The Inn Is a Gathering Place for Fascinating People.....

Yes, it's true Patrick Henry and Thaddeus Stevens are part of our history here, and, now we can add John and Beth R. to the distinguished list of guests who have graced our Inn over the years.

This lovely couple chose to stay with us while they attended the Ladies & Gentlemen of the 1860s Conference in Harrisburg which addressed a variety of topics about the men and women of the Civil War era, what they wore, and how they lived. An in depth conversation revealed that John is also a member of the North-South Skirmish Association which was formed in 1950 to commemorate the heroism of the men, of both sides, who fought in the American Civil War, 1861-1865. "The N-SSA promotes the shooting of Civil War firearms and artillery and encourages the preservation and display of Civil War materials. The N-SSA works to accomplish these goals by conducting skirmishes; competitive, live firing of these Civil War firearms and artillery."
More discussion with John's beautiful wife, Beth led to how she is very involved with civilian costume competition. After breakfast they were planning on visiting Needle and Thread. This is the perfect place to visit for fabric or notions for constructing authentic period civil war clothing pieces. Upon further research about the construction of civil war garments, I have incredible respect for the time and patience Beth must deal with in this endeavor. "Fabric for a dress was a sizeable investment for the Victorian era lady -- and getting the most out of a garment was frequently an important concern. Not only were garments remade and recycled, but they were sometimes designed to permit wear for different occasions or seasons. "Convertible" dresses could include additional pieces such as pelerines, fichus, or different sleeves to change the look or function of a dress."Transformation" dresses might feature different bodices to extend the use of a skirt." (An excerpt from the Genteel Arts website.)
Thank you, John and Beth for sharing your fascinating lives with us. You can stand proud knowing that you have now joined the ranks of the many famous people who have set foot here. Happy Travels and we look forward to seeing you again very soon!