Bright, airy, well-appointed guest rooms and modern bathrooms greeted the many people who attended two open houses this past weekend at the newly-established Callis House Inn on Main Street in Mathews.
The event would never have been held, save for an outpouring of community support that had saved the historic structure from demolition two years before. A new group, Preservation Mathews, formed around the idea of preserving the more-than-century-old home, moving it from behind the Bay School to its current location, where the building’s new owners, Ian and Lisa Morse, set about the task of converting it to a bed and breakfast.
Visitors were able to tour the building which was updated to make it a comfortable place for guests to stay when visiting the county. The inn consists of five hotel-like rooms, each with a private bath, which will be available to guests beginning Friday, Aug. 31, said Nicole Hanson of Morse Enterprises, who organized the open houses.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony was performed by Ian and Lisa Morse during an invitation-only event on Friday, and members of local organizations and agencies that participated in some way in preserving the structure were treated to hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Organizations invited included Preservation Mathews, Bay School Community Arts Center, Mathews Main Street Committee, and the Mathews County Visitor and Information Center. Staff members from Mathews Planning and Zoning Department were invited, as well.
On Saturday, the public attended a community open house at the inn that had been scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon, said Hanson, but the event proved to be so popular that it ran until 3:30 p.m.
Another open house will be held from 8 a.m. to noon this Saturday, said Hanson, so residents and visitors who couldn’t come last week will have a chance to tour the inn.
Five people won one-night stays at the inn in a raffle to raise funds to benefit Preservation Mathews, said Hanson. The winners were Jack White, Conrad Bareford, Paul Vanden Bout, Arthur Miller, and Haskins Bayside Service Center.