Monday, March 20, 2006

The General Sutter Inn (A Weekend Getaway)


March 18, 2006, 8:15p.m. The walls are so old here. The floors bend when you walk on them. The sound echoes, multiplied a hundred-fold , as if a century's footfalls answer your own.



Still preserved, a sitting room for guests. A warmly lit library to welcome the sleepy hours.


Welcome to the General Sutter Inn, Lititz Pennsylvania, Lancaster County in Amish country. In 1757, Moravians established Lititz as an experiment in religious utopianism. The rules were strict, and no one was permitted to live in the town without absolute adherence. In 1764, "for the necessary entertainment of strangers and travelers," an inn, the Zum Anker (Sign of the Anchor), was built. Replacing the original log inn on the site was a brick structure named The Lititz Springs Hotel. This Hotel was renamed The General Sutter Inn" in 1930 to honor John Augustus Sutter, a founding pioneer of California.

12 comments:

Melissa Amateis said...

Looks like the perfect place to write (or rewrite, as the case may be!) I love old inns and old bed and breakfast's. There's something so charming about them that you can never find at a Holiday Inn or Super 8.

* said...

that looks like a very nice place...
probably weekend escape...:)?

Ann Marie Simard said...

Hi... I agree with Melissa and Antonia... looks like those very respectable country hotels brimming with history and fireplaces... charming, charming. I want to go back to those kind of places....relaxing, good single-malt, reading, promenades...


Ann Marie

Linda said...

Looks like the perfect place to get away and curl up in a chair to read till you fall asleep. :)

Erik Ivan James said...

So, is this where you will indulge with the excuse being; "Well, I do need an inspirational place to properly accomplish my rewrite."?

Bernita said...

Perfect story setting.
Golden glow of age.

Jason, you remember your beautiful Celtic cross picture, and my mention the trough where money for supplies was left during the plague?
In the course of research, I've found that this apparently is not so unusual, have turned up two more cases in Cumbria where a hollowed stone was used as an exchange receptical - vinager was poured over the money according to one source.

Anonymous said...

Melissa, they're like little pockets where time slowed. The atmosphere of so many years is ever present.

Antonia, yes, a weekend escape! I want to go back already.

Ann Marie, I can't recommend more highly The Roycroft Inn in East Aurora, New York for those reasons. It was the inspiration for my short story "Caroline." A fine place to enjoy a bit of single malt, may I add. ;)

BeadinggalinMS, so true. I'm sure you'd dream mysterious dreams.

Erik, you make a very fine point! I'll have to use that argument. ;)

Bernita, I do remember your comment to that photograph. It was paired with the poem, "The Piper's Gift." That money purification system you found is certainly fascinating! Vinegar, no less. Amazing how the pre-moderns understood sterile technique without understanding it.

Shesawriter said...

Beautiful pics. Looks like somewhere I'd love to visit. There's a book in there somewhere.

Tanya

Jeff said...

Looks like a great place to spend a weekend. Nice photos. :)

Anonymous said...

Tanya, another place I'd love to visit is the Grove Park Inn. It's an amazing example of Art & Crafts Period architecture and styling.

Jeff, thanks! It was a great break from life.

WannabeMe said...

Nice pic. Makes me envy the writers of the past who had such depth of location to write in.

Jay said...

I'm guessing no cable?