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INNSIDE STORY
Historic and cultural ought-tos for the autumn months
Golden leaves and crisp autumn breezes make this a great time to take in the historic battlefields, towns, homes, and landmarks all over the state that tell great stories of a bygone era.
Visit Fosterfields Living Historical Farm in Morristown on September 30th and October 1st for a weekend of Civil War reenactments. At Red Mill Museum Village you can meet with the 3d NJ Voluntary Infantry on November 4th & 5th as they construct a Civil War-era cabin and prepare for the winter months.
Barclay Farmstead in Cherry Hill welcomes you to experience life on an 1816 farm with an event for families and children on October 8th.
Take the New Jersey Lighthouse Challenge held at various locations statewide on October 14th & 15th. New Jersey has 11 lighthouses open for exploration. Also on the shore, celebrate ten days of Cape May history with historic house tours, mystery dinner theatre, Victorian fashion shows, antiquing and crafts from October 6th through 15th.
Fall festivals include the Columbus Day Weekend Festival in Frenchtown, a celebration of art, wine and cultures around the world, on October 7th & 8th.
Hope Village lights up on the evening of November 25th. Peruse historic Moravian buildings and shops in the town of Hope all dressed up for the holidays. On December 2nd take the annual Spring Lake Candlelight Christmas Inn Tour of 12 festive inns and hotels.
INNSIDE SPECIALS
Experience history and local culture by day; get away to these special places at night!
"Allaire Village/Atlantic Farms Package": An ironworks village, a hayride, and a two-night stay (The Inn at the Shore, Belmar)
"Orange You Glad Package": Pumpkin picking, apple harvesting and a nice discount if you wear orange (Ocean House B&B, Spring Lake). Offer valid in October and November.
"Trial of the Century Package": Live re-enactment of the Lindbergh Baby Kidnapping Trial and behind-the-scenes tour of the courthouse where the trial took place (Main Street Manor, Flemington). Offer valid from 9/30/06 - 10/24/06.
"Washington Crossing, Old Barracks and Michener Museum Historic & Cultural Tour": Battle sites, historic monuments, local art, exhibits and culture (Chimney Hill Inn, Lambertville) |
 HISTORY BUFF FEATURE PACKAGE
Blue Bay Inn, Atlantic Highlands
Get the 20% off "History Buff" rate when you stay at Blue Bay Inn and visit the historic sites of Monmouth County (Twin Lights Lighthouse, Fort Hancock, Monmouth County Battlefield, Historic Allaire Village and more). You'll even get two souvenir Blue Bay Inn mugs to remember your trip back in time.
MEET THE INNKEEPERS
 Donna & Ken Arold
Main Street Manor, Flemington
Donna & Ken Arold have received some interesting guests (and ghosts) at Main Street Manor. Last year the great-great-grandson of Mrs. Foran - wife of the original owner, John Shank - stayed for Thanksgiving. Mr. Shank was president of Flemington Bank and was mayor for a time. Mrs. Foran was connected to Foran Foundry, now the site of Liberty Village. The Foran descendant was able to shed some new light on the history of the house.
But other visitors haven't exactly been on the books. "We had a guest here when we first opened," says Donna. "She came down to breakfast and asked if someone had given birth to a baby in her room. She felt a weird presence." That presence has been felt by others, including a woman who will be coming around Halloween time to speak about why people are ghosts. "Hopefully she'll expand on ours," Donna adds.
Fun Fact: Flemington got its name from Fleming Castle which once served as an inn, tavern and postal shop. Donna Arold is part of an effort to turn the 250 year-old landmark into a museum.
 Mari Kennely
White Lilac Inn, Spring Lake
"I always wanted a house with character," says Mari Kennelly. "When I got here there were 24 of them." It took Mari a while to pry all the renters from the Shamrock Lodge, a seasonal guest house for 28 years. "Two guys had been here for 20 years and they just wouldn't leave. I offered to drive them somewhere, anywhere!"
When she first took over the place there were locks on every door. The ceiling in the parlor was hanging down. A board with holes for individual lightbulbs was hung horizontally over the bar and a spiral staircase led up to a trap door to a room on the second floor.
"People thought I was crazy," Mari says. "One of my aunts who lived in town went straight to church and started praying for me."
The White Lilac Inn has since evolved and some of its much earlier inhabitants have found their way back. A woman who grew up in the house told Mari about her mother, Sally Mann Randock Francis, who was married three times and lived there for many years. The Ziegfield girls used to stay there and the pantry served as a secret bar during Prohibition days.
"I feel Sally is really the 'character' of the house," says Mari, "the glue that holds it all together."
Fun Fact: Many guests have smelled a floral scent on the staircase, always in the same place. Mari learned from the daughter that Sally Mann Randock Francis always wore a floral perfume. "If she is here," says Mari, "she's a great spirit and she likes what I've done."
EAT INN: Pumpkin spice and everything nice
'Tis the season to use pumpkin. Try this Pumpkin Crunch Cake from Whistling Swan Inn (Stanhope).
Traditional Pumpkin Bread gets a pineapple twist with this recipe from Summer Nites (North Wildwood).
NEW MEMBERS
A warm welcome to our new members!
Dido & Sark Krikorian
Blue Bay Inn
51 First Avenue
Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
732-708-9600
www.bluebayinn.com |
