BERNICE CHESLER'S
BED &
BREAKFAST IN
NEW ENGLAND
Allen House Victorian Inn
(413) 253-5000
http://www.allenhouse.com
allenhouse@webtv.net
599 Main Street, Amherst, MA 01002-2409
HOST: Alan and Ann Zieminski
LOCATION: In town, on 3 acres. Across the street from the
Emily Dickinson House. Within walking distance of Amherst College; Hampshire College; University of Massachusetts;
galleries, museums, shops, restaurants. Ten miles to Deerfield Village. On five-college (free) bus route.
OPEN: Year round. Two-night minimum on college and foliage weekends.
RATES: Vary according to season and length of stay. Single $45--$105.
Double $75--$135 May--October; $55--$95 off-season.
A two-page 1994 Bon Appétit Allen House feature---with recipe and photographs---attracted travelers from all
over the world. The hand-carved cherry mantels of this Queen Anne Stick Style house are pictured in the Metropolitan Museum
of Art catalog. Some of the wallpapers were designed by William Morris and Walter Crane. Built in 1886, the house still has
original woodwork. The antiques have been collected through the years by Alan; he "has a perfect eye for spotting Aesthetic
Period (1880s) pieces," according to his brother, Jonas, assistant innkeeper, who has helped to research the "Oscar Wilde
period." Ann (a dental hygienist), other family members, museum staffers, and guests have also exchanged information with
Alan, a former biochemist now turned full-time innkeeper. He lived in the house as a student before buying it "with the
desire to make an eighteen-room Victorian into other than student housing." For his efforts Alan received the Amherst
Historic Commission's Preservation Award.
BED AND BATH: On first and second floors---seven rooms, all private baths, with a queen, a
double, or a double and one twin bed. Rollaway available.
BREAKFAST: At guests' convenience. Perhaps eggs Benedict, Swedish pancakes (Ann's family
recipe), stuffed French toast, or Southwestern-style eggs.
PLUS: Central air conditioning. Private telephones. Bedroom ceiling fans. Beverages. Goose-down
comforters and pillows. Afternoon and evening refreshments. Verandas. Off-street parking. Concierge service.
From Connecticut: "Beautiful . . . hearty and healthy breakfasts. . . . Warm hospitality." From Massachusetts:
"Impeccable restoration."
MASSACHUSETTS: CENTRAL
Bed & Breakfast in New England
© Copyright 1996, 1997 by Bernice Chesler.
Paper Edition by Chronicle Books.
© Copyright 1996, 1997 Online Edition by OBS. All rights reserved.
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Updated by bceditor@obs-us.com.
This page was last updated on June 08, 1997
