OBSERVER Photo by M.J. Stafford The White Inn in Fredonia, shuttered since 2018, is well on its way to a reopening.

A Chamber of Commerce annual meeting in December will highlight an opening of the historic White Inn. The renovation project, in the works since September 2022 has dramatically refreshed the exterior of the Fredonia institution.

Where paint once peeled, brilliant white covers the brick. The large pillars holding up the front porch facing Main Street were torn out, refurbished and replaced. The porch itself has a new wheelchair ramp and carpeting.

The sidewalk leading to the porch used to be in such bad shape that weeds grew through it — to the point where a community volunteer effort was needed a couple years back, to clean it up. That old sidewalk is gone, a new one in place.

Workers were seen re-sodding the front lawn this past week. The crumbling parking lot was also recently resurfaced. On the White Street side, an addition to the dining room/bar area looks just about complete.

The interior is a bit of a mystery. Emails to the project manager seeking a tour were not returned. Project planners intended to tear out the old guest rooms, getting “down to the studs,” replacing them with new, modernized equipment.

Steve St. George and Devin Jones purchased the shuttered hotel with plans to return it to its ancient glory. They reportedly intend to reopen the inn before winter. The Chamber of Commerce event will be held Dec. 13.

One sure sign that they are close to opening came in early October. A job fair was advertised to fill hotel positions such as housekeeping, front desk, and kitchen staff.

It has taken nearly two years of work to get to this point. A large sign on the front lawn lists the numerous local contractors and suppliers who have worked on the project.

Topping the list of contractors is Dan Culligan. The popular Fredonia contractor used to be everywhere — but the last couple years he has focused on the White Inn.

The list is like a “who’s who” of local contractors. It also includes W. Bartoo Inc., Casale Plumbing and Heating, Tillburg Electric, CoPar Construction, AW Farrell and Son, BECC, Northland Contracting, DFT, Harmony Sheet Metal, Otis Elevator Company, Dezine Zone, D&S Glass Products, Inspired Painting, Bri-Mic Construction, Congdon Brothers Construction, Strictly Refrigeration and Heating, Gugino Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning, Fisk Associates, Turner Specialty Contractors, J&K Precision Cleaning and Coatings, Travis Hunt Ceramic Tile, and the Chautauqua Woods Corp.

Materials suppliers include Pucci’s, ADD Lumber, Chautauqua Brick, Terry Spinler, IRR Supply, Kitchen World, HRI Supply & Design, Jamestown Macadam, Sherwin-Williams, and Christopher Cooke Architecture.