Laurel Lodge B&B

Black Dog Coffee

ewheeless — Thu, 09 May 2013 19:23:32 +0000

Guests at Laurel Lodge start their day with a steaming cup of locally-roasted, fresh-ground Black Dog Coffee. With a vintage roaster, Brian launched his business from his garage in Summit Point, WV. With a growing list of restaurants and shops featuring their amazing coffees, Brian and Jennifer moved the roaster into a new market shop in nearby Bardane.

The shop features Black Dog Coffee as well as other locally sourced items including meats, soaps, honey, teas, jewelry and chocolates. Guests can take home a keepsake of their visit to West Virginia by purchasing ground or whole-bean coffees at the market in Bardane or by visiting their booth at the Charles Town Farm Market on Saturday mornings.

Slaynt Vie Farm

ewheeless — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 23:49:34 +0000

One of our favorite winter breakfasts is a chard, gruyere and caramelized onion frittata. It’s made all the more special by the wonderful rainbow chard raised by local green thumb Fiona Harrison at Slaynt Vie Farm. During the summer months, Fiona and her partner Chuck anchor the Charles Town Farm Market. They supply a delicious assortment of honey, mixed lettuces, tender young shoots, rhubarb, colorful peppers, fresh eggs and beautifully braided garlic. If you visit between mid-April and mid-October, be sure to plan a stop at the market and carry home some of the incredible produce from Slaynt Vie Farm.

Happy Anniversary!

ewheeless — Sun, 19 Aug 2012 20:29:39 +0000

The Appalachian Trail celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. Harpers Ferry is the approximate mid-point of the hiking trail which stretches 2,184 miles from Georgia to Maine. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy (ATC), which helped spearhead the establishment of the trail, is based in Harpers Ferry. In the mid-summer months, through-hikers congregate at the ATC center to socialize, check for mail-drops and to provision themselves before continuing on. Guests at Laurel Lodge can visit the ATC center and learn more about hiking the Appalachian Trail.

Don Redman Jazz Concert

ewheeless — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 01:58:38 +0000

Every summer, the National Park Service pays tribute to jazz legend Don Redman. Redman graduated from local Storer College in 1920. This June 30th bring your blankets and camp chairs to the lawn in front of Anthony Hall and join us for an evening of free entertainment. The program begins at 6 PM and will feature special guests alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson and bassist Ben Tucker accompanied by the Howard Burns Quartet.

Mr. Pawpaw

ewheeless — Wed, 09 May 2012 01:57:36 +0000

Many of our past guests at Laurel Lodge may remember our long-term housemate Neal Peterson. Neal lived with Chris in Washington in the mid-90s, but eventually ended up in his native West Virginia. After we purchased Laurel Lodge in 2001, Neal watched over things at the house while we continued living in Washington. The big renovation in 2005 demanded the house be vacant, but Neal returned as our housemate between the completion of the renovation and our opening as a B&B.

Most people know Neal as Mr. Pawpaw, one of the world’s leading experts on this native tree and fruit. He has bred pawpaws for over 30 years and has six trademarked varieties. He and his articles have appeared in many news and scientific publications through the years. Last year he was featured in an NPR interview and story about pawpaws; see and hear it at The Salt food blog.

Neal recently moved on to a new home in Martinsburg. His mark can be seen in several sites around Laurel Lodge, but most prominently in our wonderful shade garden. He made the plan for this feature of the property, helped choose and place many of its plants, including some of which he brought from the garden of his late parents in St. Albans, West Virginia. Spring is the best time to view the garden, and we’re featuring a shot of it here in Neal’s honor.

Introducing the Pine View Room

ewheeless — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:52:33 +0000

Laurel Lodge recently opened our Pine View room for guests. We’ve already had several guests in this beautiful room, which features a comfy queen-size bed, a cozy gas fireplace, and a set of table and chairs that look over perhaps the best view in the house: a wide expanse of the Potomac River, Byrne’s Island, and the hills of Maryland.

Though the private bathroom of the Pine View is detached, the short trip is worth the walk, since it is the large, tiled, hall bath with a walk-in shower, and the original 20s-era clawfoot tub that beckons a relaxing, warm soak.

Photographer Christian Gianelli recently returned to Laurel Lodge to shoot the room, and we’ve one of his photos here. More information can be found on the Accommodations page.

Events for May-September

ewheeless — Fri, 04 May 2012 01:27:03 +0000

May 4-6 – See The Fox on the Fairway at the Old Opera House in Charles Town and get a discount on dinner at downtown Charles Town restaurants and on a unique work of art from the Washington Street Artists’ Cooperative gallery. For tickets and information, go to http://www.oldoperahouse.org/jos/.

May 4-13 – Jean Heiler Gallery, Old Opera House, Charles Town – Exhibit of the Jefferson County Photography Club.

May 5-6 – Tinware for the Masses. A tinware workshop at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. For information, go to http://historicharpersferry.com/articles/2012.

May5-indefintely – The Shepherdstown Museum in the Entler Hotel, Shepherdstown – 11-5 Saturdays and 1-5 Sundays – New exhibit opens – Voices from the Storm: The War as Shepherdstown Saw It.

May 5 – Appalachian Trail Conservancy Offices – 9AM to 5 PM – Hiking Season Kickoff – Celebrate the arrival of the spring hiking season and the early season thru-hikers in Harpers Ferry. Presentations will include Thru-hiking experiences and Women and Hiking.

May 6 – Book signing at Steam in Harpers Ferry – 2-4 PM – John Lamb, author of A Strange Engine of War: The “Winans” Steam Gun.

May 12 – The Harpers Ferry Half Marathon, 4-mile Run, and Kids Run. For information, go to http://www.harpersferryhalf.org/.

May 12 – Women’s Club Herb Fair and Bake Sale – Harpers Ferry Town Gazebo – 9 AM-3 PM. Sale of plants and herbal goods. Proceeds benefit Harpers Ferry community.

May 19 – Second Annual Victorian Tea at Charmadoah, Harpers Ferry. Three seatings at 11 AM, 1:30 and 4 PM. $12 charge as fundraiser for St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Call Shirley Caniford at 304-535-6922 for reservations.

May 19 – The 11^th Annual Ranson Festival – 10AM-4PM – Ranson Civic Center – Music, food and vendors. W. 2^nd Street in Ranson.

May 19-20 – Washington Monument State Park, Middletown, MD – Thunder on the Mountain: Artillery in the Battle of South Mountain. Cannon firings at 11AM, 1 and 3 PM.

May 26-27 – Harpers Ferry NHP Event in Lower Town, 10 AM to 4 PM – Stonewall Stopped: Jackson’s 1862 Valley Campaign – Learn about Gen. Rufus B. Saxton’s successful defense of Harpers Ferry during Stonewall Jackson’s Valley Campaign in 1862. Living history, ranger-led programs, and family/youth activities. www.nps.gov/hafe

June 16 – Harpers Ferry NHP Event in Lower Town, In Defense of Our Nation: The Armory in the War of 1812 – Ranger programs, firing demonstrations, music of the War of 1812.

June 23-24 – Harpers Ferry NHP Event at Bolivar Heights – Under Fire: The Battle of Bolivar Heights. Firing demonstrations at 1, 2, and 3 PM.

June 30 – Harpers Ferry NHP Event at Storer College campus – 6 PM – John Redman Heritage Concert and Awards, featuring jazz artists Lou Donaldson, Ben Tucker, and the Howard Burns Quartet.

September 16 – Antietam Remembrance Walk: Sharpsburg to Shepherdstown. Ceremonies and a 3-mile walk to commemorate the 150^th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. For details as they develop, go to www.Shepherdstown250.com.

September 17 – The 150^th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam. For complete schedule of events, go to http://www.nps.gov/ancm/index.htm.

The new LaurelLodge.com

ewheeless — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:25:15 +0000

Winter has brought some changes to Laurel Lodge, and if you’re reading this, you’ve seen one of the most significant. We loved our old website, but after 4½ years it needed some updating beyond a few new pictures and text. Alisa and Erica at Wild Country Studios worked their magic to create our handsome new site. In addition, we had professional photographer Christian Giannelli at the house last year. He provided us with a terrific selection of photos of Laurel Lodge. For the guests who’ve said upon their first visit, “Your website’s photos don’t do justice to these beautiful rooms,” we think that Christian’s work will help. We hope you agree!

A second major change over the winter was the departure from Laurel Lodge of our long-term friend and resident Neal. (More on Neal in a later blog. We’re happy to say he’s not far away.) This has enabled us to work towards opening up his room for B&B guests. We’re aiming for the beginning of April (no foolin’!) for the opening of the Pine View room. With an unparalleled view of the Potomac and a cozy in-room stove, it will be a perfect spot to slumber peacefully and watch the seasons change in Harpers Ferry. We’ve already purchased some beautiful Arts and Crafts antique and replica furnishings that will keep it in the historically appropriate theme of our house. And because we want to offer a private bathroom for all our guests now, we will designate our beautiful hall bath exclusively for guests reserving either the Pine View or Walnut View rooms—blocking off the other once one is booked. For families or couples traveling together who don’t mind sharing a bath, a combo package will offer the rooms together at a discount.