A Visit With Josh at The Beekman

At around 3 pm on Saturday afternoon, my mom and I headed over to The Beekman mansion for a visit with Josh Kilmer-Purcell: writer, farmer, and soon-to-be reality TV star. Brent, unfortunately, was predisposed and was promoting the Beekman wares in Manhattan at the offices of Martha Stewart Living where a craft fair was taking place.

Our time with Josh at the farm was so very special. From the moment we pulled up to this impressive Nineteenth-Century masterpiece of a home we felt welcome. Josh greeted us at the side door and we were hastily brought indoors, warmly hugged and made to feel at home. The house is incredibly spacious indoors with massive fireplaces, shiny wood floors and large windows that look out over the acres of land.

The room where we entered was one that had been used for the last several months by a large film crew and it was devoid of any furniture, except an incredible antique piano. Josh and Brent will be the stars of a new reality TV show set to air this coming spring on the Discovery Channel. Titled "The Fabulous Beekman Boys," the show will chronicle the young couple's adventures on the farm and their burgeoning business pursuits. (Martha makes at least two cameo appearances, I was told!) Both of the 'boys' are very excited about the new show!

Josh took us on a tour of the amazing house, which is still mostly bare of furniture. Josh explained that they want the furniture they choose for the home to be perfect and appropriate. In the dining room, however, an enormous table holds its ground next to a gigantic fireplace and the room's stunning proportions. The table was designed and built by Brent for the room, and it is stunning.

All over the house there are quirky elements, such a huge stuffed turkey in the corner of the dining room and a gaggle of gossling sculptures in the upstairs hall. The nickel-plated bedframe from the Turkey Hill collection by Martha Stewart Signature shines in the couple's blue bedroom. Josh said he wanted Martha to sign it, but that dream never came to fruition.

My favourite spot upstairs was a secret back hallway that connects a small guest bedroom, Josh's writing studio and the staircase to the attic (which we also visited!) to the main hall. It's a little warren of old, rustic rooms. It's where I would spend all my time, I'm sure, if I lived there.

Downstairs, it is the kitchen that holds the most allure: Warm and beautifully appointed with wood trim, terracotta tile and a large fireplace designed for cooking. A gorgeous glass table with two long benches is the perfect centerpiece. (Someone had written me asking me to observe their appliances: two dishwashers, two gas ovens with gas elements, a large fridge and - I think - a microwave.)

After our tour indoors, we headed outside into the wintry weather for a tour of the grounds. We visited the Beekman crypt, which was wonderful to see. It had a small iron chandelier inside, two big brick slabs and several human bones (including a jaw bone) scattered around the scene. The tombstones of the Beekman family all rest inside the crypt, sheltered now from the elements. Then it was to the barn to visit the Beekman goats, who adore visits from us humans! They presented themselves proudly, baah-ing and singing noisily as we entered. They rushed to the gates to greet us and the large lama who keeps watch over the herd came over to inspect us too, but kept her distance, suspicious and guarded. (She is responsible for keeping hungry coyotes at bay.)

Back inside, Josh, my mom and I sat for hours in the kitchen, feasting on Beekman Blaak cheese, homemade rosemary crackers and homemade sparkling apple cider by the roaring fire. Josh showed us some of the latest editions to the Beekman collection. My favourite was a metal fruit spoon made from Eighteenth-Century molds owned by a master blacksmith who works and resides in the area. They are soon going to be among my collection of kitchenalia!

After dark, the three of us headed back to the American for dinner, where a big Christmas party was taking place. The dining room was bustling with guests. Josh, mom and I sat in a quiet corner and had a wonderful dinner together. Josh had to leave a bit early to get Brent at the train station in Albany but we so enjoyed our time together. As my mom said after he had left: "What a kind and gentle soul he is." Indeed!

The front of the Beekman mansion is much closer to the roadway than I had imagined. It is an impressive facade! Like many of the buildings in Sharon Springs, the Beekman mansion was also in a state of sad disrepair only a decade ago. The previous owner of the property fully restored it and Josh and Brent intend to maintain its elegance for years to come.

The back of the house boasts a long, elegant porch. We arrived at the Beekman just as a snowstorm began to move in: the first of the season, heralding the arrival of the Canadians! (We bring snow everywhere we go!)

Josh leads my mother to the crypt. It's not as cryptic as it sounds!

These soggy apples were the only real spots of colour in the landscape that day, dusted by snow and ice.

The Beekman property is comprised of 60 acres of rolling hills and groves. There is a large pond on the property, which serves a practical purpose: all rural properties like this must have a pond for fire-prevention purposes.

Meet the ladies responsible for the glorious Beekman soap and cheese! They're hardworking lassies. They were so excited to see us!

I love this photo of Josh preparing the cheese. And that sparkling cider was so, so good!

My mom sits happily at the kitchen table.

Sharon Springs: A Town Reborn

As my mom and I walked through the streets of Sharon Springs, New York, last weekend, we were struck by the number of abandoned buildings and homes in the region: enormous hotels, once bustling with activity and happiness, now stand empty, overgrown with vinery, mildew and moss.

Far from being 'scary,' we found these architectural artifacts to be utterly fascinating. We wanted to know more about them, how they came to be and how they fell apart.


This little cottage is just one example of dozens of the town's touristy past. Trees are actually trees growing inside this old structure with branches reaching out of the windows to attain the light.

Sharon Springs was founded in the early 1800s after the construction of the Great Western Turnpike that linked the wilderness to the west with the centers of trade along the Hudson River to the east. At the heart of Schoharie County lies the town of Sharon Springs, named for the numerous springs in the region, which were believed to have healing powers because of their mineral richness. (Native Americans were said to have known the healing powers of the waters here.)

By the end of that century, the springs in this small village had become world-renowned and the town of Sharon Springs was incorporated in 1871. The town drew numerous wealthy socialites from New York City seeking a country respite. Massive hotels and large cottages were erected in the foothills to accommodate their seasonal stays.

The main springs in Sharon contain sulphur, magnesia, blue stone and chalybeate. These waters were used in luxurious bath houses for relaxation therapy and were also used to treat conditions like arthritis.

By the 1920s, the village boasted more than 60 hotels and rooming houses, which accommodated more than 10,000 visitors in the summer months. The town went through a fallow period during the Great Depression when the wealthy took their holidays in neighbouring Saratoga, which boasted a robust and profitable horse-racing industry. In the 1950s, the town became a destination for wealthy Jews, who were banned from staying in Saratoga. The town was revitalized again by the Hasidic Jewish community. (The town's diverse religious history is evident here, too, with a Masonic temple, a small Jewish temple and a church in town.)

As the surrounding regions began to grow and modernize, Sharon Springs lost its appeal to many vacationers and the town could no longer sustain itself. Hotels were closed by the dozen. Cottages were abandoned and the town, once again, fell into a state of disrepair and desolation.

The revitalization of the American Hotel in 1996 played a key role in the town's current resurrection. Now, several businesses exist on the main street, including several gift shops, a gallery and a cafe. While my mother and I were there, we noticed how busy the town is, despite it's somewhat desperate-looking surroundings. We could feel the energy and happiness of the people here and it seems that the town is on a successful rebound. I'm sure it's only a matter of time before the town sees a new period of prosperity.



This is one of the massive hotels that was built in the 1920s during the town's height of success. It stands today gray and abandoned and in complete disrepair with overgrown shrubbery masking its lower portion.
I imagine this door once led to a quaint and welcoming reception area in this old hotel - one of many that now sits dark and empty.The texture on the walls was striking. I was so curious to see what was behind that sagging curtain.There are numerous properties for sale in the town with large houses that are practically begging for a little TLC. This house, above, is an example of a successful restoration effort by the family that now happily resides here.The Cobbler & Company store, just across the street from the American Hotel, is a quaint and beautiful little shop, which opened not long after the American opened its doors to guests. It is one of several new businesses in town that are boasting successful returns on their investment in Sharon Springs. The shop owner, Maureen, is a lovely lady who sells all manner of goods. Open for business is a sentiment one sees more and more often in Sharon Springs these days, which is so exciting.

The American Hotel in Sharon Springs

I've always known Americans to be affable, wonderful and welcoming people. (Canadians are sweet, too, but we're a quieter, more reflective lot.) When traveling in the United States over the years, it is the spirit and energy of the people that is such a big part of my enjoyment there. The people of Sharon Springs, New York, were no different, I discovered on a recent visit.

Garth Roberts and Doug Plummer, the gregarious proprietors of the American Hotel in this storied old town, embody the generosity of the American spirit more closely than anyone I can think of. When my mother and I arrived at the hotel last Friday evening, we entered into a warm and cozy space filled with music and quaint charm - as well as laughter! Doug and Garth were decorating their Christmas tree in the lounge with two friends from Cape Cod visiting Sharon Springs for the Christmas party at The American the following night. Douglas swiftly introduced himself and immediately insisted that we help decorate the tree, which we very happily did. Garth prepared some drinks for us and we all decked the tree in red, white and blue ornaments (nothing less for The American Hotel!) as we got to know each other.

Doug ponders where to place the next ornaments. The 1,200 lights on the tree (red, white and blue) give incredible sparkle. All of the ornaments are Americana in theme, including some from the Martha Stewart Everyday collection!

My mother makes sure the lower branches get their share of razzle-dazzle too!

The next morning the tree looked so beautiful standing in the lounge. I was proud to have placed several dozen of the ornaments!

The American was saved from virtual collapse when Doug and Garth purchased it in 1996 for just $18,000. Structurally unsound in every way (there were gaping holes in the roof, sunken floors and crooked walls) it was doomed until they embarked on a tremendous, five-year restoration effort with the help of friends and generous loans. In 2001 they opened their doors to the public, and it's been successful ever since, even spurring a new revitalization of the town: four businesses opened thanks to the energizing tail-wind of the American's restoration.

The hotel has been featured in The New York Times and has won numerous awards for excellence in hospitality and dining. (The food in the four-star restaurant is cooked by chef Lee Woolver and is incredibly delicious!) Doug and Garth have also entertained some notable guests, including Rachael Ray, who featured them in her magazine and her Farm to Table series.

The nine guestrooms at The American are tributes to rural comfort. They are perfectly appointed, cozy spaces, each with their own ensuites. One lays in bed at night, tucked under down-filled duvets, listening to the quiet sound of the wind in the trees outside.

By the time it came for us to depart, we had made friends of Doug and Garth. They each kissed and hugged us goodbye as we promised that we would be back. For now, I have gorgeous memories of my stay at the American and feel fortunate to have been even a tiny little piece of its ongoing history. The American Hotel was built in 1847 by Nicholas LaRue of Esperance. At the time, it played host to some of America's finest glitterati, including Oscar Wilde. Ulysses S. Grant and several of the Rockefellers also made Sharon Springs a getaway destination. Shown above are some of the old postcards of the hotel (many of which are framed at The American today) and old stationery from the hotel.This is The American today! I snapped this photo before the big snowfall on Saturday. This is the room where my mom and I stayed. Completely cozy and comfortable in every way!These are some of the other rooms in the hotel. It was primarily vacant during our visit, except for one other room. The window at the end of the hall showcases the snowy landscape outdoors.The dining room is spacious, comfortable and elegant. Breakfast is served free of charge to all guests of the hotel - incredibly delicious breakfasts! Brunch is also regularly served and dinners are extraordinarily tasty.