One more check paid to the county and the permit is issued! The blocking is progressing and the saloon ceiling looks pretty impressive.
The new blocking with the steel straps is pretty massive when compared to the original X bracing which remains as a reminder of the past. As expected, I’m hoping that we never have an earthquake but part of me would really like to see how this works during the big one.
On the exterior, the repointing on the hotel structure has been completed and it looks a heck of a lot better than when we bought the place. You will note that the left parapet has been rebuilt and there is no more hole in the wall below the downspout. Also, the 1950s carport will, eventually, come down and the back of the hotel will be displayed in all its glory again.
The Pony Express building could use some help as well but that is for a future project. The plan is to repoint the stones, rebuild the window and then add a concrete bond beam to the top to hold together the loose bits and prevent rain from seeping into the interior of the wall. With that done, the wall should be good for another 150 years.
Even after the repointing, the hotel walls retain that original wild west look. The interior of the Pony Express yard shows it the most with the remains of the original plaster. I’d like to leave it this way to show the age of the building. The front and the east side wall are currently painted and I will probably repaint them a brick red which is historically correct.
