The Carriage House served as the Estate’s garage, stables, and living quarters for the chauffer and groomsman.
The building has approximately 10,929 sq. ft. of space and historically consisted of 13 rooms on the second floor. An archway, through which guests enter the Estate today separates what was once the Garage from the Carwash Bay/Mechanic’s Shop.
Garage
The garage was originally designed to house 10 cars without partitions, including two electric cars belonging to Gertrude Seiberling. The chauffeur, who lived on the second floor of the Carriage House, was also the resident mechanic. The original garage doors, on the east side of the building near North Portage Path are still visible.
The garage is now the Carriage House Reception Hall, site of many corporate events and wedding receptions.
Carwash Bay/Mechanic’s Shop
The admissions area at Stan Hywet was originally the mechanic’s shop, housing the mechanic’s office and workroom. The oil pit was located near what is now the primary admissions desk.
The car wash bay was originally the site of a drive-through car wash, with the folding door stored in the masonry pocket (still in the room). This is now the Orientation Room, where guests may learn about the history of Stan Hywet Hall and the Seiberling family before taking a tour.
The Carriage House was also equipped with a gas storage tank, complete with pump and nozzle for refueling automobiles. A 500-gallon gasoline tank was buried on the north side of the Carriage House, and allowed for greater self-sufficiency and fiscal savings.
Carriage House Second Floor
Historically, the second floor of the Carriage House had living quarters for the chauffeur and groomsman. According to the original floor plans, the chauffeur’s apartment consisted of a living room, dining room, kitchen, pantry and two bedrooms with a shared bath. A second apartment in the wing facing North Portage Path had second apartment with a larger dormitory room, three bedrooms and a shared full bath.
The Carriage House second floor now houses administrative offices.
Stables and Tack Room
Horseback riding was one of many sporting activities available on the estate and a personal passion of F.A. Seiberling. The stables included two box stalls, four straight stalls, and a tack room. The horses were kept in box stalls with hay grates.
The Seiberlings’ riding horses were world-class champions; they also owned two Belgian draft horses for farming, mowing and heavy work. One of the draft horses, Molly, was a working horse who helped plow the gardens, fetch groceries from town and move things from one place to another. Molly also served another purpose – one year at Christmas, Molly pulled the Yule Log into the Great Hall for the holiday season.
Today, the tack room is home to Molly’s Shop.