Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
SYRACUSE - The big yellow two-story house on the curb outside Syracuse, shares a history with a few other homes on the Kosciusko County Historical Homes Tour in that it was once a place for paid guests to call it home.
Unlike the others, though, the Kennedy's Bed and Breakfast, Anchor Inn, on Ind. 13, receives guests once again.
The sprawling Queen Anne-style house, with the maple tree-lined drive, was built in 1905 and in pretty good shape when Robert and Jean Kennedy purchased it 14 years ago, returning to their home state from Alaska.
Jean was in the market for a stay at home job, the mother of then three-year-old Rebekah and one-year-old Sarah, which would pay the mortgage and the bills.
A Bed and Breakfast operation wasn't exactly what she had in mind.
"When we looked at the house, the woman who owned it happened to mention she had had plans to open a B & B here, and I thought 'That's what I'll do,'" said Jean.
The girls, now 16- and 14-year-olds, have enough private space to call their own while overnight guests come and go.
Many are repeat customers whom the Kennedy's have gotten to know.
"A lot of people come and visit with people who live on Lake Wawasee, and don't want to tax their hosts or want a space of their own," Jean said. "One fellow rents a house on Webster Lake for a week, every year, and his grown kids stay there while he stays here and visits when he wishes."
There are five huge bedrooms with private baths for Bed and Breakfast guests. Three were added over a two car garage in 1990. Two are part of the original structure.
Each one features a collection of some kind.
In one, the Kennedy girls are featured in lovely watercolors painted by an aunt. In another hats sit on shelves and hang from pegs. A group of old pie pans are hung on one hall wall and metal vegetable graters are displayed in the kitchen.
Two four-poster beds with matching trundle beds were made from a large walnut tree taken down for the expansion.
Jean takes serving 10 people breakfast as a matter of routine.
"That is part of the whole thing about Bed and Breakfasts," she said. "You have paid guests in your home. It's our life and we're used to it."
The establishment was featured in the February/March issue of Birds and Blooms magazine. Several flower and perinneal beds are laid out on the property.
Many may remember the toboggan slide at the Lake Wawasee shore when the Kreigs operated the Ideal Beach and Lodge in the 1930s.
The Kennedy's house is one of seven available for viewing today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Also on the unstructured tour is the John and Maureen Hall home, 3968 West 600 North, Leesburg; the Ron and Vicky Scantlen home, 202 East 4th Street, Milford; Ron and Elizabeth Streiby's cabin, 8878 North 500 East, Syracuse; the Craig and Connie Murray Home, 3866 East 800 North, Syracuse; and the David and barrie Weicht Home, 7129 East Old Road 30, Pierceton.
Sponsored by the Kosciusko County Historical Society proceeds will go toward renovation of the Chinworth Bridge located on Old U.S. 30 and CR 350 W, Warsaw.
Tickets are $10 and available at any of the homes on the tour.
Rain date is Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.
