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historic smithton inn offers modern comfort
Historic Smithton Inn
Offers Modern Comfort
Page 16 innsandbandbs.com By Dayna M. Reidenouer
Rebecca and her husband, David Gallagher, bought the Historic Smithton Inn in 2009. The couple had been living in Texas, where Rebecca worked in corporate marketing, but they wanted to move back to the East Coast. Rebecca was raised in upstate New York along the Susquehanna River and had spent vacations in central Pennsylvania; David was from New Jersey. The Gallaghers tagteamed the acquisition.
The property had accrued a lot of deferred maintenance, Rebecca said, but it was still operating as a bed-and-breakfast. The couple spent a year completing necessary remediation, such as fixing drainage issues and replacing the roof and all 48 windows in the building. “Forty-eight custom-sized windows,” David said dryly. “You could buy a new house for that.”
The Gallaghers, however, did not want a new house. In fact, they bought the Historic Smithton Inn expressly because of its age. “As a child, I imagined living in an old building,” Rebecca shared. “Our building is 257 years old. George Washington didn’t stay here, but he could have.”
The inn started life as a tavern run by Henry Miller. It was passed down through the Miller family, becoming a private residence in the 1800s. In 1979, the last of Henry Miller’s descendants died, and Allen Smith purchased the property. Smith turned it into a bed-andbreakfast and gave it its current moniker. In a nod to the Miller family’s heritage, Smith had two second-floor extensions built onto the front and back of the house to give it a Germanic look. The new walls were decorated with fraktur-style doves like those created at the Historic Ephrata Cloister, which is located about a half-mile from the inn. Smith also commissioned a bed frame with doves carved into the headboard, and he hung reproductions of Cloister artwork on the walls.
Smith was an early member of the Select Registry, which only granted membership to lodgings that met its high standards. Although the membership had lapsed by the time the Gallaghers bought the inn, knowing its past association was an encouragement. “That told us this place could be top of the line (again),”
2020-2021 Inns & B&Bs of Southeastern PA Rebecca commented. “My goal was to bring it back to that level. As soon as we could, we got back on that list.”
Rebecca had worked in the hospitality industry as an older teenager and young adult, and then she stayed in hotels and planned events in hotels for her company. She utilized those experiences to restore the inn and continue to operate it at a high level.
The Historic Smithton Inn offers seven guest rooms on two floors, an adjoining one-bedroom Tailor’s Cottage, and the Smithton Guest House next door. The Gallaghers live on the third floor of the main house with one of their two adult chil- dren, a dog, and two cats. The cats stay upstairs, and the dog is always leashed when going outside. The Tailor’s Cottage and the Smithton Guest House welcome small- to medium-size well-behaved dogs, with a maximum of two per booking. “We love being able to be pet-friendly,” Rebecca said.
The adjunct lodgings are also open to young children and infants. Rebecca noted that the Tailor’s Cottage has a private entrance and is separated from the main house by an 18-inch-thick wall. The cottage also offers a living room and kitchenette in addition to an upstairs bedroom with a king-size bed and built-in single bed.
All the guest rooms feature beds with extra-firm mattresses with 3-inch memory foam toppers. The sheets and blankets are Comphy brand and are the most popular seller in the inn’s gift shop. Guests frequently rave about the linens, Rebecca noted, adding, “We have them on our personal beds.”
The beds are topped by handsewn Amish quilts to add Lancaster County charm. Artwork from local artists is displayed throughout the guest rooms and the main gathering areas. Much of the furniture is handcrafted as well. There is a solidness to the furnishings that is delib- erate. Rebecca explained that she wanted to stay away from delicate things, because she wants her guests to be able to completely relax.
Rebecca likened the Historic Smithton Inn to a boutique hotel. It offers working fireplaces, WiFi, flatscreen televisions and DVD players in every bedroom, and a wine bar, making it appropriate for business travel- ers, she suggested. Additionally, guests are directly con- nected with the owners, providing opportunities for instant feedback. “We offer personal touches,” Rebecca said. “If something’s wrong and you tell me at breakfast, we will have it fixed by the time you get back.”
In the spirit of Henry Miller, the Gallaghers installed an electronic vehicle charging station in 2015. “(Back then) you would have tied up your horse and we’d feed and water it, but now we can charge up your car,” Rebecca remarked.
Rebecca is also excited about the opportunity to fuel her guests for busy days spent in meetings, shopping, or touring Lancaster County. “I make a mean breakfast,” she said proudly. “I love to cook.”
Crunchy baked French toast is one of Rebecca’s specialties. Due to its method of preparation, the inside is light and fluffy. The dish serves as the canvas for fresh and cooked fruit, fruit butters, and syrups, depending upon the season. It is accompanied by some kind of protein.
Rebecca also makes a margherita breakfast pizza.
2020-2021 Inns & B&Bs of Southeastern PA Scrambled eggs and mozzarella are distributed over a crust spread with pesto. After baking, the pizza is topped with fresh tomatoes and basil. When asparagus is in season, Rebecca makes the margherita pizza with asparagus, tarragon, and Swiss cheese.
Dietary restrictions can be accommodated with advance notice.
Toward the end of the week and the end of the day, Rebecca turns the kitchen over to a local restauranteur. Sabah’s Mediterranean Cuisine serves a select menu from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays. The eatery is open to the public and is a practical way that Historic Smithton Inn can support a local business, Rebecca said.
Similarly, the Weathered Vineyards Wine Bar and tasting room also supports Pennsylvania-based beverage makers. The wooden bar was built in the inn’s living room and is reminiscent of Henry Miller’s occupation. Rebecca explained that Weathered Vineyards is a tenant of the Historic Smithton Inn, and she acts as the company’s employee as the tasting room’s manager. In addition to Weathered Vineyards’ vintages, three different breweries, a meadery, and a distillery are represented. Cider, mead, distilled spirits, and craft sodas are available for purchase. While times may vary, the tasting room’s typical hours are 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays, 4 to 9 p.m. on Fridays, noon to 9 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sundays. Live music is offered some nights, with musicians performing in the tasting room or outside on the patio.
The Historic Smithton Inn has a spacious lawn, which has been the site of weddings as well as a gala celebration of the property’s 250th anniversary in 2013. When the Gallaghers bought the inn, they converted the bricked-in fishpond to a sunken firepit, and guests may enjoy it on summer and fall evenings.
The Gallaghers enjoy hosting guests from around the world, so when news of COVID-19 first broke, they started planning right away. The couple has contingency plans for all types of situations, so strategizing for a coronavirus outbreak was not novel. “You want to ensure the comfort and safety of your guests,” Rebecca remarked. “I’m talking with B&B owners around the world in Facebook groups all the time. They don’t just care about their businesses; they care about the people walking through their door.”
Once things return to normal, Rebecca recommended patronizing privately owned B&Bs. “You want to be awesome? Stay at one of these places. You’ll feel that love and appreciation,” she said.
To learn more about the Historic Smithton Inn and to book a stay, readers may visit www.historicsmithtoninn. com, call 717-733-6094, or email info@smithtoninn.com. “ It’s exciting. We meet the most interesting people. ”
