The grand lobby of the Hotel Syracuse will come back to life again in 2016.
They called this “Suite Stories Ghostwalk,” and indeed the Hotel Syracuse had some stories to tell.
But it wasn’t the kind of ghosts of folks who famously die and hang around these old buildings of ours. No, when I signed up as a “back guide” on the last Saturday of 2014 and walked the grounds of the big old hotel that was build in downtown Syracuse in 1924, it was to hear my friend Theresa Constantine be among the guides winding people through big rooms to remember grand stories and see and hear people dressed in period tell tall tales.
This is what the cleaning and bellhop crews wore.
My official duty for the day was to make sure none in our group of 25 strayed from the appointed rounds.
My other task, approved by the officials from the Onondaga Historical Association, was to take photos with my iPhone 6 and soak up the atmosphere for my weekly community blog for Syracuse Public Media site waer.org. You can find that post by clicking the link below.
http://waer.org/post/hotel-syracuse-allows-look-its-past-it-preps-future
Modeling hats in the Persian Terrace, just like the old ladies luncheon days. That’s Theresa’s daughter, Althea, who volunteered to use her head during the tour.
Visitors walked through the big lobby, the Cavalier Room, the kitchen, the space was the Library and two comedy clubs, and the stately Persian Terrace.
The good news is that the hotel, sitting idle and the center of what-next controvesay for a decade, has a new owner and is in the front end of a restoration project with a goal of open doors for guests to stay again in 2016.
Does your area have an old hotel that’s seen better days? Have you toured old buildings to hear of their history?
Do you believe ghosts hang around in places like this, with good or other intent?
Mark Bialczak 
I worked there in 1993- 1995….had a room on the 6th floor….can tell you all kinds of stories about the ghosts, the celebrities I met….Loyd the bartender in the lobby…paul and sue (beverage and hospitality managers) Mike Bennett (owner at the time)…meeting and befriending alec baldwins mom, the old lady that lived in the hotel for years, coach mac moving in and opening the bar….oh yes I remember those two years well!!
LikeLike
Sounds like an eventful chapter of your life. Thanks for sharing here, Dave.
LikeLike
I think the one I loved was the Renaissance Hotel, Mark. Your Syracuse Hotel is really a treasure and thanks for featuring it, too!
LikeLike
I’m glad to hear the Cleveland saves the history, Robin. Too much knocking down has occured, unfortunately.
LikeLike
This looks gorgeous, Mark! I love historical buildings that tell a story, so I would go to see this or any other available in my area. We have a few in Columbus I have checked out, one that was completely renovated. Hmmm, not sure of the name of it, Mark! (brain fart!) ha ha!
LikeLike
The old hotel just down the street from me burned to the ground a couple of years ago. There was no one in it at the time… I did stay there a couple of times before I moved to town, while I was looking at real estate. It was a grand old place, and I’d be surprised if it didn’t have a few ghosts.
I wrote on my blog about a place I stayed in a year and a half ago that reportedly had ghosts in it. In fact I stood in the window and pretended to BE the ghost when the local “Ghost Walk” came around. It was fun!! If you haven’t read the post, you should. You might enjoy it. http://lindaghill.com/2013/07/19/a-haunted-visitation/
LikeLike
Wow! It took me 45 MINUTES to get to the end where I could leave a comment. LOL!! (Joke). What a wonderful old motel!
LikeLike
Hah! You win, PJ, by getting to the end of the string and admiring our old motel. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
How cool! I love that they had actors dressed as they used to. Yes, we had a couple of old hotels here that were condemned sometime in the late 70s, and were since restored to expensive resorts as they used to look back in the 20s. And, yes, of course I believe ghosts still walk the halls. 🙂
LikeLike
I know that you believe, Rachel. But I’m not sure walk is the right word,
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hmmm… I think you’re right. Float, perhaps?
LikeLike
Yeah, better.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How cool. We had an old hotel renovated a few years back (like ten? Gah now I’m old) and it’s one of the better thought of 5-star places in our city. Also: I give tours (when I’m not being lazy) of the old psych hospital building from the 30s. It is most definitely haunted.
LikeLike
I really appreciate the old restored buidings, Aussa — and wait until you see how fast 10 years goes past when you get in your 50s. Gack! I’d be kind of walking slow and behind you in the psych building, figuring all the spirits would still be kind of pissed. Is that right?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Definitely. Except they also like to pick off the stragglers…
LikeLike
I will keep up with you, Aussa. ;-o
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a place! Wow. I am always looking for old buildings to roam around in, Mark. They truly tell a tale. One I don’t want to miss out on, ya know? Super cool.
LikeLike
Here’s your old soul again, Aud. You are, aren’t you, in a really good way.
LikeLike
Yea, I am. Smiles. Thanks.
LikeLike
excellent piece mark and i love the backstory of places and the people who were a part of them. what a cool way for them to tell the story. thanks for sharing this with us )
LikeLike
Cool, Beth, I’m glad you appreciated the story. They did a great job of sharing the tale in an interesting form, that’s for sure. The OHA is great at this. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love old stories, any stories actually Mark! I think it is brilliant that the old hotel told them from the mouths of people wearing the clothes of the day. It would be like stepping through the time continuum – I would be totally caught up in the stories! ❤
Diana xo
LikeLike
Lexington’s grand old hotel, The Lafayette, contained my grandmother’s favorite restaurant. White tablecloths, silver service, and ladies in gloves, wearing hats with hatpins… All the waiters knew her name — a few showed up for her wake. It’s now the City office building. I guess better than the fate of the other grand old hotel, the Phoenix, which is now a parking lot… or possibly a hideous new office building. I have trouble orienting myself to the way that block used to be when I look at the crap that’s there now… The Syracuse looks lovely — hope the refurbishing preserves it. Always love to hear when a historic hotel is saved.
LikeLike
It’s quite rewarding that some of the waiters from the Lafayette paid their respects to your grandmother, Leigh. That’s quite a tribute to her, and them, and those days at the restaurant at that grand hotel.
I think the aim at the Hotel Syracuse is to keep what’s best, and even bring back some of the original flair that was drywalled over through the years. I hear the bar is set high.
Thanks for this lovely comment, my friend.
LikeLike
I think it is awesome someone is determined to preserve history. There is this gorgeous bridge here locally with talk of bringing it down, and I for one, do not want to see this happen. For whatever reason some people think old must be torn down. I respect this new owner of this hotel and I say good for him/her!!! Great post, my cousin to the East. Love, Amy
LikeLike
I hope the Lancaster folks can rally enough sense to keep the bridge, my cousin Amy. Yes, this new owner is doing a great thing here in Syracuse, it seems at the start of the project. ❤
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know I will rally!!! Maybe my photos will stir up some interest. ((HUGS))) Amy
LikeLike
I love old buildings and their history. It is so cool that the people dressed up like staff in historic costumes. I know Los Angeles has many historic places. I took a tour of the Doheny Mansion and have visited the Huntington Library that has a beautiful double curving staircase. The Hotel Del Coronado in San Diego has a ghost as does the ship, the Queen Mary in Long Beach.
LikeLike
I have been at both the Coronado and the Queen Mary, Deborah, and appreciated them both. The Coronado is paradise. What an island retreat! Karen and I walked through it. We did not stay there. We did stay a night in the Queen Mary, which is now docked as a hotel. Yes, I can see it having spirits. The walls were very thin, too. I enjoyed walking the whole ship deck by deck when we got up in the morning before we departed to the cruise ship!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The Queen Mary stay sounds really special. I did stay at the Del Coronado one weekend and took a tour of the hotel. I had lunch at their beach side restaurant with was lovely. It is a beautiful spot isn’t it?
LikeLike
Great post over on the other site – what an amazing history. So many people and stories. great idea to do these tours to say goodbye and get ready to welcome the new.
LikeLike
It’s quite the building, Rachel. It deserves another shot at flourishing in downtown Syracuse, I think. Thanks for your kind words.
LikeLike
What a beautiful old building. I love the history of old buildings and places. Sometimes you can just feel it! Well done post. 🙂
LikeLike
This building can talk by itself. I know what you mean, Colleen. Thanks for your kind words.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Schmancy. It looks like the Titanic to me. Sounds really cool to do a tour, especially with people in period costume. Every since I went to Sonic 50s Day in my childhood, and they played the “Grease” soundtrack instead of real 50s music, I’ve longed for a legit period-accurate experience. Sounds like everyone who was anyone has been there. Man, you’ve seen and heard a lot of things.
LikeLike
The Sonic 50s day took a shortcut for you. Shame, Kerbey. You deserved and deserve better. This tour with the old costumes was pretty authentic. I like your take on the lobby having the Titanic feel. Very much so, in a good way.
And being a journalist for a living AND a curious fellow 24/7 has led me well in this life, you are correct, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would LOVE this kind of thing! I have done more touring of old buildings while on vacation than while at home. Though I’ve had an opportunity or two at home. I love the ‘old’ and the history. Fabulous opportunity Mark!
LikeLike
I love when you write and photograph your old experiences, Colleen. I know you’d have gotten a lot out of this tour, my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The jewel in Richmond’s hotel crown is The Jefferson. If you ever come, you must visit it. The staircase is rumored to have been the inspiration for the famous staircase scene in “Gone With The Wind” where Rhett carries Scarlett upstairs! Whether this is true or not, we cling to the belief. Your Hotel Syracuse looks spectacular. The shot of the lobby wood work! And I’d love a close up of the mural behind the desk.
http://www.jeffersonhotel.com/packages?gclid=Cj0KEQiAz7OlBRDErsTx47LKz-8BEiQAY0OlYtz9V1TKBPmA_YyGfGPblKhfQ1hSeLXKNNtID-WBbPIaAh1j8P8HAQ
LikeLike
Oh, goodness, the Jefferson is magnificent. I just clicked over and my jaw dropped, Barbara! You should cling to that notion.
I took a closeup. I am going to look for an email address on your site to send you the picture of the mural.
LikeLike
Thanks for telling us about that one — looks wonderful!
LikeLike
Oh, you’re welcome! I’m so glad you clicked over and took a look. It’s an incredible building just loaded with history.
LikeLike
St Augustine, being The Nation’s Oldest City gives me the feeling of a ghostly presence, especially at the fort on the water, Castillo de San Marcos (so much history in that place), and the oldest wooden schoolhouse. Creepy to see the “artificial people” there.
LikeLike
That’s interesting, S.K. They adorn the place with “artificial people.” I don’t know how I’d take that in person.
LikeLike
San Francisco has a ton of old hotels. Some have been restored or renovated, while others haven’t (and are probably in need of restoration). I prefer those that, after renovation, maintain the old charm from when the places were in their prime (at least in the public areas…I prefer more contemporary accommodations in the rooms themselves). And no, I don’t believe in ghosts.
LikeLike
I think the public areas should keep the best of the old architecture, indeed, Doobster, with spit and polish. The rooms, yes, please include all the bells and whistles. I believe in the spirits, to be contrary, but not exactly ghosts.
LikeLike
Always love an old building, ghosts or not!
LikeLike
Yes, I don’t want wrecking balls unless the rot is irreparable, Marissa. Agreed.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That hotel looks amazing…even if it isn’t “finished.” 😀 I bet that tour was super-interesting!
I generally don’t believe in ghosts, but John and I went on a ghost walk in Wilmington, NC one time that had me questioning things for a bit…okay, maybe I just had the heebie jeebies. 😉
LikeLike
I went to a ghost night at our Landmark Theatre here that did the same for me, Nerdy.
LikeLike