[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 69 (Thursday, May 22, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Page S5018]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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          HONORING THE GRAND OPENING OF THE LANDMARK INN HOTEL

 Mr. LEVIN. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to Bruce 
and Christine Pesola, of Marquette, MI, whose restoration of the 
Landmark Inn Hotel has preserved one of the Upper Peninsula's 
architectural and historic treasures for a new generation.
  The Landmark Inn Hotel originally opened on January 8, 1930, and was 
known as the Hotel Northland. At that time, the Northland was the 
premier hotel in the Upper Peninsula. Throughout the years, the hotel 
has housed many notable people, including Amelia Earhart, Bud Abbott 
and Lou Costello, and musical legends Duke Ellington and Louis 
Armstrong.
  When Bruce and Christine Pesola purchased the hotel in 1995, it had 
stood vacant for more than 12 years. While many people were calling for 
the demolition of the building, the Pesolas were dedicated to 
preserving this piece of history. Described by one local newspaper as a 
``squalid, vacant blemish on the city's skyline,'' the rehabilitation 
of the Landmark Inn will contribute significantly to restoration 
efforts in downtown Marquette. As a longtime proponent of historic 
preservation, I was pleased to support the Pesolas in their efforts to 
secure the project's eligibility for historic preservation 
certification from the Department of the Interior, enabling the Pesolas 
to receive federal tax credits in return for their commitment to 
retaining the historic characteristics of the hotel.
  The renovation of the Landmark Inn Hotel stands as an example of the 
benefits of historic preservation. Not only will Marquette gain a 
quality hotel in the downtown area, the people of the city of Marquette 
and the State of Michigan will retain an important link to the past. I 
know my colleagues will join me in expressing congratulations and best 
wishes for future success to Bruce and Christine Pesola on the occasion 
of the grand opening of the Landmark Inn Hotel.

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