Please help save Historic Kuhn Hotel
Donation protected
Help us save the Historic Hotel Kuhn in the Arts District of Belen N.M.
Mrs. Ruth Kuhn and her three children moved to Belen, New Mexico during the time the Santa Fe Railway was building "The Belen Cut-off" making Belen the center or "Hub City" through which trains running North-South, or East-West would at some point pass-through The Belen railroad yard.
Mrs. Kuhn knew that this would make Belen grow. She saved every cent she could and the Hotel Kuhn was open by 1906.
She rented rooms mainly to the Railroaders since the AT&SF yards were only a few hundred yards from the Hotel.
It was unheard of at the time for a woman to own and operate a business of her own.
The Hotel Kuhn has been a local landmark for over one hundred years. It had the first public showers in Belen. The hotel was open to all no matter of their race or religion.
The old hotel was constructed using solid adobe bricks. The floors are of "rip yard" virgin white pine 1" thick.
After Mrs. Kuhn passed away in 1940 the hotel saw several owners. In the 1960s Oliver Blais the grandfather of the current owner bought and operated the hotel. The current owner, Joan lived and worked here for several years. In 2003 She was able to buy the hotel. Joan had visions of restoring the hotel back to its original condition and to have spaces for Artists to use as studios. Also, there would be spaces for children to learn music, etc. Joan also had her studio in the hotel for a number of years while she worked to preserve the hotel.
Joan and her husband stabilized the building, working together until he was diagnosed with cancer. Joan had to put the restoration on hold to care for him until he lost the battle to cancer. Joan was left with the medical bills which slowed the restoration even more.
Joan has worked when she could to keep her dream alive. We gave a tour of the Kuhn in 2016 with over 300 attending including the Mayor of Belen. At the time of the tour, the City Red Tagged the hotel but after seeing that the old building was in stable condition they dropped the issue. The roof needs to be rebuilt to weatherproof and keep the hotel from further damage.
We have been trying to help Joan get the new roof for several years now without much success locally. The Kuhn Hotel is currently for sale to someone who would want to restore the building. If by chance someone buys the hotel any and all funds raised here would go to the new owner to be used in the restoration.
Please help us save the hotel which is a survivor and one of the few historic buildings that remain from Belen's historic past. Please share and give any amount that you can. Remember once a historic building is gone there is no second chance.
Thank you.
Here is a link to the Hotel Kuhn preservation Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1480415015521505
Mrs. Ruth Kuhn and her three children moved to Belen, New Mexico during the time the Santa Fe Railway was building "The Belen Cut-off" making Belen the center or "Hub City" through which trains running North-South, or East-West would at some point pass-through The Belen railroad yard.
Mrs. Kuhn knew that this would make Belen grow. She saved every cent she could and the Hotel Kuhn was open by 1906.
She rented rooms mainly to the Railroaders since the AT&SF yards were only a few hundred yards from the Hotel.
It was unheard of at the time for a woman to own and operate a business of her own.
The Hotel Kuhn has been a local landmark for over one hundred years. It had the first public showers in Belen. The hotel was open to all no matter of their race or religion.
The old hotel was constructed using solid adobe bricks. The floors are of "rip yard" virgin white pine 1" thick.
After Mrs. Kuhn passed away in 1940 the hotel saw several owners. In the 1960s Oliver Blais the grandfather of the current owner bought and operated the hotel. The current owner, Joan lived and worked here for several years. In 2003 She was able to buy the hotel. Joan had visions of restoring the hotel back to its original condition and to have spaces for Artists to use as studios. Also, there would be spaces for children to learn music, etc. Joan also had her studio in the hotel for a number of years while she worked to preserve the hotel.
Joan and her husband stabilized the building, working together until he was diagnosed with cancer. Joan had to put the restoration on hold to care for him until he lost the battle to cancer. Joan was left with the medical bills which slowed the restoration even more.
Joan has worked when she could to keep her dream alive. We gave a tour of the Kuhn in 2016 with over 300 attending including the Mayor of Belen. At the time of the tour, the City Red Tagged the hotel but after seeing that the old building was in stable condition they dropped the issue. The roof needs to be rebuilt to weatherproof and keep the hotel from further damage.
We have been trying to help Joan get the new roof for several years now without much success locally. The Kuhn Hotel is currently for sale to someone who would want to restore the building. If by chance someone buys the hotel any and all funds raised here would go to the new owner to be used in the restoration.
Please help us save the hotel which is a survivor and one of the few historic buildings that remain from Belen's historic past. Please share and give any amount that you can. Remember once a historic building is gone there is no second chance.
Thank you.
Here is a link to the Hotel Kuhn preservation Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1480415015521505
Organizer
Jim Sloan
Organizer
Belen, NM