The Bischoff Inn in Tamaqua recently received statewide recognition for work done to convert an aging and dilapidated former factory into a boutique hotel.

Preservation Pennsylvania presented a “Construction Award” to the 320 Lafayette St. inn and partners Torat Ltd., Warehaus, Gina M. Douty Preservation Consulting and Heim Construction.

“Winning this award is a significant recognition of work done by Tamaqua CRIZ (City Revitalization and Improvement Zone), Heim Construction, Warehaus architecture and Gina M. Douty Historic Preservation to make Bischoff Inn a reality,” said owner Maria Stabio, who was on hand for the awards ceremony at The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. “We are thrilled to be acknowledged in the company of so many wonderful projects. I’m thankful to our team of hardworking, determined and dedicated people who made this possible and to Preservation Pennsylvania.”

The five-room Bischoff Inn was created inside the 1870 Conrad Bischoff Planing Mill and Furniture Factory. The 6,000 square-foot building sat vacant for years until reopening as a boutique hotel in January following $1.1 million in renovations. The project was supported by tax credits and funding from Tamaqua’s CRIZ program.

“The whole concept of overnight lodging has been a desire of the community for many, many years,” said Dan Evans, chairman of the Tamaqua CRIZ. “To see the project come to completion is very exciting for eastern Schuylkill County.”

Evans attended the ceremony, and said the project wouldn’t have been possible without support from the community and organizations such as the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, which awarded the project a Historic Preservation Tax Credit.

While the project modernized the building, care was taken to leave historical features in place. For example, wood windows were repaired when possible, an original tongue-and-grove ceiling was kept on the second floor, and original walls and floors were spared if possible.

“The owner provided the final touches with artwork, historic pieces of Tamaqua history and furnishings that included wood headboards and tables that were manufactured in the original factor,” according to an article on the Inn from Preservation Pennsylvania.

A future phase of work will finish the basement area as an entertainment and exhibit space and rehabilitate the rear historic warehouse and former wagon shed for rental apartments and artist studio spaces.

Preservation Pennsylvania has presented the Pennsylvania State Preservation Awards annually since 1979, and honors exceptional preservation work taking place across the commonwealth through Honor Awards, Leadership Awards and Construction Awards.

For the 2023 round, Bischoff Inn was the only recipient from Schuylkill County.

Preservation Pennsylvania assists individuals, organizations, corporations and government agencies in preservation-related efforts through activities and services.