Bed and Breakfast Offers Personality

Farmhouse in Serene Location

As written in the Williamsport Sun-Gazette Lifestyle Section, Sunday, August 4, 2002

Amidst the beautiful woodlands north of Mountoursville lies a house built during the 1800s.

The 168-acre estate is the home of Maggie and Larry Emery and the Serene View Farm Bed and Breakfast, 80 Engle Mill Lane, in the village of Proctor.

The couple, married for 24 years, has taken the historic site and created a three-room bed and breakfast that could put Martha Stewart to shame.

Reminiscent of the Victorian period, the property boasts gazebos, well-kept grounds and a heart-shaped garden.

When Maggie Emery returned from California to her family roots with her four children, the farmhouse was in tremendous need of refurbishing.  She bought the property because of a family connection with former owners Meade and Baldy Zeigler, and great-aunt and great-uncle of her children.

Emery's most vivid memory of her "new home" is frozen toilet water and the children warming themselves by the antiquated stove in the winter.  After

This photo is an overview of the interior.

leaving the warmth and luxury of the West Coast and the comfort of development living, the work on the farmhouse began.

Emery, who retired as a land use management planner for Lycoming County, has kept a written and photographic journal of the changes made to the property since 1969.

The history of the estate is interesting.  Build across from a tannery to house the Zeigler family, it became the temporary residence of road builders during the 1930s.

The Zeiglers housed nearly 80 men at one time in the farmhouse.

As the story goes, the basement was filled with canned goods as well as several barrels of hard cider, much to Uncle Baldy's delight.  A picture of Aunt Meade and Uncle Baldy hangs in a place of prominence in the Emery home and business.

The colorful history of the estate matches the love and labor put into making it an outstanding residence.

After years of basic renovation, the past three were devoted to expending the farmhouse to separate the owners' living quarters from the bed and breakfast facility, providing a sense of privacy for everyone.

Although some outside contractors were used, the primary contractor was Emery's son, Lance Emick.  Emick, who holds a master's degree in education and a love for masonry, turned the home into a remarkably beautiful edifice.  The Emerys added 1,700 square feet to the existing homestead.

The interior of the home portion of the building is most impressive with hand-hewn structures and timber framing.  The rooms appear as if they have jumped out of a decorating magazine.  It was a labor of love for Emick.

The immense kitchen on the family side allows Emery to provide homemade breakfasts made from local produce for the guests.

Each room has its own personality.

Each of the three guest quarters has its own bathroom decorated with ornate wallpaper, fresh flowers and old-fashioned radiators, reminiscent of "earlier days."

Serene View Farm's innkeepers care for the estate themselves, laboring a day or two each week to attend to the interior and exterior of the farmhouse.

In a safe and relaxing atmosphere, guests can stay for a weekend, hold family reunions or weddings.  It is, indeed, a pleasant and comfortable home away from home.

Information about Serene View Farm is available online at www.sereneviewfarm.com or at (570) 487-2477.

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