A Grande Dame of Ocala’s Skyline

Built in 1927 during Florida’s land boom era, the Marion Hotel quickly became one of Ocala’s most iconic buildings. With its six-story stature, Mediterranean Revival detailing, and prominent location in the heart of downtown, the hotel symbolized the city’s optimism and growing prosperity. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, the Marion Hotel has hosted luminaries such as Sinclair Lewis, W.C. Fields, and author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, whose husband, Norton Baskin, once managed the property.

For decades, the hotel stood as a cornerstone of Ocala’s social and cultural scene. Though time and changing tides closed its doors to guests, a renewed vision is now bringing the Marion back to life. Plans for adaptive reuse as a boutique hotel are underway, pairing historic character with modern luxury. As part of this transformation, Austin Historical was selected to restore and replicate hundreds of the building’s original wood and steel windows, doors, and trim—preserving its architectural authenticity for generations to come.

Austin Historical's Restoration Scope

Heritage Window Restoration

Austin Historical restored 149 window openings, encompassing 241 windows, 391 sashes, and 2,004 individual glass lites. The restoration addressed all historic wood double-hung, casement, and transom windows around the building.

Scope included:

• Jamb Restoration: Removal of sashes and paint, repair of damaged wood, and refinishing with premium long oil primer and two coats of acrylic paint. New parting beads and stops were installed to match original details, and sash blocks were added to render windows inoperable.

• Sash Restoration: Glass and putty were removed; sashes were sanded, repaired, and treated with BoraCare rot preventative. Original or new 1/8" annealed glass was installed and glazed with proprietary mildew-resistant putty. All restored sashes were primed and hand-painted inside and out. Original locks were restored, and missing ones were replaced with unlacquered brass sash locks.

• Sash Replication: Where restoration wasn’t viable, new sashes were built from rot-resistant Accoya using mortise and tenon joinery. Sashes were primed, glazed, painted, and installed to match original profiles.

Stair Tower Window Replication

Austin Historical fabricated 32 new double-hung window units for the stair tower:

• 64 sashes / 288 lites

• Each 44" x 60", 8-over-1 in design

Both sash and jambs were built from Accoya and painted with two coats of acrylic. Windows were installed in a fixed position without operating mechanisms.

Exterior Trim Replication

New Accoya brickmold and blind stop trim was milled and installed to match the building’s original profile for all 241 restored window openings. All trim was primed and painted with two coats of 100% acrylic paint.

Window Transoms

Six transom sash above the main entry doors (labeled 157), totaling 120 lites, were cleaned, sanded, spot-primed, and painted. Broken panes were replaced with new 1/8" annealed glass.

Steel Window Restoration

Five leaded glass steel casement windows (18" x 80") labeled 62 were fully restored:

• Paint, putty, and glass were removed

• Rust was treated with Ospho

• Repaired steel was primed and painted

• New glass was installed with linseed oil putty

• Hardware was restored and reinstalled

Heritage Door Restoration

Four main entry doors (36" x 84", 15-lite, 2-1/8" thick) labeled 164 were restored:

• Doors and jambs stripped of old paint/varnish

• Structural repairs performed

• Glass cleaned and reglazed

• Treated with BoraCare

• Finished with stain and three coats of marine-grade varnish

• Existing hardware, kick plates, and push bars were restored and reinstalled

• Twelve new unlacquered brass ball-bearing hinges were installed

Storefront Trim Restoration

Thirteen large storefront window openings (140" x 140") and transom-surrounding door entries received full trim restoration:

• Paint removal, sanding, priming, and two coats of acrylic paint on all exterior trim elements, including casing, sill, and sub-sill

Acoustic Window Inserts

To enhance occupant comfort while preserving the building’s aesthetics, Austin Historical installed:

• 149 IndowPro inserts with 8mm Luxwall glazing on all restored and replicated wood windows

• Commercial-grade acoustic Indows on steel casement windows

Preservation Standards & Project Management

All work was completed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties. Austin Historical provided engineered documents for permitting, as needed. EPA-certified lead-safe practices were followed throughout. The client furnished all scaffolding and exterior lifts required for access during the project.