George Freeman wondered if the young man asking for
his daughter’s hand in marriage was worthy of her. He asked to see the ring, and
then carefully etched her proposed initials with it into a glass window pane in
an upstairs bedroom of his home. He now knew the diamond was a real gem, and
gave permission to his daughter to marry her young man.
That early 20th century story is just one
of many tales Daniel Rust House innkeepers Cathy Mitchell and Germaine
Salvatore shared with us as we checked into the Mary Rose room at their bed
& breakfast in Coventry, Connecticut.
Daniel Rust and George Freeman are just two of a
long succession of owners who occupied the home, originally built as a small
Cape Cod style structure in 1731.
By 1748, wealthy farmer Jehiel Rose purchased the
house and added on to it. Our spacious bedroom bears his wife Mary’s name.
By 1800, the home became the Bird-in-Hand Inn and
experienced fluctuating fortunes before our gregarious innkeepers, Germaine and
Cathy, purchased it in 2007.
The pair revitalized the inn, furnishing it with
antiques, restoring the grounds and gardens, pampering guests and welcoming
them as part of the family.
The Daniel
Rust House sits on a fairly busy highway, but the small-town setting and
expansive back yard offers guests a serene retreat with deer and fox regularly visiting
the grounds and a wooded walking trail leading out from the inn’s yard.
The history surrounding the inn and Coventry
countryside drew us to book the Daniel Rust House for five days, but the warmly
welcoming atmosphere created by Cathy and Germaine really sold us on this gem
of a bed & breakfast.
…and the breakfasts!
Germaine’s breakfasts started with a fresh fruit course
like melon or peach soup, mango pudding or fruit parfaits. Next came a hearty
helping of pumpkin pancakes, blueberry pancakes made with fresh berries from a
neighbor’s yard or pancakes stuffed with raspberries. Cathy often whipped up an
egg dish like eggs scrambled with fresh pesto or eggs combined with mozzarella,
ham and dill.
A different set of vintage china served as the
setting for the morning breakfast show, which sent us rolling out of the dining
room with no need to eat until dinnertime…if even then!
When we did venture out for a full dinner at the Altnaveigh
in nearby Storrs, that inn’s owner jokingly told us to let Germaine know their
lunch business was suffering because Daniel Rust guests were never hungry for
lunch!
Cathy and Germaine recommended the Altnaveigh for dinner
and made reservations for us. The Altnaveigh, an inn and restaurant housed in a
restored 1730s home, was a romantic spot and perfect place for a special
dinner.
Evenings at the Daniel Rust House offer guests the
option of relaxing in their rooms, or joining Cathy, Germaine and other guests
in the common areas. One evening, we sat in front of the keeping room’s
fireplace chatting with our innkeepers while enjoying the company of one of the
inn’s canine guests.
With an extensive background in dog grooming and
care, Cathy and Germaine offer accommodations for well-behaved dogs, as well as
daycare and grooming services. One dog visited with owners in town for an athletic
event at the University of Connecticut one day we stayed at Daniel Rust House.
We visited nearby attractions like the university,
the Nathan Hale Homestead and the Prudence Crandall Museum. Mystic Seaport was
an easy day trip.
My only complaint is that Coventry isn’t closer to
Michigan so visiting Cathy and Germaine would be a possible weekend destination
for us.
© Dominique King 2008
We often hear of unforgettable experiences when speaking with people returning from family vacations, romantic getaways or even a weekend retreat. That is what my fiance and I were privileged to encounter on a recent trip to the Daniel Rusk House. We were immediately drawn to the picturesque grounds and period charm of the home but the true gems of the property were soon revealed to us in the form of two absolutely wonderful ladies. The term Quintessential means " of pure and essential essence - Germaine and Cathy embody this sentiment - the essence that brings the character of the Daniel Rusk House to life. Robin and I simply cannot wait to visit again soon and experience anew the wonderful treatment we received from these two extraordinary ladies.
Looking forward to a cup of Breakfast Blend with you guys soon ... Rob and Robin
Posted by: Robert and Robin Parsons | January 03, 2012 at 07:03 AM
Hi Rob & Robin-
Glad to hear you enjoyed your stay as much as we enjoyed our stay at the Daniel Rust House. It's been way too long since we've been able to get back there to visit!
Posted by: Dominique King | January 03, 2012 at 02:11 PM