Apartment Of The Week

This ad for a room at the Arms appeared online yesterday.  The text is edited for clarity but otherwise is the precise verbiage the building's manager used to describe life at Parkesburg's only boarding house. 

Rooms for Rent with shared bathroom starting at $375 per month includes all utilities.

Monthly rentals range from $375 - $625 per room depending on size and amenities. Weekly rentals are available for $150.00 per week and require no credit check or security deposit. 

Rate is for 1 person. Additional person is $125.00 per month. There are no more than 2 people permitted per room.

To qualify for monthly rentals monthly income must be 2x the rent.

Rent includes all utilities except cable and telephone.

There are 42 rooms and 8 bathrooms in the building. Shared kitchen and common areas laundry room facility in building.

Call Kevin to get a room today: XXX-XXX-XXX

 The original ad can be found here.

Parkesburg Arms Menu

On Saturday I posted a piece on the venerable Parkesburg Arms, asking what was happening with the place.

While writing the post I reached out to Gerry Treadway for some history about the place.  Gerry, like any good author, directed me to his Parkesburg Bottles book where this Arms menu circa 1940's is reprinted.

Note the selection and the prices. Swiss steak for $1.  I'm so there!

What's Going On At The Arms?

The Parkesburg Arms Hotel, erected in 1905 by Parkesburg resident B. F. Dorscheimer is currently owned an operated by Con-Lyn Home Improvement of Avondale

The Parkesburg Arms, the venerable First Avenue landmark built in 1905 and refurbished numerous times in its 105 year history, has again fallen on hard times.

This time its not the building that is looking bedraggled.  The most recent refurbishment, complete in 2008 by Con-Lyn Properties, left the building looking remarkably better than it did at the turn of the millennium just 10 years ago.

Rather, this time its the residents of the Arms causing concern.

Crime is up in and around the Arms and all sorts of other nefarious activities are reported by neighbors. 

To be sure living at the Arms is no paradise.  The residents pay up to $150 a week or $450 a month for a one bedroom 'apartment' and a shared bathroom, an arrangements meant to attract those with few other living arrangements.

In fact to the casual observer many residents of the Arms appear down on their luck, recovering from battle wounds, or just looking to turn their life around.

The people of Parkesburg welcomes everyone, even and especially those struggling to overcome challenges of horrific war experiences, drug and alcohol addiction and weak to non-existent family ties.  A room at The Arms and the town of Parkesburg is as good of place as any for men to get back on their feet and make something of their lives.

All the people of Parkesburg ask is that which is required of anyone living in town; that Parkesburg's culture of civility be respected and the town's laws and ordinances be obeyed.

Check back to Parkesburg Today in the coming weeks for more about the state of The Arms.