814-Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 5, 1998 Fifteen beautiful inns will be open for tour during the Holiday Bed and Breakfast Tour, Sunday, Dec. 13. The proceeds benefit children and adults with mental retardation. Holiday Tour LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff LANCASTER (Lancaster Co.) Charlene Sweeney is busily pre paring Cocalico Creek Bed and Breakfast for Christmas. Graceful white pine roping and red bows line the split-rail fence along the driveway. If you are one of the passerby’s who admire the exterior elegance of Sweeney’s and many other Bed and Breakfast homes that populate the county, take advantage of the chance to sec the interiors of 15 of these inns during the annual Holi day Bed and Breakfast Tour, Sun day, Dec. 13. Each featured home will be decorated for the holidays. Many stops will feature artwork or spe cial demonstrations by local crafts persons. Light refreshments will be served. The lour, sponsored by ARC of Lancaster County, helps raise funds to support services for peo ple with mental retardation, and their families. Four years ago Charlene pur chased the property. Since then she has remodeled the bedrooms, added private bathrooms and cen- Inn owner Charlene Sweeney serves puffed omelets to guests Doyle and Elaine Swackhamer of New Jersey. Bed And Breakfast Features 15 Inns tral air, closed in a back porch, and added her personal decor. As much original woodwork and molding as possible was sal vaged to retain the aura of the 1927 classic stone home, which is said to have been built by a Brubaker who was a descendcnt of the man who gave the town of Denver its name. The spacious foyer features a built-in closet and hat closet, which Charlene uses to display brochures and other information of interest fra- tourists. A built-in mirror con sole, typical of the era’s architec ture, is to the left of the winding stairway that leads to the four guest bedrooms upstairs. On the landing between the floors are window seats for guests to sit and relax. Each of the bedrooms is named after a bird that inhabits the proper ty. These include Egret, Mallard, Blue Heron, and the Goldfinch, which is the master suite with a pri vate balcony. Except for the kitchen, which has a red-painted hardwood floor, the home has original hardwood floors reflnished to a patina sheen. Handsomely built comer cup boards, lots of built-in shelves, and cupboards arc in almost every room. Since Charlene’s private quar tets are cm the third floor, the for mal living room with a large stone fireplace is reserved for guests. The fireplace was converted to gas to make it easier to operate and maintain. A table with checkers and games and other homey touch es lend warmth and comfortability to the inn. In selecting the decor for each room, Charlene started with an oriental rug and, from it, deter mined the wallpaper and window treatments to use. Each loom is tastefully decor ated, but perhaps the most stunning feature is the wonderful setting of the property. The hone's multiple windows overlook cattle grazing in the meadows. A morning mist rises from the the meandering Cocalico creek where waterfowl splash. Along the creek's edge is a spa cious yard with shnibs, venerable trees, and a children's play area. The pastoral setting reminds Charlene of her Conneticut roots, where she grew up working in tomato, tobacco, and strawberry fields. Charlene moved to the state 13 years ago. She said, "I love it here. It is the peacefulness of the area that attracted me,” she said. “I worked in accounting firms for years and wanted to something that wasn’t so stressful,” Charlene said of decision to become an inn keeper. “Little did I know!” Although the daily deadlines of preparing the rooms for overnight guests is a lot mote work than Charlene anticipated, she enjoys it. “I’m a morning person. I like to make breakfast and I like to pam per people,” she said of the three ingredients that make her the gra cious hostess. In addition to the gourmet break fast, Charlene makes her own jams and jellies and gift jar mixtures that guests often purchase to take along home. She continues to work part time, and is compiling a cookbook for the Bed and Breakfast Associa tion. She is recording secretary for the area historical committee and has just resigned from the local planning commission. In addition to Cocalico Creek Bed and Breakfast, where artist Kay Mohn will display her Red wood Ranch Pottery, the tour will include the following: • The Artist’s Inn and Gallery, 117 E. Main SL, Terre Hill. The ♦ t '“iN* The inn borders rolling pastures and a winding creek with an assortment of waterfowl. Federal style home built in 1853 is furnished throughout with antiques and decorative touches. Colored pencil artwork of artist/innkeeper Bruce Garrabrandt will be featured throughout •Rocking Horse Bed and Break fast, 285 W. Main St.. New Hol land, is a 200-year-old stone Colo nial farmhouse, which has three working fireplaces, random width wood floors, and wide window sills. Watch the owner create anti que rocking horses, carousel horses, bedheads, and more. • Wayne Brook Inn, Rts. 10 and 322, Honey Brook, is a 200-year old country inn with equisitely appointed guest rooms. • Fassitt Mansion, 60S 1 Old Phi ladelphia Pike, White Horse, is an 1845 country mansion with 12-foot high ceilings and fire places in almost every room. Tales of its connection with the Under ground Railroad and ghost stories will entertain guests. • Limestone Inn Bed & Break fast, 33 E. Main St., Strasburg, is an elegant 200-year-old home placed on the Lancaster County Historic Sites Register. The home has unique Georgian architecture with medieval overtones. Holiday decorations include Byers Carol ers, baskets, and natural materials. Wood turner Dan Schaeffer will display wooden bowls and ornaments. • Flowers and Thyme Bed and Breakfast, 238 Strasburg Pike, Lancaster, will greet guests with the aroma of the holidays. The charming inn is located on a rural acre of land. Antiques, cross-stitch, and quilts add festive holiday Poached pears are one of the many specialties served at Cocalico Creek Bed and Breakfast touches. See hand-painted clothing and a display of fruit syrups for gift giving. • O’Flahcrty’s Dingcldein House, 1105 E. King St, Lancas ter, is a 1910 Dutch Colonial. The unique inn was the former resi dence of the Armstrong family of floor tile fortune and is exquisitely decorated. More than 20 trees, ranging from miniature to 12 feet in size, will be displayed through out the house. Holly and bows decorate the tailings from the first to third floors and the two working fireplaces. • Rock-A-Bye Bed and Break fast, 138 W. Frederick St., Millcrs ville, is a Federalist style inn that features a rocking chair in every room. Built in the early 1700 s, the home features a Victorian parlor (Turn lo Page BIS)
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