George Becker answered some questions about the inn.
Jackson House Bed and Breakfast
6 East Main Street
Railroad, Pennsylvania
Tell us a little about your inn's history.
The Jackson House Bed and Breakfast was built in 1859 as a 13-room hotel to serve the Northern Central Railroad. The hotel was very exquisite at that time because it had a cistern which provided running water for its guests.
We still have the original dumbwaiter that was used to send (items) upstairs to the guests and an original guest sign-in book which dates back to 1910.
It's rumored that President Abe Lincoln stopped here on his way to make the Gettysburg Address. Sadly, his funeral train also went right past our inn.
What are some of your inn's unique features?
The inn was built with two-foot thick stone walls, and the original outdoor kitchen -- now our guest dining room -- has gorgeous stone walls with an iron gate leading to the wine cellar. Guests can enjoy their breakfast in front of the stone fireplace.
The backyard is made up of four stone and brick terraces which are beautifully landscaped.
Also, we're the only town that has the name Railroad.
What are some of the attractions in your area that guests seem to enjoy the most?
Our B&B is located right on the NCR / Heritage Rail Trail, a 43-mile hiking and biking trail that goes from York, Pennsylvania, to Ashland, Maryland. We are also in a center hub of major tourist attractions which are only minutes away: Gettysburg, Hanover, York, Lancaster, Hershey and Baltimore.
We have many antique shops in our area and several wineries close by. We work with the Un-Cork York Wine Trail and the Mason-Dixon Wine Tour.
Which is your personal favorite room at your bed and breakfast?
I love our Stonewall Jackson Suite. The exposed stone walls in the sitting area are just stunning and the king-size sled bed is the most comfortable bed I have ever slept in. We are told this by all our guests also. The wide plank wood floors just seem to take you back in time.
How do you make a stay at your B&B special?
We treat our guests with warm open hospitality, and are there for any of there needs. We provide fresh baked goodies at all times for our guests and also have a stocked fridge so they may help themselves to drinks at any time.
We provide a very clean and friendly atmosphere here and supply them with the best quality linens, towels and other amenities.
What might a guest have at a "typical" breakfast?
Since I do this all by myself, I do a buffet or home-style meal depending on the number of guests. Fresh coffee and fruit juices, fresh fruit, baked pecan French toast, scrambled eggs, and a breakfast meat.
What originally interested you in becoming an innkeeper?
We always stayed at B&Bs and fell in love with them. We also wanted an historic home and to welcome guests in to enjoy our home as much as we do. The interaction with people from all over is wonderful and we make new friends all the time. Being an innkeeper is a very special job. We love it.
What do you remember most about your first month as innkeepers?
Being very nervous and afraid that I would mess up breakfast, just to try and get a routine together to make breakfast a special moment for our guest. I was also scared to death that something would just go terribly wrong.
What's your favorite part about being innkeepers?
Meeting and talking with our guests makes this so rewarding. Our guests are a part of our lives and we have so many new friends from all over the world.
What's your least favorite part?
Waiting for guests to arrive, only because you're not sure what time they are coming and I like to be right there and greet them by name and welcome then with a tour. It just keeps me from being able to do other B&B chores.
What advice would you give to aspiring innkeepers?
Follow your dream. I did and it is by far the best job I have ever had. I may work longer hours, more days a week but the people are special.
What's the strangest thing that ever happened to you as an innkeeper?
I was expecting a newlywed couple and knew they would be in late. So after so long I thought I would sleep on the couch so when they came I could greet them and show them to their room. Well, I woke up around 3 a.m. and still no guests, so I went to bed.
The next morning I had breakfast all done and all the guests were finished eating. While cleaning up the table, I made a large plate of food for my dog. I got right to the steps leading upstairs and here come the newlyweds down the steps. They had walked right past me on the couch and found their room. They really enjoyed the stay and came back for their anniversary.
