In the six months since the Hotel Pattee and La Poste were bought by Perry Economic Development Inc. (PEDI), more than 80 large and small local donors have combined to bring the $3 million capital campaign more than two-thirds of the way toward its goal.
As a gesture of appreciation for the community’s generous support and encouragement to help close the remaining gap, PEDI hosted a
Half-an-hour of mingling over cocktails, canapes and crudites in the Spring Valley Ballroom preceded a group photograph in front of the historic hotel, with Jon Jamison of Jamison Studios ordering the donors in graduated ranks.
A brief presentation followed, with PEDI President Tom Berkgren welcoming the group to their beloved Hotel Pattee, built in 1913 and lavishly renovated in 1993. Burkgren reminded the donors of the hotel’s central place as the hub of Perry’s downtown historic and commercial district and its ideal location at the trailheads of the High Trestle and Raccoon River Valley trails.
PEDI’s twin asset, La Poste, was for many years the Perry Post Office since its construction in 1915. The venue complements the hotel’s suite of hospitality services, and together the attractions draw as many as 65,000 people to Perry annually, making their sustainable operation crucial to the town’s commercial prosperity.
Berkgren introduced Jenny Eklund, the Hotel Pattee’s on-site manager since spring 2019, who said business has been booming in recent months. Eklund thanked the hotel’s employees for their diligence and Perry pride — and noted that positions are available, and the hotel is hiring.
Three members of the Perry Piecemakers Quilting Guild, Diane Caufield, Lois Hoger and Pat Munday, displayed the group’s latest quilting project for the Celtic Room of the hotel.
PEDI board member Mike Van Houweling then outlined the fundraising successes of the capital campaign that began in February 2020 with an initial contribution from the city of Perry of about $650,000, followed by a pledge of some $600,000 from PEDI and the Wiese Foundation.
Van Houweling said a $500,000 donation in March 2020 from Heather Bruce, president and CEO of Osmundson Manufacturing Co. in Perry, gave a huge boost to the capital campaign, and numerous additional donations from individuals and businesses have brought the present total to $2.25 million.
Longtime PEDI board member Bill Clark, intimately involved in the Hotel Pattee since its restoration by Perry native Roberta Green Ahmanson in the 1990s, recalled several humorous stories about the hotel’s recent history, such as Pat Boone’s ride in a pallbearers’ hearse. He said community ownership is the key to the hotel’s ongoing success.
“People would always ask, ‘What is the model? What is the right model for running this hotel?” said Clark as he looked around the ballroom. “Well, this is the model right here.”
PEDI Vice President Matt McDevitt concluded the brief series of remarks by thanking Clark and other veteran PEDI board members Richard Jones, Richard Saemisch and Bill Boorn, and predicting more positive economic development in Perry’s future. He invited the donors to continue the conviviality by repairing to La Poste for its Thursday festivities.
Berkgren said PEDI will continue working to complete the capital campaign. Contributions can be made by contacting any PEDI board members or the city of Perry office or by emailing: fundraising@hotelpattee.com. Perry Economic Development Inc. is an Internal Revenue Code 501 (c) 3 organization Fed ID #42-1234767. Pledges/checks may be sent to Perry Economic Development Inc., P.O. Box 158, Perry, IA 50220.
