A pedestrian takes Vogan Alley toward the basement garage of the Jackson Civic Center. Handicap accessibility issues may prevent one of the National Hotel's downstairs rooms along this alley from becoming the permanent headquarters for the Amador County Historical Society. Photo by: Raheem Hosseini

It could be the beginning of a beautiful - and somewhat unlikely - friendship for Amador County Historical Society chairman Larry Cenotto and Thom Walker.

The two men from different corners of the Amador County community have partnered on a gamble that may just polish the reputation of a sanctioned hotel, while also giving traction to a community organization that has listed through the decades without a proper home.

Cenotto and Walker, spokesman for the National Hotel, which is located in the heart of Jackson's historic downtown district, received the blessing of city officials last week to have the society set up a reception center in one of the hotel's downstairs rooms during this weekend's Dandelion Days event.

Society members will use the room as a set-up location during the annual St. Patrick's Day celebration and conduct their education and outreach efforts topside along the street, where visitors won't have to amble down the handicap-inaccessible pavement of Vogan Alley, which winds around the side of the hotel to the foot bridge that connects to Jackson Civic Center's underground parking lot.

"It's kind of a hand-in-hand thing, where it works for the historical society and it works for the hotel until we find a buyer," Walker said.

That longtime effort has been complicated by the hotel's recent closure at the hands of the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, or ABC as the agency is commonly known.

The state agency discovered several violations to the hotel's operating license last March, including the sale of alcohol to a decoy minor and a violation of the hotel's operating license, which calls for it to serve food. The premises also had adulterated bottles of alcohol, the ABC said in a release.

It wasn't until late last month, however - Feb. 26 to be exact - that ABC officials closed the historic hotel indefinitely.

"A 20-day to indefinite suspension means that the National Hotel in Jackson has 20 days to start a restaurant, in full compliance with the California Health Department, or apply to exchange their license for a public premises license," explained Lori Ajax, ABC Sacramento district administrator.

But through an unexpected confluence of events, the National Hotel's recent troubles may be just the opportunity the Amador County Historical Society needed to find a home.

Shortly before the National's closure, Walker had been posting to the Ledger Dispatch's online forum, the Red Phone, under the hotel's corporate moniker, ENG #1, Inc., repeatedly raising the idea that the historical society would find a hospitable welcome if approached. But Cenotto didn't learn about the offer until contacted by the Ledger Dispatch last month, after which he e-mailed Walker and the two began discussing possibilities.

Beyond Dandelion Days, both Cenotto and Walker hope to enter into a contract that would allow the society to headquarter itself at the hotel permanently, for a monthly rent of $1.

"We hope to sign some sort of agreement with the hotel to set up some kind of headquarters for the historical society," Cenotto told the Ledger Dispatch Friday.

It would be the first time in four decades, Cenotto believed, that the society would have a formal place to conduct its business, sell merchandise and hold meetings. The society used to operate out of the county museum, back when it first opened in the late 1940s, Cenotto recalled, but that was fazed out shortly after the county took over operations of the museum, which has been closed since the summer due to structural defects. The society is in the process of addressing that as well, but awaits a proposed interim agreement from the county's General Services Administration Department.

"They've got higher priorities right now, as you can imagine," Cenotto said in reference to the county's budget problems.

As for the historical society finding permanent residence at the National, handicap accessibility issues and the hotel's own future are the biggest obstacles to such a plan coming true.

Jackson City Manager Mike Daly and the city's senior inspector, Larry White, gave the men the rundown on potential hiccups.

Cenotto said he'd be willing to start fund-raising efforts to make repairs that would comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, but doesn't want to spend money if the society gets fazed out of the hotel room when a new owner takes over.

"We don't want to invest too much if we can't stay," he said.

Walker said he hopes whoever takes over the hotel will be receptive to letting the historical society remain.

Whatever happens in the future, both men see this weekend's occurrence as a win-win.

"I was real impressed with the city's cooperation," Cenotto remarked. "I think there's a greater understanding and a realization that we're all in this together, and that we need to make the National Hotel viable and that will make Main Street viable again."