February 15, 2006
The Honus House
Plans are in the works to turn Honus Wagner's Pittsburgh house into a bed and breakfast:
Wagner moved into his three-story, yellow brick colonial at 605 Beechwood Ave. in 1918, a year after playing his last game for the Pirates. Though the home since has been split into two apartments, many of the original features remain, including stained-glass windows, chandeliers, mantels and hardwood floors.
Restoration efforts will be guided by more than 50 builders' records, part of Wagner's scrupulous oversight of the project. Klos bought the documents -- including the original contract Wagner signed to have the house built -- at a New York City auction for $15,000.
Getting those documents was the key to the deal for Klos.
"It's really a find. We know what's original and what isn't. We have the documentation for everything. It's very rare to have the actual documents pertaining to a house that early," he said.
That's sounds like a nice baseball trip, a stay at Wagner's house and a couple of games at PNC Park.