LaFontaine Center begins as hotel

The LaFontaine Center, now a part of the Retirement Housing Foundation (RHF), was built in 1925 as a luxury hotel. James Fred Bippus, a builder from Huntington with the dream to build an elegant hotel, sent his children to look at other established hotels throughout the United States. His dream for the Hotel LaFontaine became a reality after combining the best features of over 100 of the finest hotels in the country. Bippus and his wife also traveled the East Coast toward the goal.

The architect for the project was W.A. Stevens who hired his nephew Robert W. Stevens to design the Neo-Classical style building with him. W.A. Stevens was killed in an accident and Robert completed the plans. Construction began in 1923 with plans that the hotel would exhibit 110 of the finest guest rooms and furnishings, beautiful furniture, Irish linens, chandeliers, beautiful color schemes, stenciled designs, a frog fountain in the opulent lobby, restaurant, ice cream parlor, a swimming pool with an Egyptian motif and imported tiles, ballroom, modern bowling alleys and other services.

Well know people visited the Hotel LaFontaine at 208 W. State Street as its reputation as a grand hotel spread nationwide. Celebrities such as Ronald Coleman, Carole Lombard, Betty Hutton, Johnny Weissmuller (Tarzan), Henry and Edsall Ford, Amelia Earhart and even John Dillinger stayed at the hotel. Boxing matches were even held in the hotel when a sub-floor was later placed over the pool to accommodate the events.

The hotel owners did not enjoy financial success and a progressive decline forced the doors to close in 1974. The neglect of the property took its toll on the hotel and it seemed that it might have to be torn down. A small group of community leaders began an effort to save the hotel, and in 1983 the hotel was placed on the Indiana Register of Historic Places which gave it protection from demolition.

Renovation, under the leadership of Emmy Purviance and Janet Schact, began in March of 1985 to turn the former hotel into a 65 room apartment complex for seniors. Private and public donations helped fund the renovation. Volunteers helped to restore the interior artistic designs. A grand re-opening was celebrated in 1987, and since then the LaFontaine Center is serving the community as a place where residents enjoy social engagement.

The mission of LaFontaine Center of today is to provide housing options for older adults in an environment that enhances their quality of life physically, mentally and spiritually. As a part of RHF it provides housing and services for older adults, persons with disabilities and low-income families. The Grand Ballroom and Commercial Kitchen can be rented for weddings, parties, dinners, presentations and other special events. In 1984 the Hotel LaFontaine became listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also location number 83 on the National Register of Historic Places registration form for the Huntington Courthouse Square Historic District which was approved in 1992.