Hi Mary,
King Bethune House, has been sold. I am finally going to stop being the host of a guesthouse. I will close my business on June 29th 2015. I thought I would let you know as you have been a guest here once in the past. I will be sending notifications to my guest list in the very near future.
I have a red leather sofa that is really wonderful, just in case you need one or know a spa that would like a really classic and beautiful seating piece that is comfy and immaculate. If you need any beds or if you yearn for a big lawyers leather top desk I have this for you, and more.
I have two months left to reorganize my life. Looking forward to the new adventures ahead, torn by the sadness of leaving this wonderful quality lifestyle.
Thanks for all the support you have given to me and my business over the years. I appreciate the memories.
Marlis Lindsay
King Bethune House, Guest House & Spa
Peterborough, Ontario
Dear Mary,
I would love to tell my story (ies) about owning and operating my Bed and Breakfast Inn! I have already written a book – probably will be self published some day in the near future for family and friends – which contains dozens of amusing and astounding stories, and a few sentimental ones.
Update on myself: I am Laura Sansom Loffredo, recently retired (5/30/14) from a wonderful 27-year stint with Round Robin Inn, Mundelein IL – a northwest suburb of Chicago. The Victorian house was our home, and we lodged more than 20,000 overnight guests from around the world there. George passed away 16 years ago, so I kept going with the business. I had some help on Fridays with the deeper cleaning, but did all the laundry, shopping, cooking, planning, reservations, greeting, entertaining, cooking – and while guests enjoyed a full breakfast I sat at my Baldwin piano to play gentle selections to entertain them. My children suggested I retire. I was 84 and going strong, healthy and energetic. I love people, and loved serving them every day.
Amusing experiences with guests and amazing ones have been savored and written up. People would ask me about the business so I would tell a few stories and they were spellbound.
Now, I live in Portland Oregon with a grown daughter whose four children are graduated from college and on their own. Now, at 85, I work every day for the Public School System in Portland. In Illinois I had outside interests and activities all those years. The B&B was not my whole life.
If invited, I would be happy to send a sample story or two from my experiences at Round Robin Inn. I named it for the old fashioned tradition of letter writing. My parents started our Sansom round robin among their relatives and it kept going for nearly 80 years! Now, it is a cyber Robin! Our family stays in touch with one another a bit more timely than waiting for "the Robin" to arrive.
Most sincerely yours,
Laura J. Loffredo
Portland OR
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