LOCK HAVEN, Pa. — When Carey Chisolm bought the Fallon House, his dream was to bring business back to the historic hotel in Lock Haven.
Vandals had a different idea, spray painting swastikas and other Anti-Semitic language on the walls in May.
“Police came. We walked around the building and we noticed that they were trying to set the building on fire, and they did spray paint and derogatory images,” said Carey Chisolm.
The vandals did not stop there. Earlier this month, they damaged property inside the building on East Water Street.
“When it happened again, it was frustrating. I was like I felt like I was alone in the situation,” said Chisolm
Chisolm uprooted his family from Florida to complete this revitalization project.
He bought the property last year, instantly working on repairs, hoping to open in the fall.
With all the damage, the reopening has been pushed back. He estimates the damage inside the Fallon House to be in the thousands.
“It is frustrating because, not only do I want to bring positivity, I want to bring jobs and entertainment to the city of Lock Haven,” added Chisolm
Chisolm says the vandalism won’t stop him from making his dream happen.
“I just hope that the community supports the project and realizes this is for a bigger cause. The project is bigger than me, but I am willing to take on the obstacles, and this is a minor setback to a major goal.”
