The Clemente Inn-The Tragedy of a Building Lost

A popular resort hotel in the 1920s, vacant in the 1970s and after, it was the subject of several serious attempts at reuse, all of which failed.

Circa 1920s. To the left is the Associated gas station, to the right, Zwickl (or Zwickles) Resort. The trees at center line Mountain Avenue.

In March of 1922 the Index Tribune informs us that “C. Clementi (sometimes spelled Clemente), well known resort man of Fetters Springs, has started construction on his new hotel. The building will be of solid brick construction and will contain 15 rooms with all modern conveniences…Mr. and Mrs. Clementi have been very successful since establishing their resort in Sonoma Valley and their excellent French cuisine has won for them a big patronage.” The Charles Clementi family immigrated from France sometime between 1912 and 1915, and established a French restaurant in their brick home in Fetters Springs. Mrs. Clemente’s brother-in-law, a Mr. Schaff, constructed additions to the house, creating the hotel. The Clemente’s sold in 1928, moving to Ben Lomond in Santa Cruz County. (On various documents and articles, the year it was built is listed as 1906, 1909, 1910, and 1922.)

Here is a timeline accoridng to what’s available in the Index Tribune:

1931- the building was called the Robin Hood Inn, owned by Robert Whitehead, “wealthy retired capitalist of Oakland…”

1935- it was noted that “William Scott opened the Robin Hood Inn.”

1936- “Norman Jensen, a San Francisco architect, is stopping at the Robin Hood Inn. He is making plans for the reconstruction of the baths at Boyes Springs.

1938 “Mora Castle Property at Fetters Sold.” Sold to Mr. and Mrs. Paul H. Zielke of Sant Rosa. “ The fine brick building is to be renovated, redecorated, Venetian blinds added, and other improvements made.”

Then in December of 1940 “Hotel being Changed to Apartments” “Paul Zielke Converting Brick Holtel At Fetters Into Modern Quarters.”

“The famous brick hotel at Fetters Springs, known as Paul’s Castle and one time called Clementi’s after its original owners and later Robin Hood Inn, is being converted into ten apartments. Paul Zielke, the owner who now operates the Golf Clubhouse, believes that small modern apartments will help solve the housing problem in Sonoma Valley”(!) So, not a new problem!

March 1942 -“Trade Apartments Here For Big Ranch and Resort” “Mr. and Mrs. Paul Zielke have traded their apartment house formerly Robin Hood Inn at Fetters, for a large ranch and Eel River resort.”

Apparently it was vacant and all but abandoned after 1972. There is no mention of the Clemente or Clementi Inn again until January of 1981, when a DBA Clementi Inn was established by a partnership of three men, Kenneth Crutchlow, Dennis Kirby, James Felich. “It was purchased for $25,000 by Kenneth Crutchlow of England, along with a full set of plans. ‘I bought it from four guys who specialized in historic buildings,’ he said. ‘I don’t know why they couldn’t make a go of it.’Not sure who these men were, but what an ominous statement!

April 1981- For Sale. “Clementi’s Inn in Sonoma County Landmark No.28, and comes with 77 years of history. Plans are approved for restoration in 6 residential apartments.” $105,000″

July 1983- For sale, $150000

Feb 1984- For Sale 80,000

Jan 1984-For sale $145,000

Feb 1985- For Sale $69,500

April 1983- Letter to the editor from Kenneth Crutchlow stating that the property was in foreclosure.

July 1983- For sale, $150000

Feb 1984 -For Sale 80,000

Jan 1984-Fro Sale $145,000

Feb 1985- For Sale $69,500

On 10, 1989 County design review of proposal to develop as 12 room hotel, by Reiner Keller, architect.

June 9, 1989 Owner listed as Michael Brausen, developer.

Dec 1989 – “There’s absolutely no doubt in Michael Brausen’s mind that the Clemente Inn will rise Phoenix-like, reinvigorated and restored as a showplace hotel, rivaled only by the Sonoma Mission Inn.” “The small clapboard house next to the inn on Hwy 12 was bought to provide parking…According to Brausen, the house itself has a little bit of history-it was once owned by Sally Stanford, reputed madame, ex-mayor of Sausalito, and long time associate of Jaunita Musson…”

Then in July 1991, this astounding headline in the IT: “Old Fetters inn eyed by Soviet buyers.” “Glasnost flourished Sunday as four Soviet businessmen gathered around a Western-style barbecue to kick off a week of negotiations which may culminate in a historic Soviet/American joint venture in Fetters Hot Springs….”The Soviets will actually own the property, ”Brausen says. “This will be the first time an American can actually stay in a Soviet hotel, built by Soviets and run by Soviets and Americans.”

Aug 1991-More about the Soviet deal: “They plan to bring Soviet woodworkers, restaurant personnel, and other artisans to deck out the dilapidated inn, using many finished and unfinished materials from the USSR…When you come in, you will think your are in Moscow,” Brausen said. “If this doesn’t work, the building will probably have to be torn down,” Brausen said prophetically. (Amazing how it being a Soviet hotel was considered a good thing.)

“Russian architect Edouard Ovsipian’s plans suggest a miniature Russian palace, with extensive façade and hight-pitched roof and towers.”…”Ovsipian is an award-winning Soviet architect who built Moscow’s first Baskin-Robbins Ice Cream parlor.”

Whatever you think about the design, it would have been an awsome landmark for the Springs

And then, in 1992, “Soviet collapse doesn’t topple ‘Club Red’”! Soviet funding is gone as Yelstin has frozen the nation’s assets.”…Brausen is now “regrouping” with American investors…

Sept 1993- “‘Club Red” near dead”-“A local entrepreneur still hopes to turn a dilapidated hotel in Agua Caliente (not Fetters?) into a Russian-American “club Red”- but the plan has been stalled for so long that he’s now trying to sell the building.” …Brausen said the ailing California economy-not to mention the dissolutions of the government of the former Soviet Union-has kept the local project from becoming reality.”

May 1996-Enter Jon Early

Shortly after this ad was published, Jon Early teamed with developer Rick Derringer, who was also developing the Chauvet Hotel in Glen Ellen, to work on the Clementi project. They got the support of the Citizens Advisory Commission and then, in 1997, got the approval of the Board of Supervisors for general plan amendments, zoning changes and use permits for a fourteen room hotel.

Five months later, Early decides to sell. In a peeved letter to the editor of the Index Tribune he said “(the author of the article)leaves readers with his naïve and ignorant impression that somehow it is socially unacceptable for developers such as myself to expect a profit after buying a foreclosed property at a good price, and then spending a year of major headaches with the county bureaucracy and many thousands of dollars on unretrievable fees and consultation expenses on the hope that I might get logical entitlements to do something nice with a crappy old eyesore.”

.2000-Marty Edwards buys the building, but after so many years of neglect, the structure is beyond salvaging. In June 2009, the building was demolished, leaving a huge pile of bricks behind a chain link fence. The county backed out of buying the lot for parking, the Permit Department threatened to fine her for having a junk yard, and a contractor wanted $80,000 to haul away the bricks.