Our story of preservation and rejuvenation. Spanning three centuries, the Printmaker’s Inn is a testament to early American architecture (Hills-Galloway House - Circa 1693) and a shining example of the opulence of Victorian Italianate architecture (The Nichols House - Circa 1884).
33 Decades of History Reimagined in 2015
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My wife, Kristen and I have loved traveling ever since we met while studying abroad in Cadiz, Spain over 15 years ago. That love for traveling, architecture, other cultures and history helped us start this journey of restoring the Nichols house in 2015 and turning it into the Printmaker’s Inn.
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The Nichols house came with a vacant lot, when we bought the property back in June of 2015. We knew we wanted to develop and expand the business at some point, but we weren’t exactly sure how to do that. I have always loved old buildings, especially early ones. My uncle gave us the idea of moving a house, since he had a friend who actually did it. Thus began our next chapter for the Printmaker’s Inn property, by scouring the east coast for any derelict building that no one wanted. What we ended up finding was a remarkably intact First Period/Georgian house in East Hartford, Connecticut and the rest is history.
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Our love for history, architecture, art and antiques shows here at the Printmaker’s Inn. We have tried to preserve the buildings and showcase their features so that guests can experience what makes these old houses so special. All our suites are on the larger scale and provide more privacy than a typical Inn or Bed and Breakfast. The Nichols House has the largest suites, all with kitchens. The Hills Galloway house has smaller suites, but more luxurious in their finishings. Either way you can’t go wrong and we look forward to meeting you!
The Hills-Galloway House c. 1693
Originally sitting on the Connecticut River in East Hartford, the Hills-Galloway House circa 1693, was originally built for Lt. Jonathan Hills and his wife Dorothy Hale. The house was then expanded to its current state, a central chimney Georgian house by their grandson, Captain David Hills, in 1742 for his marriage with Mary Lord Pitkin. Members of the Hills family fought in the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. The house sat preserved in its 1740s state for almost 280 years before it was threatened with demolition.
We carefully dismantled and reassembled the house on the property starting with the dismantling portion in 2018. After repairing the timber frame and going thru all the necessary permitting we finally started the reassembly in March of 2020 right when the world was hit by the COVID 19 Pandemic. After three years of hard work, sweat, tears and finally joy we opened our doors to guests. The HG house is a magnificent example of First Period and Georgian Architecture inside and out. Enjoy spectacular period woodwork, wide plank pine floorboards, plaster, antiques, artwork, and the attic lounge.
The Nichols House c. 1884
The Nichols house is a prime example of Italianate architecture of the Victorian Era in Savannah. Intricate corbels and dental molding adorn the outside, while the inside boasts original ceiling medallions, crown molding and beautiful heart pine wood floors.
Built for William Nichols in 1884, the house is rich in history. William was the oldest son of George Nichols, the head printer in Savannah during the Civil War. William continued the family tradition to become a prominent printer in Savannah as well, hence the name Printmaker’s Inn. The house was, for a time, owned by Nat King Cole, and has also served as a local community center for underprivileged youth in Savannah.
