EMPORIUM — An open house has been planned to give community members an opportunity to see the new Hygrade Inn Bed & Breakfast prior to restoration efforts.
“We are holding an open house because we want people to see the house before we start. Most people have never seen the inside of this home,” said owner Jim Wendel. “I would’ve never guessed a house like this was sitting in little Emporium.”
Wendel, a native of Emporium, is one of three business partners entering into this new venture. Wendel and his friends, Sharon Robinson-Taylor and David Karkoska, purchased the former Erskine home on East Fourth Street and have set about making plans for its renovation.
For the past 20 years or so, the home has been used as a personal care facility, housing adults with disabilities and other issues in a group home-type setting.
“Everything in this house is big, over-the-top,” said Wendel. “You can tell that a lot of money and thought went into its construction.”
The home was built in the early 1900s, according to Wendel. It was smaller at first, built by a local pharmacist by the name of Dodson. Later, the home was purchased by the Erskine family, presumably due to the prime location in Emporium’s church district. At that time, it was expanded, filled with locally-sourced lumber trim, flooring, and built-in cabinets, and adorned with amenities that were cutting-edge at the time.
Wendel said that the trio are attempting to keep as much of the home as original as possible, and they were quite impressed with the fact that so much of the interior has been maintained since the home’s construction. The Hygrade Inn name is a tribute to Sylvania Electric and the legacy the company left in Cameron County, fitting as the home was made what it is today by one of the company’s founders.
Owners have formed good relationships with neighbors, going so far as to check their exterior paint choices with them to ensure there will be no hard feelings amongst local residents. They also plan to work with local restaurants to come up with an original, unique menu that will be kept exclusive to the Hygrade so as not to take business away from already-established restaurants.
“We don’t want to deter from what Emporium is, we just want to add to it,” said Wendel. “We plan to be very involved with the community.”
Plans are in the work to remodel the whole house. The exterior will be painted brown with charcoal gray and ivory accents; a new front porch will be installed to give visitors a place to gather on Fourth Street; two patios are being installed in the side yard, which is being turned into a garden; the garage foundation will be removed; new ceilings are being installed, drywall is being redone, and original and/or antique light fixtures will be placed throughout the home.
The wishing well, which has stood in the center of the side yard for many years, will remain. Wendel said that they plan to paint the well and fix it up, and landscape around it in such a way that it will not be dangerous and the plywood lid currently affixed to the top can be removed. The well is not just for looks; it actually provides water that could be used in a fountain or for watering the garden.
Wendel said the hardwood floors have suffered a lot of damage, but it is mostly only to the surface. Throughout the home, only one floorboard squeaks, showing the craftsmanship and time put into the home’s construction more than a century ago.
The Hygrade Inn is expected to be opened for business sometime in late 2018. Wendel said they would like to hold a grand opening party sometime during the holiday season next year. The remodeling process will be slow and time-consuming, as one trusted contractor has been hired to do all the necessary work.
“We will respect the fact that this is a neighborhood full of churches and families, and we will keep them in mind as we move forward and start getting ready to open,’’ said Wendel.
When it opens, the Hygrade will have four private rooms with their own bathrooms for guest rentals. They also plan to host small events, such as weddings and receptions or small parties, but nothing loud or boisterous that would disturb residents and the general peace of the neighborhood. Guest stays will be loaded with amenities, from fresh-cut flowers placed daily to a wealth of relaxation areas, including a front-room parlor, a second-story library, and in a side room facing the garden that was reportedly Mrs. Erskine’s favorite room for entertaining. There will also be a caretaker suite on the third floor, and Wendel reported that they plan to have someone living there when guests are staying at the inn.
As for the partners, two have already relocated to Cameron County and are maintaining their careers through work-from-home opportunities. Wendel works for Subaru America, while Karkoska works for Fannie May. The third partner, Robinson-Taylor, is a school teacher in the Philadelphia public school system. She will retire in a few years and plans to also make her new home in Cameron County.
The Hygrade Inn open house will be held in conjunction with Weekend in the Wilds activities, and will be opened to visitors from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Friday.
