FROM PRISONS, MILLS, SCHOOLS AND TRAINS TO LUXURY B&Bs, INNKEEPERS OFFER THE ULTIMATE IN HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND REPURPOSING
05-29-2008
Sleep where sheep laid and slaves cooked when you stay at B&Bs that preserve history
Austin, TX (5-28-08) – From jails to convents, hospitality is a habit in this group of former clubhouses, cabooses, churches, mercantiles, and more, now turned into inns. BedandBreakfast.com has scoured the country to develop a comprehensive list of B&Bs where history is “recycled and repurposed” for preservation. Read on for stories about how BedandBreakfast.com innkeepers transformed former corn cribs and horse barns into luxury accommodations.
FORMER HOUSES OF WORSHIP
Christopher’s B&B, Bellevue, KY: Named after the Patron Saint of Travelers, this 100-year-old building was privately purchased from the Bellevue Christian Church. Keeping all of the original stained glass windows and hardwood floors, the church was transformed into a B&B in 1997.
Belfry Inne & Bistro, Sandwich, MA: A collection of a former abbey and parsonage buildings, massive stained glass windows, vaulted ceilings and rooms named after the seven days of creation offer reverence to the original structure. Now featuring a fine dining restaurant and luxurious, spacious rooms, along with a whimsical bistro, this property is a study in preservation.
Lathrop House B&B, Springfield, MA: At one time the building was a Reform Jewish Temple and a Yeshiva (school of Jewish studies). Now it is the only Kosher B&B in the U.S. where guests can attend Friday night and Saturday services without leaving the premises.
Churchyard Inn, Uniontown, WA: Originally constructed in 1905 as a parish house, then converted to a convent in 1913, the Churchyard Inn was renovated as a B&B in 1995, exposing the original detailed woodwork and three floors of spacious hallways, bedrooms, and balconies. It is a wonderful blend of old world craftsmanship and a unique B&B where "hospitality is a habit."
Miller’s Daughter B&B, Greenlake, WI: The house was originally built in 1905 as a parsonage for the First Congregational Church of Green Lake. In 2002, the Federated Church of Green Lake planned to raze the parsonage to expand their parking lot. The present owners moved the home to its current location and restored it as an elegant B&B.
FORMER WATER TOWERS & WATER WORKS
John Dougherty House, Mendocino, CA: The Water Tower room, preserved with an 18-foot beamed ceiling, also features a four poster bed, an in-room fireplace, and a beautifully restored ambiance.
Captain Lindsey House, Rockland, ME: Once home to the town’s water works office, this inn still has the vault where collections were stored. Guests check in at the former payment window too.
FORMER PRISONS
Jailer’s Inn B&B, Bardstown, KY: Dating back to 1819, this building has 30-inch-thick stone walls and iron bars on the windows, reminiscent of its old prison days. With one “jail cell” room offering the original bunks dressed in prison black and white, this is a great place to “do time”.
Jailhouse Inn, Newport, RI: Built in 1772, plenty of architectural reminders of the old jail remain, including bars on the windows and at the check-in desk, and prison cell doors welcoming guests into the dining room.
FORMER MILLS
Old Mill on the Falls B&B, Hatfield, MA: This historic mill on the Swift River, with its own dam and waterfall, has recently been renovated into a B&B and banquet center.
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