Bellingham Then & Now: The Leopold

The Leopold has long been a well-known retirement community, and its Crystal Ballroom, with its ivory finishes and navy velvet drapes, has seen many a gala and wedding reception under its famous chandeliers.  Recent changes and renovations have turned the property back to its roots - hospitality in the heart of Bellingham. 

THEN

“At the time of construction and in the decade that followed, New Whatcom (including such of the downtown district of the present City of Bellingham) experienced extensive growth and prosperity, due in large part to the development of the timber, fishing, and coal industries.” (source)

Originally built in 1899 by Captain Byron, the building was called the Byron Hotel. It was later renamed the Leopold after Leopold Schmidt, a brewmaster who bought the property in 1910 as he was expanding his Tumwater-based brewing business into Bellingham. Plenty of changes have happened to the property over the course of a century: one remaining part today is actually a 1929 addition, and much of the structure was demolished in 1967. 

The 1982 nomination form adding this property to the National History Registry describes the work leading up to that time:

“The lobby area and rest room facilities below had all the decorative tile work uncovered. Hand painted tile in many shapes and patterns now graces the floors, walls, interior fountain, and stairways as it did when the structure was first built. The main ballroom and chandelier dining room are illuminated by the original crystal chandeliers, and recent painting and wallpapering have been done with special attention to the original decor.” (source)

During its tenure as a hotel, the property played host to such notaries as William Howard Taft, Richard Byrd, William Jennings Bryan, Billy Sunday, and Clark Gable.

NOW

The owners of the Leopold caused plenty of buzz late last year when they announced that the retirement living business would be closing its doors, and in the spring when we learned the property would be renovated into a 31-room hotel and 61-unit apartment complex. 

While the business move to displace dozens of elderly residents was controversial, the owners have made efforts to connect with the community throughout the process of transitioning the property. Local art is featured in the rooms, and the developers purchased a significant amount of their materials from local suppliers like Mt Baker Plywood, Judd & Black, and The Greenhouse.

The new owners announced on the hotel blog that the ground floor will be leased out to a business to continue its use as an event space and remodel the dining facilities into a restaurant. 

Previously on Bellingham Then & Now: Originally the Mount Baker Theatre was a movie palace, an escape from the Depression.

Next up on Bellingham Then & Now: The Robert I Morse House has seen decades of changes, from its construction in the Gilded Age to its current usage as student housing.

Images

Then: City of Bellingham

Now: Cooper Hansley

Blog copy by Tiffany Holden