Since 1803, we’ve been a gathering place. With that legacy comes a whole host of wonderful personalities who have helped make the Golden Lamb what it is today. As we tell stories of our past, we also want to bring you tales from the legends of our present!

At the Golden Lamb, every change we make—whether it’s a menu update or a major renovation—is guided by our commitment to preserving our rich heritage while enhancing the experience of every guest who visits us. Renovating a building with more than 220 years of history certainly comes with its fair share of surprises, including some unexpected discoveries.

To dive deeper into this journey, we sat down with General Manager Steve Fritz, a key figure in the renovation process, to discuss the challenges, surprises, and exciting updates from recent renovations. Plus, hear from Historian John Zimkus on why some of the unusual discoveries might not be so unusual after all, but rather a testament to their time.

Which renovation has been the most extensive so far?

Steve: To date, the most extensive renovation has been updating the Black Horse Tavern. With several years of planning and months of design and construction, it was quite a daunting task and a major gamble to update and modernize the tavern. In my opinion, it is one of the single most significant renovations we've completed so far.

What is your favorite remodeled room, and why?

Steve: My favorite hotel room renovation so far is the Chef Norman Sims room, which is in progress. It will be a beautiful tribute to a tremendous man who helped to make the Golden Lamb famous for its culinary delights.

What was the most surprising discovery made during the renovations?

Steve: There have been a few odd findings, but you have to keep in mind that this is a building with centuries of history. We've encountered old knob-and-tube wiring that is still active, used razor blades in the walls of a bathroom, and in one of our most recent renovations, we cut a hole to check the wiring and had roughly 800 pounds of gravel pour out of the wall!

John, is there any historical significance to these findings?

John: Finding razor blades in the bathroom walls may seem unusual, but believe it or not, is quite common in buildings of this age. In the early 20th century, disposable razors became popular, and hotels often placed slots in medicine cabinets or on the wall for disposing the now dull, yet still sharp enough to cut, “disposable” blades.

 "Out of sight, out of mind” was the idea, leaving behind hundreds of dangerous old blades to be discovered by renovators years later.

Now, finding hundreds of pounds of gravel in a wall in the Golden Lamb is unusual, but there is an explanation behind that, too.

On Wednesday, February 18, 2004, a little over three months before President George W. Bush was set to visit the Golden Lamb in May 2004, workmen were repairing the roof. Tar was being placed on the roof and then covered with fine gravel. 

At around 12:30 pm, while dozens of diners were enjoying their lunch, a 10 x 15 ft. section of the roof on the northeast corner collapsed under the weight of the gravel. The damage was eventually considered to be relatively minor and, after some repair, the roof was completed.

Fast-forward 20 years to earlier this year — Renovations began on what will be the Chef Norman Sims Suite, which will be located on the northeast corner of the hotel’s 4th floor.

When a small cutout was made in the wall, suddenly, fine gravel, seeing light for the first time in two decades, began to pour onto the floor. The gravel had fallen between the studs in the wall when that gaping hole was made in the roof back in February 2004.

You just never know what you might find behind the walls of a place like the historic Golden Lamb.

Make your history part of our history — plan your trip to the Golden Lamb!

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