812-Lancast»r Fanning, Saturday, Fabruary 28,1987
Maiytond Holstein Association Ladies Tour Three Country Homes
BY SHARON SCHUSTER
Maryland Correspondent
WESTMINSTER, Md. - Ladies
of the Maryland Holstein
Association who attended the
annual convention Feb. 20, enjoyed
another aspect of farm living as
they toured three beautiful country
homes as part of a progressive
luncheon.
The first stop on the tour was the
home of Kathy and Marlin Hoff of
New Windsor, Md. The 4,000
square feet of modern living space
is situated in a secluded wooded
area just down the road from the
dairy bam. The facade of the home
is cedar and stones that were
collected from fields on the farm.
Structurally, it resembles the
shape of the bam. The home was
built in 1975.
Kathy greeted the 70 women who
entered through the double doors,
then made a retreat to the kitchen
to serve her delicious, warm-from
the-oven crab dip. (For recipe,
turn to page 86.) Most of the
visitors assembled in the focal
point of the very modem home, the
living room and entertainment
center.
The two-story cathedral ceiling
makes for an airy, light and in
viting space. Each end of the large
room, which runs front to back on
one end of the house, has sliding
glass doors with full one story
fee
_ v .
*. ’• », *, * »’•••*,, .*.* ‘V
: % , v, 4 v f *
L*' m.\ • ♦
bedroom. The bed was handcrafted
is seated next to the fireplace made of stones from fields on the farm. The
4,000 square foot home has a cathedral ceiling in tlie living rooni
wuidows above. Serving a dual
purpose, the two-story windows
and doors flood the large area with
light, as well as provide a view of
the adjacent woods. Like a life
sized painting that is ever
changing, the scene through the
windows is seasonally beautiful.
The first floor of the Hoffs’ home
features all slate flooring. The
large fireplace is also made of
stones found on the farm. Kathy
served hors d’oeurves and drinks
over the bar which connects the
open area to the traditional eat-in
kitchen.
After bidding adieu to Kathy in
her modem home, the ladies of the
Holstein Association left Cold
springs Farm and made their way
to the home of the Association
president, Joe Schwartzbeck.
The tour proved to be a study in
contrasts as the visitors made
their way from the ultra-modem to
the country charm of Joe and Nona
Schwartzbeck’s traditional log,
brick and frame house. Unlike the
Hoff home, Peace and Plenty’s
homestead is an integrated part of
the farming area, with bams and
silos just steps from the back door.
Nona served the main course of
the progressive lunch, ham with
imperial crab, salad, warm fruit
compote and rolls.
The Schwartzbeck home sup
plied a feast for the eyes as well.
Joe and Nona Schwartzbeck’s home is an integral part of the dairy operation at Peace
and Plenty Farm.
Nona’s dairy collectibles hang on
every wall, sit on every shelf and
even dangle from the ceiling. Her
collections include the new and the
old, all with a dairying theme.
Lunch was buffet style and
served on some of Nona’s fine
collection of silver and glassware.
The living room is full of family
treasures including a writing desk
that was custom made for Joe’s
great grandmother Dutrow. The
small desk is inlaid with 2,076
blocks of wood, representing 365
different varieties of trees from all
over the world.
The grandfather clock, which
bears a likeness of the farm on the
face, was constructed from a
walnut log that Joe pulled out of
the field when he was a teenager.
Oldest son, Gus, made the oak
comer cupboard.
A collection of Bobbi Becker’s
original folk art paintings are
displayed on one wall, and a large
self-portrait of one of Nona’s an
cestors occupies most of another
wall. The painting, called "The
Beggarman,” is a self-portrait of
Eugene Poole completed in 1879
while he was studying at the
Louvre in Pans.
After the delicious gourmet
lunch, the tour then continued on to
Taneytown, for the piece de
resistance. The home of Louis and
Karen Hobson was the end of the
trail for the Holstein ladies’ tour
and luncheon.
The red brick home which dates
to 1823, provided yet another
contrast. The Hobson home is a
beautifully renovated colonial
home, decorated with exquisite
Williamsburg furnishings and
authentic period pieces.
Blue is the theme that runs
throughout the lovely home, from
the Wedgewood blue velvet swag
drapes that Karen made for the
living room, to the federal blue
(Turn to Page B 13)
pieces of silver and glassware.
..bson’s home. Karen pauses for a moment in the formal
living room
ie Hoffs' home resembled the barn