Steele Mansion was built in 1867 for George W. Steele, described in a daily newspaper as the “grandest home in Painesville”! The French Second Empire home featured a third-floor ballroom, 7 Italian marble fireplaces, windows imported from France, three bathrooms with running water, ornate walnut doors, stairs, and trim. The Steele family lived in the front portion of the home. A two-story rear wing housed the servants.

The home played host to many men and women of significance. Previous U.S. Presidents such as: James A. Garfield, Ulysses S. Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes, William McKinley, and Howard Taft. Likewise, Harriet Tubman, Amelia Earhart (just one year before her disappearance), and Carl Sandburg also stayed at the Mansion. More recently, Deborah Royce, David Hume, Sidney Powell, and Diane Nash have stayed in our beautiful guest rooms.

After decades of private ownership, Lake Erie College purchased the property in 1921 and renamed it “President’s House,” subsequent occupants were the college presidents Vivian Small, Helen Bragdon and Paul Weaver. When it became a dormitory, it was renamed “Mentor House.” The College used it as the President’s home as well as student housing and administrative offices. The third-floor ballroom served as the gymnasium.

In the 1980s, Steele Mansion was sold to a private owner, and converted into an apartment building. While the home was still magnificent, it was showing its age. Attempts to melt a large icicle covering a leaking roof in 2001 resulted in the disastrous fire which destroyed the entire third floor and damaged the lower floors. The building was not repaired after the fire. It was roofless and open to the elements for nearly 10 years. Steele Mansion was deemed unsalvageable in 2010. The demolition date was set for March 11, 2011.

The Shamakian family purchased Steele Mansion in December of 2010. Very little of the original structure still stood except for the brick walls and the grand walnut staircase.

The first year was a scramble to save the building from collapse! The front part of the Mansion survived. The servants’ wing did not. Dumpsters full of rubble and debris were cleared out of the shell. Steel beams replaced rotted timbers. Any salvageable parts of the building were saved for reuse or to use as a template for restoration. The new servants’ wing was built on the same footprint as the original wing. The project was being closely watched by the Ohio Historical Preservation Department to ensure accurate restoration. Upon completion, the building was placed on the National Registry for Historic Buildings, ensuring that it will never again be in peril of destruction.

Steele Mansion has come back to life as a Historic Inn and Meeting Center; Restored to its 1870’s grandeur. The Inn has sixteen luxurious guest rooms, each with its own distinctive décor. The entire first floor is available to the public for entertaining or meeting purposes. Three additional public rooms are in the basement. The public rooms have a capacity ranging from 4 to 80 people. There is a special bridal dressing room and a private dining area as well as other interesting social areas.

We welcome all to stay at our hotel while visiting the Cleveland Area. We are across the street from Lake Erie College, near many great wineries, parks and Lake Erie beaches. Our old-fashioned bar serves drinks seven days per week. All our guest rooms have private bathrooms and the best of modern amenities while still maintaining a historical charm. Free parking, a pet friendly room, Jason International MicroSilk Hydrotherapy Air tubs and complimentary Wi-Fi.