the original house, particularly Reuben Ellwood, Sycamore’s first mayor, whose family resided there for many years. He added on substantially to create a lovely brick mansion that was later incorporated into the hotel.

As the story goes, Mary Whittemore, the spinster daughter of Henry Whittemore to whom the Ellwoods had sold the property, agreed to sell to Fargo with the restriction that part of the structure be saved and incorporated into the new building as her own private suite. Fargo promptly agreed, and plans were drawn up, moving the old mansion to the back of the lot and turning it to face California Street.

In 1926, the Fargo Hotel was constructed in an “L” shape around the mansion. The original Fargo Hotel consisted of 60 rooms, some with plumbing, but mainly, baths and showers were centrally located in the halls. There was a stately dining area downstairs, with service on china with white linen napkins. In those days, the Fargo was the place to be seen, and many dignitaries who visited Sycamore stayed here. One of the biggest celebrations the city has ever seen was held on May 24, 1927, when Fargo hosted a huge banquet and gala evening to celebrate the hotel’s opening.

The hotel saw several owners after Henry Fargo sold it in 1945, but in 1972, the building was purchased by Tom and Debra Carls who operated it as the Carls Fargo Coach Rooms. They ceased renting the two upper floors, as utility costs became prohibitive. The restaurant and lounge, however, remained in operation. In late 1982, funds were raised to form a new corporation, whose main function was to remodel the two upper floors of the hotel into a modern hotel facility. Construction began in February of 1983. All rooms were enlarged to the present number of 39 rooms. Virtually everything was replaced or remodeled.

The Carls Fargo Hotel re-opened for business on Sept. 15, 1983, after the $1 million renovation was completed. The banquet rooms, added in the 1983 renovation, served as lively spaces for many community events. The latest owner, Rachel Bauer, remodeled the lounge space, adding an art deco tin ceiling. Through all of these renovations, parts of the original mansion were left intact and incorporated into the design, but other than some woodwork, which will be saved, and the brick structure, very little of the original décor survived.