This on-line magazine is for entertainment purposes.
When using any of the businesses listed, please do your own research if there are any concerns
New England Fine Living is a division of Calder & Company
Copy Right 2000 - 2008
Researching and sharing some of the finer things in life... Because too much of a good thing can be wonderful!
CELEBRATING 175 YEARS OF NANTUCKET FREEDOM AT THE CENTURY HOUSE
175th anniversary of the inn and the 25th anniversary as Innkeepers
(Nantucket, MA) – 2008 Season. The 16-room Century House celebrates twice this year. First, it is the only inn on Nantucket that celebrates 175 years of continuous operation, as the oldest guesthouse on the island. Second, innkeeper duo Gerry Connick and JeanEllen Heron celebrate 25 years of making their own Century House history.
175 Years of Nantucket Discovery
Century House dates back to 1833 with the Cliff Road land purchase. A few years later in the 1840’s it was constructed by Captain Robert Calder, and in the early 1870’s it became a boarding house for islanders during the winter months and a guest house during the summer months hosting the increasing number of visitors to Nantucket.
As history tells it, family operated guesthouses continued to be the preference when visiting Nantucket, especially after the depression of the 1930’s when large resort hotels were shut down, dismantled and reconstructed into some of the cliff mansions seen on the island today. Guesthouses prospered after World War II, in fact, the Century House’s innkeeper during that period said the he had a full house of soldiers in residence.
Enter the Bed & Breakfast era of the 1980’s, along with fancy private baths and air conditioning. The current innkeepers, JeanEllen Heron, also a real estate broker at Corcoran Group in Palm Beach and Gerry Connick, came to Century House in 1984 where they integrated the old historic guesthouse into the B&B era by remodeling it to the tastes they were brought up with, as they both had spent their childhood in large old homes.
Five years later, in 1989, the executive producers of Paramount Pictures hit TV show “Wings” chose Century House for its backdrop on the series for many shots due to its rich history as their Nantucket home when first visiting the island to scout locations.
Gerry and JeanEllen open the Century House for the summer season, and spend their winter in sunny Palm Beach, Florida.
Nantucket Today: Century House Style
Named in the Top 5 U.S Summer Destinations by Forbes.com, Century House continues to offer remarkable hospitality in a sensible luxury setting near town. The innkeepers play a vital role in assuring a pleasant and comfortable stay for all their guests. Gerry developed and mastered “Gerry’s Berry Buffet Breakfast,” served daily, which includes his famous granola, yogurt, island berries, fruit, bagels, English muffins, homemade coffee cake, pastry juices, jams, jellies, teas, and the best perked coffee and has been mentioned in Forbes.com and Zagat.
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, cappuccino, and espresso are available throughout the day, and then “cookies and cream” or afternoon snacks roll into the cocktail hour. Perhaps the best part of the day is at sunset while sitting out on the veranda and preparing for dinner at one of the nearby restaurants.
Nantucket Art and Inspiration
From an artistic angle, the Century House, under the direction of JeanEllen, also a senior docent at Palm Beach’s Norton Art Museum and Gerry’s enthusiastic support, has operated an artist in-residence program. For the past years Century House guests have been encouraged to meet and socialize with local artists who might be staying at the inn, and in 2005 the debut of the Professional Artist’s Week was a tremendous success, and is now part of every season. The work of such artists is included in the many pieces in the extensive Century House collection. The paintings are frequently rotated between the common areas and guest rooms.
From luxurious Molton Brown toiletries to complimentary Internet access and Wi-Fi, the Century House combines a graceful balance of an old era into the 21st century. Various rooms are completely renovated each year and deluxe rooms include a fireplace (non-operational). The location is fabulous and close to restaurants and museums.
The innkeepers understand the importance of connectivity but don’t overindulge in it. Instead of placing a computer station in every room, guests can only use the one available on each floor. Their priority is the well-being of all their guests, and “computers nowadays are intrusive and creep up on you as you’re trying to relax,” says innkeeper Gerry Connick.
Century House is Nantucket. For nearly two centuries full of history, island freedom, tradition and personal exploration, Century House has given visitors a reason to come back and rediscover themselves. Now that the inn has moved into the 21st century it continues to operate with the attentive hospitality it did in the late 1800’s. As for Gerry and JeanEllen, they are always up for more exciting Nantucket stories to share.
---------------
The historic Century House, the Inn on the Cliff, dates back to the Cliff Road land purchase in 1833. According to research performed by Edouard A. Stackpole, renowned Nantucket historian and former director of the Peter Foulger Museum, a member of an old Nantucket family of Scottish roots, Captain Robert Calder, built the Century House. Over the years, Capt. Calder took part in several long, successful voyages to hunt whale, and eventually completed the construction of the house in the early 1840’s. It is said that Capt. Calder chose this site because of the privacy, the ocean breezes, the views, and the genuine serenity the location provided in the 1840’s and still exhibits today.
According to Mr. Stackpole, the Century House is the oldest continuously operating guesthouse on Nantucket Island to date.
Visit www.centuryhouse.com for details.
What a unique treat it was to be able to stay at the Century House built by Captain Robert Calder in 1833. Why unique? Well for us, after doing some research, we believe that Captain Calder was my husbands fifth great grandfather and while walking through the home and up and down the stairs, my husband felt as if he were repeating history. How exciting it was for him to walk where one of his relatives walked over 175 years ago. While we sat outside smelling the sea air, we couldn't help but wonder if Captain Calder sat where we sat, thinking about his travels, Scotland, and fishing while enjoying a glass of scotch from his homeland. Even though the inn is now surrounded by other beautiful historical homes and the view of the ocean is no more, Captain Calder placed his home perfectly atop a hill surely to keep an eye on the ocean and to enjoy the romantic sea breezes.
The cozy and enchanting rooms were full to capacity during our stay, yet it always felt private, peaceful, and quiet. The inns traditional and highly acclaimed morning buffet breakfast of fresh fruits, nuts, cereals, muffins, juice and coffee was a healthy start to the day and I enjoyed the hot cookies waiting in the sitting room on a platter in the evening. What a perfect treat before tucking ourselves in between the soft cotton sheets of our bed while preparing ourselves for a restful nights sleep.
If you are looking for an inn that is quaint, historic, full of love and art then the Century House is your place to call to make reservations! Why not do it now and enjoy celebrating the inns 175th anniversary! This truly is New England Fine Living.
The Century House - Nantucket, MA
The Century House Inn
Nantucket
Nantucket
