Bi4-L*ncaster Farming, Saturday, Dacamber 17, 1994
LINDA WILLIAMS
Bedford Co. Correspondent
MARTINSBURG (Blair Co.)
When the world serves you
lemons, you make lemonade. Or,
when an arsonist burns down your
barn destroying your livelihood,
you find another use for the farm.
Such was the case with Albert
and Doris Kauffman, who, having
raised eight children in a spacious
five-bedroom historic house,
decided they had the perfect spot
for their Spring Garden Farm Bed
and Breakfast.
The picturesque stone home
was built in 1824 but, with few
changes, provides kind of
comfortable setting usually seen in
travel magazines.
Doris Kauffman is the first to
admit a Bed and Breakfast is a lot
of work, but quickly adds, also a
lot of satisfaction.
Surrounded by the beauty of
Morrisons Cove’s farmland, the
Kauffmans had always maintained
a picture perfect lawn. They also
had an abundance of bedrooms.
Establishing a vacation spot,
however, called for some facelift
ing such as new paint, bed spreads,
and other accessories. Each bed
was outfitted with a new box mat
tress and air conditioning was a
necessity despite the cool breezes
that usually flow through the large
windows.
Comforts are many, but the
Kauffmans have kept the price as
low as possible with a night’s stay
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The bedrooms are cozy with homey touches like photos
of her children. “We were advised to take them down, but I
chose to do otherwise,” Doris said.
ihing touch on the parlor prior to the arrival of guests at
Spring Garden Farm Bad and Breakfast
Spring Garden Farm Establishes
Bed And Breakfast After Barn Burns
starting at $25.
To make more room for their
guests, Doris and Albert built
themselves a bedroom in the base
ment.
Each room is also equipped
with its own thermostat for the
comfort of the guests.
For those who wish to lounge
on the farm, there are spacious
porches and inviting farm animals
that welcome attention.
Children often visit the Spring
Garden with their parents and find
only (he parlor off limits.
“We have spent years furnish
ing (he parlor with antiques and
collectibles,” Doris said. “And for
our own comfort and that of the
children, we keep them out of
there.”
The family/dining room is
comfortable and inviting. It is here
that guests find the table set with a
continental breakfast featuring
fresh canned fruits and jellies and
homemade muffins or breads.
On weekdays, guests serve
themselves because Doris is at
work on hcr-school bus driving
job before most people think of
getting out of bed.
Weekends, the breakfast menu
includes rib-sticking bacon, ham,
eggs and hotcakcs.
One of the most inviting resi
dents of Spring Garden is a dachs
hund who recently gave birth to a
new litter of puppies. Guests may
also enjoy or purchase a vast
assortment of crafts.created by
Doris and displayed in the front
hall.
Nearby attractions include Old
Bedford Village, the Horseshoe
Curve, The Altoona Railroad Cen
ter, Raystown Lake, and Blue
Knob.
In order to acclimate them
selves with the Bed and Breakfast
industry, Doris and Albert began
their new adventure by attending
seminars.
“We were told to remove all
personal belongings from the
walls of the bedrooms,” Doris
recalls.
“Personally, I thought that was
a bad idea. I left my family pic
tures, the framed copy of our mar
riage license and my youngest
son’s hat collections on the walls.
And, they- have always been a
source of conversation.”
Problems with guests have
been neither numerous or absent.
On one occasion a family asked to
use the house over Christmas. The
Kauffmans had gone to visit one
of their children, but knowing the
family, decided it would be
“okay”.
Luckily, a daughter who lives
nearby stopped in before the house
became a total disaster.
Guests have also done such
inconsiderate deeds as removing a
quilt (a 40th anniversary present
*s
trom their children) from the ban
nister and sitting on it; turning up
the heat while they open the win
dows; or carrying food into the
rooms.
“But for the most part, our
guests are wonderful people who
we very much enjoy and welcome
back anytime.”
Among them, a lady pilot who
flew freight during World War 11,
has flown for vice president Dan
Quayle and flies her grandchildren
to Europe on a regular basis.
n
Yuletide Singers
At Longwood Gardens
Yuletlde singers stroll through the conservatories during
“A Christmas Past” at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square.
The singers perform period music on most weekends dur
ing Longwood’s holiday celebration of the Victorian era,
from now through January 1,10 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily, Includ
ing Christmas and New Year’s Day. Longwood is on U.S.
Route 1,30 miles west of Philadelphia. For more informa
tion, call (610) 388-1000. Pictured from left are Cal Brackin,
West Chester: Deborah DeHart, Wilmington. Del.; Paul
Goodman, Wildwood, NJ.; and Susan Zaleski, Kennett
Square. Longwood Gordono Photo by L Alboo.
Lv
ide.
The Association for the preser
vation of the chestnut tree in
America also recently used Spring
Garden for accommodations while
convening in a nearby town.
“It’s a good life,” Doris says.
“You meet so many interesting
people, you could write a book.”
“And most of all, we’ve
learned that even something
disastrous as a fire isn’t the end of
the world. You just pick up thc
pieces and go on from there.”