Normandy Inn

The Normandy Inn is a historic French provincial-style complex of buildings in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, designed by Robert Stanton and built in 1936 by Fred Ruhl. The Normandy Inn has been recognized by the city as a historical resource and submitted to the California Register of Historical Resources on November 10, 2002. The Inn is an early example of the French provincial-style of architecture from the period between 1903 and 1930 in Carmel, and the most well-preserved remaining example of Robert Stanton's early architectural design work.

History


The development of the complex of buildings, eventually known as the Normandy Inn, began with the El Monte Verde Apartments (now the Monte Verde Inn) as early as 1915. The initial location was the southwest corner of Monte Verde Street and Ocean Avenue. In 1921, Mary L. Hamlin erected two buildings at this site. In September 1924, Hamlin had the apartment remodeled. Following the successfully establishment the Monte Verde Apartments, Hamlin decided to sale them to Ethel P. Young in 1924. She then joined forces with Allen Knight to build and manage the Sundial Lodge, on Monte Verde Street and 7th Avenue.

The first phase of the Normandy Inn complex was constructed by Stanton in 1925, as his personal office building adjacent to the El Monte Verde, situated south of Monte Verde Street off Ocean Avenue. The construction was overseen by local builder Fred Ruhl. The office building is a one-and-one-half story wood-framed French provincial-style commercial building. The exterior walls are textured cement stucco with timber framing. There is a steeply pitched cross-gabled roof and tall, circular tower. The entry has a wood Dutch door with a pair of leaded glass windows to the left of the door.

In March 1929, Parkes purchased the Monte Verde Apartment buildings and moved them around the corner, south of the Stranton office, to face on Monte Verde instead of Ocean Avenue. The move was necessary due to the plans with the development of the next phase of the Normandy Inn.

In 1936, Stanton built the second segment of the Normandy Inn for Ethel P. Young, just west of his office. This two-story hotel has the French provincial-style and occupies the southwest side of Ocean Avenue, between Monte Verde and Casanova Streets. The Normandy Inn was designed in a "U" shape, surrounding a central courtyard. The exterior walls are brick and cement stucco with narrow bands of false half-timbering. Each section and individual apartment is furnished with the French Provincial style. The construction was overseen by building contractor Fred Ruhl.

In 1937, Mabel C. Sampson purchased the Normandy Inn and managed it in conjunction with the Blue Bird Tea Room until she eventually sold the Tea Room in 1939.



The third component, an addition from 1951 by Stanton, extends along the north corner of Monte Verde & Ocean Avenue. Stanton adopted a more contemporary design, incorporating a large brick siding and framing the southern corner with large plate-glass showcase windows. These windows are separated by heavy vertical wood posts. A courtyard lies in front of the building. This addition previously functioned as a restaurant but later became a retail shop.



In 1958, Stanton added a fourth component, a second wing off on the west side, attached and parallel to the 1951 addition. This wing has a steeply pitched hipped roof with wood shingles and a Carmel stone end wall facing Ocean Avenue. A large exterior Carmel stone chimney is flanked by a pair of windows. A fifth component, a much smaller building connected to the wing, was built in 1962. This structure served as Stanton's last architectural office space.

Historical significance
The Normandy Inn has been officially recognized by the city's Community Planning & Building Department as meeting the criteria for a historic resource. The city nominated it, and the submission to the California Register of Historical Resources took place November 10, 2002.

This Inn meets the California Register criteria in the area architecture, serving as the best example of the French Revival style of architecture in Carmel. It stands as the most well-preserved example of Robert Stanton's early architectural design work in the area. The Inn is also listed in the city's Inventory of Historic Resources.