Blee Hotel, YMCA, Wintercrest Building

Built in 1890, the building was originally known as the Blee Hotel, however it was purchased by the Y.M.C.A. in 1905. When it was a YMCA, it had a pool, basketball court, rifle range and bowling alley.

In 1936, the building was purchased by the Krichbaum family, who converted the bottom floor of the building to storefronts and the upper floors to apartments. In 1996, the building was purchased by Donald and Pam Rankey, who restored the apartments to closely match the original apartments, with oak hardwood floors and marble fireplaces, while continuing to allow commercial tenants on the first floor.

Built in 1890, the building was originally known as the Blee Hotel, however it was purchased by the Y.M.C.A. in 1905. When it was a YMCA, it had a pool, basketball court, rifle range and a bowling alley in the basement. The tower on the northeast corner of the building was used as a firewatch.

It remained a YMCA until it was sold once again in 1926, when it became an annex of the Allen Hotel.

In 1936, the building was purchased Ora Krichbaum, who converted the bottom floor of the building to storefront and the upper floors to apartments. The building remained in the Krichbaum family until the 1990s.

In 1996, the building was purchased by Donald and Pam Rankey, who restored the apartments to closely match the original apartments, with oak hardwood floors and marble fireplaces, while continuing to allow commercial tenants on the first floor. While the renovations were underway, a 95 year old painting that would have been displayed in the parlor while the building was a YMCA was uncovered.The painting is a 7x16 foot fishing scene, and was restored by Carol Calvin.

Currently, the upper floors of the building consist of the Wintercrest Apartments, while the first floor contains a Cell Phone retailer and the Delaware County Convention and Visitors Bureau,

, Madu. Madu's Centenniel Atlas of Delaware County. 1908.

"Historic Building sold on E. Winter." Delaware Gazette (Delaware) January 16th, 1996. .

"Hotel Blee and Then YMCA." Delaware Gazette (Delaware, OH) June 25th, 1956. .

Hawes, Jane. "Pair restoring historic building to old glory." Columbus Dispatch (Columbus, OH) February 17th, 1996. , 4C-4C.

Kelley, Susan. "95-year old YMCA parlor painting is uncovered." Delaware This Week (Delaware County, OH) January 30th, 2000. , 1-2.