82-Lancast«r Faming, Saturday, October 25,1986
Judy Weidman Turns Cenhny-Old' Unwanted 1 Home Into Show Place
BY SALLY BAIR
Lancaster Co. Correspondent
MOUNT JOY - Over 900 people
visited the Weidman House near
Mount Joy last weekend and en
joyed the gracious 100-year-old
home filled with antiques and
additions designed for modern
living.
Judy Weidman, who lives there
with two of her three children,
agreed to open her home as one of
the stops on the annual Lancaster
County Tour, sponsored by the
Lancaster County Art Association.
She said, “It was a lot of fun,
especially when people say nice
things about your house.” And say
nice things they did. Judy’s friend,
artist Arlene Fisher, was
displaying her art in a room newly
made from a garage and said,
“The people really liked the house.
They made lots of nice comments
tome.”
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Judy Weidman stands before the John Eby clock which
dominates the dining room of the home. The clock has been
passed down in the family since 1790, and has the names of
all those who owned it inside the case
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This family room, with stone fireplace, was created from an "old ground cellar.” It is
now a favorite spot in the Weidman House.
Judy added, “It was a nice group
of people they were all so nice. I
wasn’t a bit nervous about opening
my house, but it flabergasted me
that people liked the house so
much.”
She recalled that she and her late
husband, Abe, purchaszed the
house 24 years ago when “nobody
wanted it. Young couples weren’t
buying old homes then.” It had
been a tenant house for a farm, and
Judy laughs, “Everything’s so
crooked.” She said she’d like to do
some research to leam more about
the home when time permits.
Loving care and lots of work
through the years has transformed
the house. Judy says there were no
cupboards in the kitchen when they
purchased it, and they bought a
complete kitchen which had been
on display. It fit perfectly, and
continues to be serviceable and
attractive.
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Visitors were treated to an attractively decorated porch on the side of the Weidman
House. Antiques are featured throughout the house.
As they walked through the
home, tour-goers were treated to a
i. r-ntab'p home, featuring
■' eiy neeulewd' k done by Juch
and antiques accumulated through
the years. Of special interest is a
John Eby clock, made by the
Manheim clockmaker and passed
down through the family since
1790. Judy says she has been told
there are only two clocks like it,
and the names of family members
who have owned it are written on
the back of the case. ,
A newly-added dining room and
sun porch, decorated by Judy,
drew lots of attention, but the deck
and hot tub overlooking
surrounding fields also drew the
visitors interest.
A unique feature of the house is a
family room located in the “old
ground cellar,” with beautifully
pointed stone walls. Judy recalls
that the cellar was so bad she
didn’t even like to go into it, but it
has been transformed swan-like
into a cozy family room with a
raised fireplace. It is a favorite
gathering place for visitors.
The most recent project for Judy
was turning the garage into a
sitting room. That was finished
just two days before the 900 guests
appeared. Judy comments that the
hardest part of opening her home
for the tour was getting ready,
giving complete attention to every
detail. She said they washed
windows, curtains, and spent hours
on yard work to have the home in
near-perfect shape for the visitors.
A special treat for those who
visited was a small taste of
strawberry daiquiries, a specialty
developed by Judy and now being
This is one of the many beautiful pieces of needlework
which grace the Weidman home. Any kind of needlework is
appealing to Judy when she can find the time.
offered for sale by Stauffers of
Kissel Hill and Ridgeview Dairies.
Judy says she can’t remember how
she concocted the first daiquiri
mix, but it has been a favorite for
about two years and she decided to
try marketing it. The frozen
mixture requires only the addition
of ginger ale to make a delicious,
refreshing non-alcoholic drink.
Judy is enjoying the prospect of
marketing the product, and is
developing a peach daiquiri recipe
along the same lines.
Ever energetic, Judy has also
developed the “Weidman House
Sampler,” a cookbook featuring
the most favorite foods she has
served over the years. Having sold
over 3,000 cookbooks to date, Judy
has now written a “Weidman
House Supplement,” with ad
ditional recipes. She carefully
acknowledges the friends from
whom she received the recipes,
saying, “I put in who gave the
recipe to me, but I don’t know
where they came from.”
The best part of the cookbook,
Judy believes, is that the recipes
are simple. “The recipes are all
excellent and easy to do, with
things you have in your kitchen.
They are no-fail. They are time
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tested recipes,” she explains. In
addition to enjoying selling the
cookbook, Judy says, “It’s nice to
'have all my recipes in one spot.”
They are sold in several area
stores.
One of Judy’s hobbies, begun
before her husband Abe died three
years ago, is hosting small dinner
parties. She said the tradition of
hosting colonial dinners actually
began when they returned from
Colonial Williamsburg and invited
some friends to come to dinner and
wear colonial garb. As members of
the Donegal Presbyterian Church,
most had appropriate clothing
readily available.
Her menus are simple when she
entertains, featuring such main
courses as chicken cordon bleu,
filet, roast pork, and turkey. She
makes all her food from scratch,
and enjoys purchasing her food
from Central Market in Lancaster.
About the markets she says, “We
are so lucky in Lancaster County.
The produce is so fresh.” She
usually shops early and enjoys
every moment, saying, “The
people are so great. I just love it.
Judy says, “I have always en
joyed cooking and having com
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