Freeman Hotel
Open year-round Monday - Friday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
National Register of Historic Places.
The Freeman Hotel embodies the distinctive characteristics of the small hotel found in many eastern North Carolina towns at the turn of the century. The large two-story frame building is the best example in Windsor of Greek Revival architecture with its wide proportions, double portico, large fenestration with fluted trim and cornerblocks and fanlighted gables.
The exterior of the building is principally Greek Revival. Inside there are a number a excellent Greek Revival doors. These features plus the methods used to construct the building place the date of consturction sometime prior to the Civil War. The porch was updated from time to time as were the downstairs rooms.
Its earliest history is unkown, but the hotel was probably built in the 1840's judging from the elements of its architecture. It is not known if the building was originally constructed as a hotel or private residence.
In January of 1882, Mr. Samuel P. Freeman purchased the property at the corner and Queen and Granville streets for $800 from Kader Bass, Starkey Perry, Gaston Perry and Joseph Evans. So far it has not been determined what building or buildings were on the lot at the time of purchase. The four sellers apparently were heirs of L.D. Perry. He bought the property from J.R. Saunders in 1877 for $800 and no record has been found of a transfer from L.D. Perry to the four sellers.
From 1888 until 1936 the building served Windsor as a hotel of eight rooms and two dining rooms. The hotel was advertised as the Freeman House Hotel in 1890 and 1896 and in 1903 the name of the hotel was changed to the Hotel Pearl, apparently in honor of the daughter of the owner, Samuel P. Freeman. From 1936 until 1980 the building was used as rental apartments.
Mr. Freeman began operation of the hotel soon after he purchased it. In 1888 there was a very severe fire in Windsor. The local newspaper said that after the loss of all the buildings in the area that ''Freeman and Mizell's large white hotel stood out like a medieval castle on a plain.''
The hotel did a very good business. About this time steamboats were commonplace in Windsor. Lumber mills shipped their goods by water as did many other businesses. Rail traffic was also significant. The region was economically strong. Windsor was well located in the region and, with rail service and a deep river, the hotel business thrived. Several hotels flourished in town, but the Freeman was the best known. Many people throughout the state lodged here. Around the turn of the century it was opeated by Mr. Junius Bridger. It had a kitchen, dining room, numerous guest rooms, and living quarters for the family operating it. Later the Shimer family operated and lived in the hotel. Mr. Shimer's son, Brigadier General Clarence Shimer was a one time Adjutant General of the North Carolina National Guard. The hotel ceased operation in the 1930's and became and apartment building until 1980.
The property was deeded in 1980 to Historic Hope Foundation, Inc. who entered into an agreement with the Historic Properties Commission of the Town of Windsor to move the hotel onto a lot owned by the town and to repair and restore the hotel under the terns of an historic preservation agreement with the Historic Preservation Fund of North Carolina, Inc., a non-profit organization which can arrange preservation restrictions, covenants and easements. In the preservation agreement, the Town of Windsor agreed to restore the exterior of the building, and, while adapting the interior for office space, preserve the original floors, the stairs and the remaining Greek Revival trim, and the patterned tin walls and ceilings in two first floor rooms.
The Freeman Hotel, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, houses the Windsor Area Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center as well as other offices, and is also used for meetings and group functions.
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