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Restoring the historic Wells House a bigger job than anticipated, owners find

POTTERSVILLE - Rising three stories above Pottersville and clearly visible from the Northway, the Wells House has been falling into disrepair for many years until a local couple took on the challenge of restoring the historic building.

Paul and Shirley Bubar bought the Wells House last December and began the huge job of renovating and restoring the building. The job, as most do, became bigger and bigger the further they got into it.

"We found 15 posts under the wooden porch that were rotting," Paul said. They are repairing the porch, using as many of the original posts and railings as possible.

Another problem that is in the process of being resolved is the septic system.

"The state changed the law so instead of 50 feet back from the creek, the septic system has to be 100 feet back," Bubar said. "That puts is just about under the building."

Meanwhile, as they wait for answers from county and state agencies on that problem, there is plenty more to do. Shirley has been working with both the National Historic Registry and the state Department of Parks and Recreation to restore the building to certain standards that make it historically correct. This would offer the Bubar's a tax-credit when finished.

"It's a challenge to make it historically correct and guest-friendly," Shirley said.

The Bubars originally hoped to open the new hotel and restaurant in July of this year, but soon realized the magnitude of work to be done was too large to meet that goal.

"When people ask us when it will be open, we tell them we will open when we're finished," Paul said.

Shirley is planning much of the interior décor. She has found stained glass to use on the transoms above the doors on the second and third floor. On the first floor, the old pool room will be the main lobby and the bar area will be the office and restrooms, all handicapped accessible. The restaurant will be on the first floor, with two possible dining areas and the porch for warmer weather.

"One dining room is where the former owner stored his motorcycle," she said.

"We have a chef lined up from Myrtle Beach who will lease the restaurant," Shirley said.

Also on the first floor, Shirley is planning a history hall with pictures and history of the Wells House. She has collected old photographs of the building as well as events such as weddings that took place there.

The former dance hall will be a coffee shop with computers for Internet access and possibly some antiques, she said. The coffee bar is the former wooden bar from the building that the Bubars initially thought to sell.

"We put it on eBay, but people said no, it's part of history, so now it's a coffee bar," Paul said.

The hotel will have 10 rooms, all with baths and Internet access. Some of the baths will have the original claw-foot tubs and others will have newer tubs of similiar design. The second floor will feature a bridal suite in shades of white and an apartment for a couple they've hired to manage night business.

"Every window has been re-glazed," Shirley said. Out on the sun parlor, a small room on the second floor that overlooks Route 9, about 160 small panes of glass were reglazed as well. They plan to use that room for games and a place for guests to relax in warm weather.

The third floor features the Adirondack Suite, decorated accordingly. Both floors have two rooms connected for families and Shirley said every room will be done in a different color.

"All the plumbing and all the electric has been completely re-done," said Paul. "We have new insulation and new heating too."

When it is done, the Wells House will have a distinctly family atmosphere, with no alcohol on premises.

"We believe that there is a market out there for families who want to go somewhere that doesn't have alcohol," Shirley said. "There's a fine place down the road that serves alcohol and food if they choose."

The Bubars spent many years working for Word of Life, especially with young people and learned that alcohol abuse is the number one social problem facing families today.

"We want no part of that," Shirley said.

Shirley envisions rocking chairs on the porch and lots of flowers everywhere.

"It's going to be just beautiful," she said. "We've been overwhelmed by the community interest and good will."