84-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, May 4, 1991 Joyce Bupp York Co. Correspondent DOVER (York Co.) When Loren Detter began tearing out the old plaster and lathing of their summerhouse’s loft, his wife Ail can was not convinced it was worth the trouble. “It was the worst,” she says of the deteriorating walls, crumbling window frames and open-air gaps of the structure. Painstakingly remodeled, the summerhouse upper level is now the “Hideaway,” a honeymoon suite of sorts at the Delter’s newly-opened bed and breakfast on their Dover-area farm. Exposed beams, textured ceiling, delicate wallpaper and soft carpet ing bely the loft’s original state and pay tribute to this couple’s vision of sharing with guests their home of 33 years. A canopy bed in the Hideaway has been custom built by Loren to fit under the loft’s sloping ceil ings. He spent more hours than he cares to remember refinishing and restoring the heavy, original, wooden door to the enclosed stair entry and its antique hardware. A private bath, soft easy chairs and a view overlooking the farm’s roll ing meadows offer homey touches to guests in the cozy loft. The Hideaway is one of three private rooms remodeled and tastefully decorated by Loren and Ailcan in between crop and cattle chores on their farm along the Concwago Creek north of Dover. Although they have hosted guests periodically, including a Japanese exchange student who lived with the family for a year, their bed and breakfast at 6631 Old Carlisle Road “offically” opened on May 1. Their Victorian and Country Brass rooms, which share a bath and dressing area, are named by Ailean based on the decorative theme of each. Antiques, stencil ing and restored pieces, including Loren’s own infant cnb, add per sonal touches. Air conditioning, television, cold running water and fire safety equipment in each room offer modem amenities to the traditional feeling of the large, century-old farm home. Layout of the house, with its attached summerhouse, lends itself ideally to a bed and breakfast establishment. A large family area, complete with fireplace and brcakfjsl nook, connects the mam portion of the house with the for mer summerhouse. Farm tools and A fbv point of the guest area at i Herns like the Iron pot Lome holds. Take A Buggy Ride At Detter’s Farm collectibles decorate the fireplace, which is kept burning for guests comfort and enjoyment Entrances to the guest rooms open off the central gathering room, ensuring a measure of privacy for the Det ter’s personal living area. “If our guests enjoy breakfast outside on warm mornings, I’ll serve it in the gazebo on the lawn,” says Ailcan. Her breakfast specialities include fresh fruits served on family china and home made bread baked fresh daily. An antique table in a secluded comer is kept stocked with a selection of beverages and tidbits for evening snacks. For visitors with musical inclination, a piano awaits willing players. Their interest in people led them into not only opening their home to guests but also into a related sideline speciality of offer ing carriage rides. The Betters have three Amish-slylc buggies, maintained for both their guests and for local folks looking for a unique, special-occasion, mode of travel. A few brides and grooms have already been delivered to their receptions in the carriages, a guaranteed spectator-gathering event. “I’ve been around horses all my life,” notes Loren, who grew up helping his family to farm wilh teams. “I was the youngest, so they gave me the horses to drive; my brother drove the tractor.” Two standard-bred driving horses wait in the exercise lot near the bams, one of them recently acquired after being retired from racing. Calmness in their driving horses is a top priority, since the mere sight of the horse and buggy always draws children. Their new buggy was custom designed to their specifications by the White Horse Carriage Shop. Beautifully finished with crushed blue velvet, it features rollup sides for open-air rides in pleasant weather, ornately carved instru ment deck, and a special, side opening door and steps for the wide skirts and trains of bridal gowns. Loren dresses for the carriage rides in dark suit and lie with top hat. He nearly froze, even dressed with extra layers of clothes, on a Christmas ride contracted by one customer. The ride was around Lake Meade, a 10-mile drive in itself, plus travel of many more miles to get there and back. He also delivered an 81-ycar old to a surprise, family birthday V;/' * / /# V"' itter’s Acres Detter’s Acres Bed and Breakfast Is open for guests looking for a vacation working farm. A custom-made Amish buggy Is available at the Betters for guests and special-occasion rides. party in her honor and thoroughly enjoyed his part in a recent mar riage proposal. The client wishing to propose plotted with Loren for a carriage ride along the Conewago Creek, complete with picnic basket, for his intended. Even the dreary, rainy, foggy conditions that set in along the creek that evening failed to put a damper on that memorable carriage excursion. Recently Lome and Ailean have been sharing a slide program on their trip last summer to Japan. Twelve years ago, the Dcltcrs and their four children hosted Japan ese exchange student Masayo Matsukawa for a year. They have kept in touch since then and last May were guests of her and her family. “They treated us like royally,” Ailean says of the memorable vis it. ‘The people were wonderful. They’re in an area where many of the Japanese never had seen an American, so many people were fascinated with Lome’s blue eyes.” The Detter’s bed-and-breakfast facilities serve the family well when the Defter children come to visit. Only daughter Sharon Shue lives nearby. Daughter Judy Bran denburg and her husband are ministers in Ml Vernon, Ohio, and Susan Phillips and her hus band Rodney both assist as minis- ice, irge K / ,**■ V ln her well-stocked kitchen, Ailean Detter bakes bread and prepares breakfast specialities for their guests. ters at Dover, Ohio. Son David and his wife also assist as minis ters at the church in Upland, Cali fornia. Lome and Ailean currently have nine grandchildren, and will soon become grandparents once again. Accustomed to children in their gracious home, the Detters wel come youngsters as guests and offer a wide expanse of lawn and a private meadow picnic area where they can romp and play. A herd of Charolais cattle and hay produc tion keep Dctler’s Acres a work ing operation, giving visitors a chance to experience farm living. Lome and Ailean share a love of people, which is reflected in their backgrounds. Lome was for many years a feed sales represen tative for Spangle and Sprenkle Feed Company of York, new wmesfead t/Voies 1 4 ♦ 5 i * Hoke Mills, and served six years as a supervisor for Dover Township. Ailean is secretary for the York County Farmers Association, handles local paperwork for 199th District Legislator Rep. John Brojous, and teaches painting from her own art gallery on the farm. A believer in community service, she is currently running for a township supervisor candida cy in the primary election. Detter’s Acres Bed and Break fast is 10 minutes from Ski Roundtop and Pinchot Park. His toric York, Gettysburg, Lancaster, Hershey and Harrisburg are all within about a one-hour drive. The Detters welcome inquiries and may be reached at 3361 Old Carli sle Road, Dover, PA 17315, phone 717-292-3172. on a both
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