Historic Hotel Saxonburg set for sheriff's sale
The fate of the once thriving and longest continually operating restaurant, bar and hotel in Saxonburg remains unclear.
Hotel Saxonburg closed abruptly after the owners posted the news in a social media post March 5.
An online sheriff’s sale for the property is scheduled for 11 a.m. Jan. 16, according to the Butler County Sheriff’s Office.
The office conducts the sales only via online bidding.
The news of the upcoming sale was originally revealed during an Aug. 12 Saxonburg Area Business Association meeting.
Interested bidders must register for the sale online at butler.pa.realforeclosure.com.
The historic building at 220 W. Main St. is listed on the National Register of Historic places. It had welcomed patrons for 193 years.
Residents worry about the closing’s impact
Some Saxonburg residents have expressed concerns over the future of Hotel Saxonburg, considered by many to be a dining destination in the small German-founded borough.
“It’s the talk of the town, for sure,” resident Mindy Neff said. “Main Street just isn’t as busy as it used to be. It served as a big staple in the town.”
She fears if someone doesn’t buy Hotel Saxonburg and continue its long legacy of hospitality, the impact will be negative for all of the businesses in Saxonburg’s historic business district.
“I hope it will return to what it was because the town really misses having a dining spot and full-service bar in such a great location,” Neff said.
According to Butler County court records, Hotel Saxonburg owners Annette Gervais and Lee Uncapher defaulted on loans of $600,000 and $50,000 from Northwest Bank.
The owners were not available for comment beyond a short Facebook post in March citing health issues, food prices and maintenance issues as reasons for closing.
Blane Martin has lived in Saxonburg for more than 60 years.
He described the whole situation surrounding the restaurant, built in 1832, as “terrible.”
“That hotel was a destination for folks and they would go there to eat and then shop at the area shops,” Martin said. “I feel it’s a real detriment to the community with it not being open.”
Martin noted since its closing, rumors have been swirling about the property.
He’s hopeful someone will pounce on the opportunity to buy the hotel and reopen it to what it was.
“Fred Rogers used to dine there. I remember going there as a little kid, and there was a pool table in the front room. It’s always been the local hangout, and it’s a piece of history,” Martin said. “Now Main Street is pretty dead, and it’s definitely hurting businesses there.”
Martin said a tour guide worker he used to see often offering day trips to Saxonburg has since stopped bringing tour groups to the borough.
“Times aren’t good,” Martin said.
Uncapher and Gervais bought the property under a company name of Two20 LLC for $625,000 from previous owner Judy Ferree.
Ferree owned and operated the bar, restaurant and upstairs lodging rooms for about 13 years.
Other famous folks who’ve dined there include former President Woodrow Wilson. The business was the oldest running hotel in Butler County, opened the same year Saxonburg was founded.
The hotel previously operated under the names The Vogeley House, The Belvedere House, The Laube House and The Central Hotel.
The interior features original ceilings, floors, fireplaces, woodwork, a long coppertop bar and five rooms available for rent upstairs.
Any exterior changes by someone who buys the property must get approval from the local Historical Architectural Review Board.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
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