Bullock Properties

THE BULLOCK HOTEL
RESTORING A LEGEND

In 1895 Seth Bullock undertook the construction of a grand hotel on the corner of Main and Wall. The fire of 1894 destroyed the two-story frame building that stood on Main. He was determined to build the hotel up and over the large, fireproof 1876 warehouse that was still standing at the rear after withstanding two separate fires.

Native pink and white sandstone from Andrew’s Quarry in Boulder Canyon was used to create the banded façade. A large tin roof pediment typical of the Victorian period graces the third floor. The style of the building is Italianate and is the only such example in Deadwood. The first story windows are twelve feet high and the center transoms tilt in for ventilation. The massive doors were all originally full-length, but it became obvious that they were too heavy to open and were cut down.

The rear building faced Whitewood Creek, where ox teams formerly unloaded at the doors. The rear doors were lost some time ago and were replicated from old photographs. Therefore, the Bullock is the only building in town which has two frontages.

The small building next door to the hotel was originally the Gentlemen’s Bar where you could slake your thirst, and, of course, gamble.

The first floor of the hotel boasted a large dining room in the rear, a kitchen and pantry, sample room where salesmen could store their cases, a large hotel lobby, and offices in the front.

The second and third stories held 63 luxury sleeping rooms with baths down the hall. Two large banks of skylights lit the inner rooms with natural light. All rooms were furnished with iron and brass beds and oak furnishings. The original contents were auctioned off in 1976 by the Ayres family when the building was sold.

The upper floors are dominated by the massive native fir staircase. The graceful railing is a work of art that still draws compliments today. The hotel has been carefully restored based on the best available information regarding the late 1800's and by uncovering details that gave clues as to the original décor. All woodwork was stripped of several coats of paint and re-stained to match the upstairs woodwork. Additionally, missing pieces in the woodwork were replicated.

The colors chosen for the interior and exterior were based upon paint samples still visible. The rear dining room was painted a deep emerald color and this color was used again. The front lobbies had gold wallpaper covering the lower walls above the wainscoting. Typical Victorian decorating had the upper third of a wall decorated in a different style of wallpaper. This had the effect of bringing the high ceilings down to more human proportions. The ceilings were high so that heat would rise in the summer. Cost of fuels was not a consideration when the hotel was built.

Victorians loved to decorate ceilings. You will see many ornate tin ceilings in Deadwood. The Hotel, however, had plaster ceilings and details of stenciling were visible in a few areas. Victorians also papered ceilings and the ceilings in the “new” Bullock were papered to imitate the Victorian period.

Light fixtures were chosen from replica fixtures of the period. The massive chandeliers are 48 inches wide and made of solid brass.

The former kitchen and pantry became an intimate restaurant and bar, Bully’s, named for Seth Bullock’s lifelong friend, Teddy Roosevelt. The fireplace is again typical of the period and decorated with “potter’s tiles” and carved woodwork.

The upper two stories retain much of the feel of the original rooms. Historic Preservation guidelines require that the original floor plan be retained whenever possible. This has resulted in some rather unique rooms with odd shapes and angles, all of which adds to the charm of the hotel. Today’s version is larger than the 1895 room, however. All are equipped with private baths, some with Jacuzzis and wet bars. All told, the former 63 rooms were reduced to 28 in the restoration.

Rooms are furnished with Victorian reproduction furniture similar to the furnishings that were auctioned. Each room was ultimately decorated with paint, paper, and wood moldings to create the feel of grand hotels from that period which were richly decorated.

The restoration of the Bullock was two and one-half years in the making. Particular pains were taken to keep as much of the original detail and recreate others. The building was so solid that in almost a hundred years, the walls had only a three-eighths inch variance from corner to corner. Seth Bullock built it to last and we’re confident that the Bullock will be here another hundred years!

We like to think Seth would have approved.