Visiting travel writer ... Jack Evans
This week we motored down to Braefield Farm, a storybook farm nestled in the Welsh hills of Pennsylvania. The owners, Nancy and John Evans, whom we have known for a number of years, have been urging us to make the trip for some time.
This was a unique experience for us, because Braefield Farm is in the midst of restoration by the Evans', and visitors have been confined to immediate family. It is not expected that the restoration will be completed until 2005. This was a marvellous opportunity for us to witness the process -- the thought and hardwork -- necessary to bring an historic home and outbuildings to today's expected standards of accommodation.
Believed to have been designed by D. A. Shippen in the popular Federal style of the period, Braefield was built in 1806 using indigenous rock and other materials taken from the property, as the country home of General Evan Williams, an important military figure in the Revolution and participant in the Constituitional Congress. In their restoration and furnishings, the Evans' have been true to that period.
They are adding several funtional features -- informal dining room, computer and other rooms --which will coexist harmoniously with the old stone house.
We had a grand time. The Evans' could not have been more gracious hosts. Cocktail time was spent around their lovely pool overlooking a large pond and lush pastures complete with grazing horses. Host John barbecued his signature lamb dish and Nancy produced some culinary surprises of her own. We were joined by their lovely daughter, Carrie, who is giving a "bakers dozen" effort at the Atlanta Bread Company. Daughter number 2, Polly, was in Switzerland with the Holderness ski team.
Reluctantly we left Braefield Farm and its bucolic surroundings, anxious to return when it opens -- soon to become a prime destination for our frugal but discriminating travellers who seek out the best of country inns.
Notes: 2 hours from New York; 1 hour from Philadelphia. 4 Brs. plus cottage to open some what later. Rates and brochures will be available before the end of the year.
Jack and Noreen
Note from Nancy;
Some of the details in this post appear to be... made up stuff
