B.C. Stone, Inc. - The Union Hotel's Parent Company 

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Our Love Story

The first day of deer season was the day Ed Bender arrived in Everett, PA to start a new job in 1966.  Ed was a Civil Engineer, who graduated from the Pennsylvania State University in 1964, and was from Philadelphia, PA.  Ed's new position was to assist with the construction of Everett's Levee project which was in progress.  Alan whetstone was in charge of inspecting the construction work.  Ed and Allen Whetstone were employed by the Pennsylvania Department of Forest and Waters.  The Department of Forest and Waters designed the flood control project and oversaw construction and contractor payment.  While Ed was working on the project he stayed at the Carolyn Court Motel. 

Ed did not know anyone in Everett except for Allen and his wife, Nancy Whetstone.  The Whetstone's owned the Union hotel and lived in an apartment on the second floor.  On occasions they would have Ed to their place for dinner. Allan and Nancy also took turns bartending at the Union Hotel, but when they were unable to bar tend, they hired William (Bill) Swartz.  Ed and Bill also became friendly, and soon Bill had an idea.  He wanted Ed to meet his daughter, Karen.

It was a cold wintery Friday evening when this meeting took place.   Karen Swartz, at the time, was a second year nursing student at Altoona Hospital School of Nursing in Altoona, PA.  Karen occasionally came to Everett on weekends to visit her family.  Her father suggested to Karen that he had someone he wanted her to meet, so the meeting took place downstairs at the Union Hotel Bar.

The rest is history.  Karen and Ed were married on October 19, 1968 in Everett, PA.  They just celebrated their 41^st wedding anniversary.  They are the parents of a son and daughter plus a lovely son and daughter-in-law, and also have five grandchildren.  Their 41^st Anniversary was spent aboard a lovely Holland American cruise ship, named the "Statendam."  This ship cruised from Florida through the Panama Canal to California.

Karen and Ed have recently revisited the Union Hotel.  They were very impressed by the beautiful recent renovations made by owner Travis Collins.  They were given a tour of the Union and were totally amazed at the attention to detail and how lovely the Union Hotel had turned out!  The Union Hotel is truly a "Grand Lady", a wonderful asset to Everett, PA and the county and a great place to meet.  Just ask Ed and Karen!

Thanks for your hard work and vision!

Karen and Ed 
10/20/09

Travis,

Linda and I really enjoyed our evening at the Union Hotel. You and your colleagues, especially those at B.C. Stone, are to be commended. Linda’s first comment upon entering the lobby was “Wow! This feels like a fancy hotel in New York!” We were both impressed with the hustle and bustle and the “alive feeling” in the hotel and the restaurant, and we even had this good feeling when we left at 7:15 this morning with no one else around. The stonework is beautiful, and the rest of the restoration is done well.

Yesterday afternoon while we had our meeting, Linda explored Everett and in the gift shop and hardware store across the street, the people in the shop commented how nice it is to have lights and life in the hotel after it sat dark and empty for so many years. We were really impressed as how busy the restaurant was on a Tuesday night in a small town like Everett.

Growing up in York, we used to go through Everett when we visited my Dad’s parents in Altoona, and I grew up considering Everett as somewhere to go through. This visit changed that impression to one of “somewhere to go to.”

Best wishes for your continued success, and best wishes to you and your family for the holidays.

Rick

Old to New

An article from the Altoona Mirror - Oct. 15, 2009

Lincoln Highway Heritage Corridor

The Union Hotel was recently featured in their newsletter.
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