Lantern Inn, Port Hope, Ontario
Hotel History
Lantern Inn - Restored 1845 heritage building
The Lantern Inn has a proud history. William Thomas, Architect, Toronto's St. Lawrence Hall, St. Michael's Cathedral and other famous early buildings, designed the Inn building in 1845 (Thomas biography, authors McArthur & Szamosi). The date is marked by a cornerstone on the front facade at the Walton/Mill street corner.
The Great Farini, famous highwire walker, world circus impresario, and native of Port Hope, made an exciting walk across the Ganaraska River from the roof lantern of the Inn on May 16, 1861. Farini had just returned from a triumph over equally famous Blondin in acrobatic walks across the Niagara Gorge and decided to organize two displays for the hometown crowd. He wore peach baskets on his feet in the day, and in the evening, he tossed fireworks high in the sky while crossing the river (Farini biography, author Shane Peacock). A town park commemorating Farini's extraordinary life faces the Lantern Inn across Walton Street.
About Current Construction:
The building was originally constructed as a hotel with banking and retail on the first floor. Purchased by the Rumgay family in 1988, major exterior restoration and interior reconstruction has been carried out over fifteen years resulting in the hotel standing today.
About your room:
By 1825 (some 30 years after the first Loyalist settlers arrived to found Port Hope) a prosperous community had developed, and over the next 30 years many large, elegant homes were built to replace earlier humble dwellings. Most of these survive today, for example, Bluestone House, Grange, Penryn, Pinehurst, Dunain, Cone, Octagon, Wildwood - just to name a few.
Your room is a faithful reproduction from these houses. The cherry and mahogany furniture is handcrafted Canadian furniture c.1840, fabrics and colours are documentary. The spacious rooms, high ceilings, and strong mouldings are of the period, as are the large windows and their treatment.
Please imagine you are a guest in an early Port Hope grand home and enjoy your stay.
Lantern Suites heritage building, c. 1845
We invite you to come for a visit and enjoy our exceptionally fine lodging and dining while you explore the many treasures of Port Hope and the surrounding area.
Reserve now at the Lantern Inn & Suites, a luxury boutique hotel in Port Hope, Ontario.
Lantern Inn
...a unique, boutique heritage hotel
in picturesque Port Hope, Ontario
where the romance of yesterday
blends with the luxury of today
tel: 905-885-2449 toll-free: 1-800-361-1957
fax: 905-885-5355 or email
2 Mill Street South, Port Hope, Ontario Canada L1A 2S5
www.lanterninn.ca
