...Many of the B&B guests who have stayed at Twin Steeples Farm have ties to the Latter Day Saints church. They attend the Hill Cumorah Pageant, weddings, sealing of membership or tour their church-related historic sites. Many have learned that Wayne County also has many other historic learning experiences to offer, typically regarding the Erie Canal and even south to the Finger Lakes, as well as unique or specialized shopping opportunities. One Canadian visitor who returns regularly is an Americana collector and has developed a regular antiques and consignment shop route throughout the area. He and his wife usually contribute generously to our area economy at local eateries, department, discount and grocery stores, antique and gift shops and area volunteer organizations. They even experienced the epic pre-Christmas traffic jam at Eastview Mall in 2008!
Some people visit for genealogical research or celebration. A DAR member from Oregon visited in her quest to properly mark the graves of her pioneer ancestors, the Durfees, near Palmyra. She brought a slew of family members and hosted a very impressive dedication ceremony in the old family cemetery. -- BTW, her ancestors were connected by marriage to the pioneer who built my house, which of course added to their adventure. ---Descendants of another Palmyra pioneer, James Reeves, visited from Rochester, MI when a similar dedication was held for JR's new veterans grave marker just around the corner from here in the East Palmyra Cemetery. A woman from Washington state and another from Ohio came just to stay in the pioneer home of their family and to meet with relatives heretofore unknown. One man journeyed from Illinois and was genuinely touched when led through a barn on this property that was once a church, which his ancestors helped establish in 1793. "It's such a privilege to be able to walk on the same floor where he [ancestor] walked over two centuries ago!" he said.
A young couple from England was touring across New York, saw my brochure at a Thruway rest area and stayed one night. The next morning we were all treated to an unexpected and unusual experience when a local woman had arranged a hot air balloon ride for her mothers 90th birthday that launched from the East Palmyra Cemetery. The couple found so much to see and do in the area that they extended their stay two more nights.
Sometimes guests share their hobbies and interests by leaving small tokens for others to enjoy. I like gardening so it was a great honor when a woman from Wisconsin who was an officer in the National Hosta Society left a then-unnamed hosta plant for my garden, which has since become a popular variety called My Geisha. A doctor from Burma (the country) was in the area scouting out hospitals for employment and noticed I was interested in art. His brother, a watercolor artists still living overseas, was trying to raise enough money to come to the U. S. and has sent some examples of his work with the doctor who in turn was attempting to sell them to help his brother realize that dream. I directed the doctor to some possible markets (pre-Internet) where he was able to sell most of the pieces. In gratitude, he left two small paintings of his native country, which are on display in one of my guestrooms. In addition, the couple that visits annually left two original objects d'art created by their daughter, which are also on display.
There is also an antique mirror given by an Idaho couple, a pitcher with the Texas state flower given by a newspaperwoman from Somerville, and a vintage railroad-related children's publication from a retired Pennsylvania veterinarian who owns an old caboose from the Pennsylvania RR Co. That brochure is on display along with some toy trains in the breakfast area. Most recently, a young man from Keeseville, NY visited and shared his hobby of making bullwhips. He promised to create a custom piece for me, which I will then journey to his hometown to retrieve.
And thus it goes. I could continue to enumerate, but am sure the result would be an entire book, for which there is not sufficient space here. Although they are just ordinary people, they all have individual stories to share, when in turn makes them each special. And that's the best part of owning a B&B in Wayne County, New York. ... The End
Some people visit for genealogical research or celebration. A DAR member from Oregon visited in her quest to properly mark the graves of her pioneer ancestors, the Durfees, near Palmyra. She brought a slew of family members and hosted a very impressive dedication ceremony in the old family cemetery. -- BTW, her ancestors were connected by marriage to the pioneer who built my house, which of course added to their adventure. ---Descendants of another Palmyra pioneer, James Reeves, visited from Rochester, MI when a similar dedication was held for JR's new veterans grave marker just around the corner from here in the East Palmyra Cemetery. A woman from Washington state and another from Ohio came just to stay in the pioneer home of their family and to meet with relatives heretofore unknown. One man journeyed from Illinois and was genuinely touched when led through a barn on this property that was once a church, which his ancestors helped establish in 1793. "It's such a privilege to be able to walk on the same floor where he [ancestor] walked over two centuries ago!" he said.
A young couple from England was touring across New York, saw my brochure at a Thruway rest area and stayed one night. The next morning we were all treated to an unexpected and unusual experience when a local woman had arranged a hot air balloon ride for her mothers 90th birthday that launched from the East Palmyra Cemetery. The couple found so much to see and do in the area that they extended their stay two more nights.
Sometimes guests share their hobbies and interests by leaving small tokens for others to enjoy. I like gardening so it was a great honor when a woman from Wisconsin who was an officer in the National Hosta Society left a then-unnamed hosta plant for my garden, which has since become a popular variety called My Geisha. A doctor from Burma (the country) was in the area scouting out hospitals for employment and noticed I was interested in art. His brother, a watercolor artists still living overseas, was trying to raise enough money to come to the U. S. and has sent some examples of his work with the doctor who in turn was attempting to sell them to help his brother realize that dream. I directed the doctor to some possible markets (pre-Internet) where he was able to sell most of the pieces. In gratitude, he left two small paintings of his native country, which are on display in one of my guestrooms. In addition, the couple that visits annually left two original objects d'art created by their daughter, which are also on display.
There is also an antique mirror given by an Idaho couple, a pitcher with the Texas state flower given by a newspaperwoman from Somerville, and a vintage railroad-related children's publication from a retired Pennsylvania veterinarian who owns an old caboose from the Pennsylvania RR Co. That brochure is on display along with some toy trains in the breakfast area. Most recently, a young man from Keeseville, NY visited and shared his hobby of making bullwhips. He promised to create a custom piece for me, which I will then journey to his hometown to retrieve.
And thus it goes. I could continue to enumerate, but am sure the result would be an entire book, for which there is not sufficient space here. Although they are just ordinary people, they all have individual stories to share, when in turn makes them each special. And that's the best part of owning a B&B in Wayne County, New York. ... The End
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Nanette Hance Said,
Great story! Since opening Artisans' Loft in Historic Pultneyville five years ago, I continue
to enjoy meeting people who visit from all over the world ... and learning about them, and where they are from. That definitely is one of the many perks of owning a business in Wayne County along the well-traveled Seaway Trail!
Nan
Artisans' Loft
The Landing at Pultneyville
4135 Mill Street
Pultneyville, NY 14538
315.589.5000
Posted on Tue May 04, 06:48:00 AM EDT