The Settlers Inn at Bingham Park

Thursday, December 10, 1987 was the first Victorian Christmas Celebration at The Settlers Inn. The event was conceived when Jeanne Genzlinger and Marcia Dunsmore were on a walk in Bingham Park and got to talking about our holiday traditions, childhood memories,  and fantasies about Christmas.

Colorful ornaments enhance the Victorian Christmas celebration.

Shortly thereafter Grant and Jeanne invited Marcia to join us to create a holiday celebration honoring the traditions of the Victorian Era. Our first invitation was mailed to our guests and members of the community. We invited you “to turn back the hands of time and return to an era of style and grace”. We were obsessively authentic creating the menu and found the White House cookbook to be a wealth of information.

We had consommé, bisque, Chincoteague oysters, French hens, pickled pears, mince tarts and plum pudding. The sugared plums were truly a vision.

Our focus at the time was to create a holiday event that encompassed all that we felt Christmas could be. Antiques from the turn of the century were borrowed from Peggy Murphy and Curt Reed as well as our grandmother’s attics. We polished silver, tea stained lace, decked the halls, trimmed the trees, hired the horseman, baked the gingerbread house, engaged the choir, dressed the staff in period attire, lit the candles and… magic was created!

Our fondest memories of the first years of Victorian Christmas were the involvement of our families. The children were young and all wanted to be a part of this scenario. Emily Dunsmore, age 5 along with her Grandmother, Wendy Reafler and Grant’s Mother, Muriel Genzlinger passed the hors d’oeuvres. Stuart Dunsmore, age 8, was the doorman and Justin Genzlinger, age 11, managed the coat room. Our daughters, Carrie and Janna, age 14 and 16 assisted the dining room servers. Uncle John’s doll house was brought out of the attic and Aunt Mary Lou became the official photographer.

The guests loved the event. Peter Rodgers said, “This is like a community Christmas party!

And so it continues for the twenty fifth year… We thank you, Dear Friends, for joining us for this special Settlers Inn tradition. Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year too!

The Settlers Inn and Grant and Jeanne in particular are delighted to welcome Carol Stoudt founder and brewmaster of Stoudt’s Brewing Company in Adamstown, Pa.

Brewery co-founder Carol Stoudt - “Queen of the Hops,”

Grant and Carol’s relationship goes back more than twenty years. Grant developed an interest in the history of brewing in Pennsylvania and traveled the state to find small independent brewers to be represented on the Settler Inn’s newly formed beer menu.

Some of the breweries he located had an amazing tradition like Yuengling in Pottsville, and Rolling Rock, Stegmaier, and Pennsylvania Pilsner but the hands down favorite for Grant was discovering the new microbrews like Dock Street Brewing Co. in Philadelphia and especially Stoudt’s in Adamstown.

Stoudt’s was (and still is) gathering many gold and silver medals for beer making on the national level. We were thrilled to offer these award winning beers and ales at The Settlers Inn and thus began the long tradition of tasting the likes of Scarlet Lady, American Pale Ale, Double Honey Maiboch, and Oatmeal Stout  Today Carol is known as the “Queen of Hops” and we are exited for you to meet her at our Octoberfest dinner on October 14.

The brewery's Octoberfest beer label

Carol has selected Fat Dog Oatmeal Stout, Stoudt’s Fest, American Pale Ale, Scarlet Lady ESB, and Triple Belgian Abbey Ale,that complement  Grant and Chef Ben’s four course special menu which includes pasture raised chicken, venison, a selection of house made charcuteries  that reflects the Pennsylvania October tradition and pairs beautifully with these beers.

The American Pale was just honored with the highest star rating and one of the top three in the United States by The New York Times tasting panel.  Join us for the Carol and Grant reunion and learn more about the brewing process from brewmaster icon Carol Stoudt. The gathering time is 6:30 and cost is $65.

We’re sprucing up our restaurant, giving it a fresh coat of paint and getting it ready for Spring. As a result, it will be closed from March 7-17, reopening on Friday, March 18. Breakfast will be served at our coffee cafe, Cocoon Coffee House. We’re also offering a lodging special during this time — Stay 2 nights, get the second night free! Check availability here or call 800-833-8527 (or locally)  570-226-2993 for details.

Jeanne and Grant are thrilled to receive this AAA four diamond award again for 2010. We are very proud of our staff and their accomplishments that enable this to happen for the second year in a row. In a press statement, Michael Petrone,

Receiving the lodging award.

AAA National Director of Tourism Information Development said: “AAA Four Diamond Award winners consistently deliver superior hospitality marked by personal service and extensive

Receiving the dining award.

amenities in high-quality, comfortable surroundings…to achieve and maintain this level of service is a commendable accomplishment and AAA is pleased to honor The Settlers Inn.”