1 of 6
2 of 6
3 of 6
4 of 6
5 of 6
6 of 6
By Mary Beth Schwartz
Years ago, I first met Donna and Ken Arold to write about their annual Christmas celebration. They were extremely gracious and I immediately felt at home. I would later return to spend a few nights in the Morning Glory room, complete with gourmet breakfasts and lots of rest and relaxation. Not too long after, Donna and my family worked together to host a wonderful baby shower in the formal front parlor to celebrate my soon-to-arrive son Jackson. Like other guests before me, every one of my stays at Main Street Manor Bed & Breakfast has been a memorable and personalized experience.
“Main Street Manor Bed & Breakfast is a traditional Victorian manor house. It was built in 1901 by a prominent family here in Flemington. It was a private residence until 1997, when it became a bed and breakfast. Ken and I took over the inn in April of 2005. We had a vision to make the inn beautiful. It had to be more than just a place for people to stay overnight. We saw it as an event type space. We meticulously restored the property. The rooms are true to Victorian old world feel with all of the modern amenities. We created lovely gardens outside and designed an area where intimate weddings can take place,” says Donna Arold.
The casually elegant B&B in Flemington has five guest rooms, complete with fresh flowers, private baths, queen beds, flat screen televisions and DVD players, Internet, Wi-Fi, and climate controls. All of the rooms are located on the second floor. There is the Forget-Me-Not room. It has a large bath featuring a soaking tub, stained glass window, and vintage pedestal sink. Quincy’s English Rose overlooks the inn’s private gardens. The room has a white iron and brass featherbed and a Victorian parlor chair. Its table for two is perfect for an intimate breakfast. Bay Laurel has an oak electric fireplace and comfy side chairs. This large room is made cozy with antique furnishings. The Morning Glory room overlooks a historic magnolia street on Main Street. Its queen bed is covered with vintage chenille. The room is made sweet with Teddy bears. Last but not least, there is Beau’s Labrador Violet. This large and sunny room has a bay window and a pillow-filled banquette. The very purply room has a vintage white iron bed and a Victorian oak dresser with a large mirror.
“Guests of Main Street Manor Bed & Breakfast receive a two-course freshly prepared farm-to-table a la carte breakfast in our formal dining room. We source all of our foods locally as the seasons allow and love to incorporate items from our organic farm and the Inn’s own kitchen garden. For breakfast, we have a nice juice, perhaps some yogurt with fresh fruit or granola, or in the cooler season, oatmeal with a crunchy nut. I alternate the menus from day to day, with one day being sweet and the next savory. A sweet breakfast could include orange buttermilk pancakes or raspberry stuffed French toast served with sausage or bacon. For a savory breakfast, I might have an asparagus and fontina cheese quiche with shallot, and roasted and sweet potatoes with onion, served with bacon on sausage,” Arold says.
A stay at a bed and breakfast would not be complete without tea time. “Inn-baked sweet treats always are on the menu here. Our dining room sideboard hosts a selection of coffee and teas, along with an endless jar filled with freshly baked cookies. In the mild months, we have iced teas and lemonade variations. Depending on the season, you might find a signature vanilla pound cake, triple chocolate brownies with walnuts, an apple rustic cake, or lavender cookies,” Arold says. On weekends, guests at Manor Street Manor Bed & Breakfast can enjoy an expanded afternoon tea in the parlor. You can find artisan cheeses, warm savories, or Ken’s summertime heirloom tomato bruschetta. Enjoy a complimentary glass of local wine with your afternoon snack.
If tea is not for you, Main Street Manor Bed & Breakfast has several common areas for quiet contemplation. There is the library with a selection of books. The library also has a selection of movies, games, puzzles, and playing cards. The formal parlor is great for conversation by the fireplace. During the warmer months, you can sit on the front veranda in your wicker chair with a nice cordial.
Main Street Manor Bed & Breakfast is not just for weekend getaways. Brides and their grooms are increasingly turning to the Arolds for small weddings. “We have over 10 years of experience in the intimate wedding business. Last year we hosted 20 weddings. I am the wedding planner and help the couple bring their vision to fruition. The inn, veranda, its manicured gardens, and the entire property are totally private and just yours for your wedding, from vows to celebration. We can accommodate small weddings for up to 45 guests. We also can do a ladies afternoon tea, brunch, or dinner for the bride-to-be,” Arold says. The bride can come back to the inn to celebrate for an anniversary, vow renewal, or baby shower.
The Arolds have won awards for their excellence in service. For five years in a row, they have won Wedding Wire Couples Choice Awards, based on excellent reviews from past brides and grooms. They also have received for the past couple of years the Certificate of Excellence award from TripAdvisor. “We are ambassadors of Hunterdon County. It is our job to know about the best in the area. We can plan an itinerary for you visit that includes shopping, the arts, farms and markets, historic sites, restaurants, wineries, recreation, and antiquing,” Arold says.
Donna and Ken Arold also like to represent Historic Flemington. “Sixty-five percent of the homes in Flemington are on the historic registry. Flemington is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is second to Cape May in the state of New Jersey. Last year, Ken and I were instrumental in the start of the Flemington Historic Preservation Commission’s Stroll through Flemington. The historic house tour featured six private homes and four public buildings. This year it will take place on Saturday, September 12,” Arold says. The Arolds also were instrumental in establishing Flemington’s Visitor’s Center on Main Street.
Main Street Manor Bed & Breakfast will host its own events during 2015. Throughout the course of the year there will be a series of floral arrangement workshops. These events require advance registration. In early December, the Arolds offer their Candlelight Christmas Tour, when the inn is open for the public to enjoy. Donna and Ken decorate with collections passed down from the generations. Visitors will see swags of fresh greenery, antique tin toys, vintage Snowbabies, and a festive tree in the parlor featuring antique German ornaments and Shiny Brites.
Main Street Manor Bed & Breakfast is located at 194 Main Street in Flemington, NJ. Their phone number is 908-782-4928. You can visit their Website at www.mainstreetmanor.com or like them on Facebook. Donna, Ken, and Quincy the Inn Dog look forward to your visit.