Restoring a hometown relic

Among the attractions at Saturday's sesquicentennial celebration was the opportunity to see one of the community's oldest buildings undergoing a yearslong renovation. Owners Emily and Chuck Beesley showed their progress on the historic Waymire building.

September 2, 2025 - 3:25 PM

Emily Beesley stands in the soon-to-open Waymire Historic Inn in Yates Center. Beesley and her husband, Chuck, opened the doors to visitors to catch a glimpse of their progress at the town’s 150th celebration Saturday. Photo by Susan Lynn / Iola Register

YATES CENTER – For Emily Beesley, celebrating her hometown’s 150th is as much as looking forward as looking back.

Beesely and her husband, Chuck, are transforming the upstairs of the Waymire Block building at 106 and 108 W. Rutledge St. into the Waymire Historic Inn, a boutique-style retreat named after Hiram Waymire, a successful merchant who built the structure in 1892.

On Saturday, the Beesleys welcomed visitors to inspect their progress.

Already a subscriber?