About Your Innkeepers
Don and Ellen are from the Central Pennsylvania area. Don grew up in Lebanon County not far from the 1825 Inn Bed and Breakfast. Ellen is from the Scranton area. Prior to becoming innkeepers, they resided in Berks County where Don worked at a plastics manufacturing company in both sales and service. Ellen continues to work as a medical laboratory scientist at an area hospital in Berks County. And last but certainly not least, their dog Miley has really taken to the B&B life. She is the official greeter and will certainly visit you after breakfast. Don and Ellen are the third owners of the 1825 Inn Bed and Breakfast as a B&B and have been at the historic country inn since 2017.
About the Inn
For most of its 200-year history, the property has been a private residence. The original house was part of a 217-acre farm owned by the Early family. John Early (Johannes Ohrle) emigrated in 1750 from Kirchheim Unter Tech, a town in south west Germany. On March 11, 1755, John married his second wife Christina Regina Sichele at Bindnagle’s Lutheran Church, about 4 miles north of the inn. Together they had 3 boys: John Early Jr, John William Early, and Thomas Early and 2 girls: Anna Catherine and Anna Margaret.
In 1774, John purchased 217 acres, named “Betimes,” from Lenard Tininger. It was a portion of this land that ultimately became the 1825 Inn Bed and Breakfast. In 1790, John sold 40 acres on the northern part of this tract to his son Christian and the remaining 193 acres to his son John Jr for 662 pounds, 13 shillings, and 4 pence. John Early Jr, born July 31, 1757, married Margaret Deininger September 4, 1777. Margaret came from a local family that was also quite wealthy. Together they had 5 children Magdalena, John Jacob, William, Daniel, and Elizabeth.
We believe that on July 29, 1806, John Jr. sold the “Betimes” farm to his son Jacob Early for a sum of 2300 pounds to be paid over several years. Jacob Early had married Mary Elizabeth Kraemer on May 17, 1803. Together they had a large family consisting mostly of girls. It was Jacob Early that built the house which is now the 1825 Inn Bed and Breakfast. Jacob lived the rest of his life on this property, dying in 1837. He left an extensive will where he made sure his wife, Elizabeth, was well taken care of. However, he did not leave much of his assets to her. Instead, the majority of the assets were divided between his daughters. Jacob did have one son who lived be a young adult but died about two years before Jacob.
Over the next 150 years the property changed hands approximately 14 times with each owner adding his or her unique touches. It was in the late 1980’s and early 90’s that the house was transformed into a bed and breakfast and has remained a B&B for the past 35 years.
We welcome you to visit us and enjoy the history that surrounds this property. For it is this rich history that makes a property special and unique. We are pleased to be a part of the life of the house and property and to help shape it for many years to come.
Don & Ellen
