Hospitality, History, Harmony
Walker House - 64 Walker Street, Lenox,
MA 01240
TEL: (413) 637-1271 / TOLL FREE: 1-800-235-3098
FAX: (413) 637-2387
E-mail the Innkeeper: walkerhouse.inn@verizon.net
Walker House Reaches 204
Peggy and Richard
Celebrate 28 years as innkeepers
WALKER HOUSE has reached a significant milestone. The original part of the building is 204 years old. Built by Judge William Walker in 1804, it is one of the oldest intact buildings in Lenox. The large addition across the back was added by the Curtis Family in 1906 and since that time, there were only two additional owners before Richard and Peggy Houdek purchased it in 1980 and Walker House Bed and Breakfast Inn was born. Come and help us celebrate.
WI FI ARRIVES AT WALKER HOUSE
Walker House may have reached 204 years of age, but it has embraced the 21st century in technology. A Dell laptop in the parlor is available for guests to use and a wi-fi connection enables those with equipped computers to sign on with their own.
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Leroy Brown
IT ALL BEGAN WITH MOOSEWALKER HOUSE CELEBRATES 26 YEARS OF WELCOMING FURRY GUESTS
Because of their love for animals, Peggy and Dick Houdek decided early on in their adventures as innkeepers to allow "well-mannered" pets to accompany their people to Walker House.
The first such guest was Moose Berensmann who accompanied his people Bill and Madelyn. Moose was a delight. It was New Year's weekend 1980, and it was cold. For two Californians who would buy a bundle of logs at the supermarket on the rare occasions they built a fire, making a "real" fire was a puzzlement. Bill taught Peggy and Dick the way to do it that weekend, and his advice is carried on to this day.
After Moose, many dogs have followed -- an occasional cat and even some bunnies.
Myfanwy
Frequently, a telephone call will begin with "I understand you take small dogs.'' Size really has nothing to do with it, says Peggy. ''We go on to explain that we welcome any size dog, as long as it is well mannered."
Of course, all dogs are well mannered according to their owners. But the rules are explained: obviously, being house-trained is a must. Also, if a dog feels unhappy in a strange place and barks or destroys when left alone, then he can't be left alone in the room. Finally, they must not like to eat cats, as Walker House always has lovely, friendly, ready-to-be-petted, and admired, cats as an integral part of the inn.
The inn has welcomed an amazing variety of wonderful dogs over two- and-a-half decades. For many years, Neal the standard poodle visited Walker House several times annually. Then there was Lucy, the golden retriever, who actually wrote about Walker House in Dog Fancy Magazine, proclaiming the Puccini Room as her favorite. Recently, interesting guests have included Murphy, the Bernese mountain dog, whom Peggy and Dick also encountered at their condo in Florida; Myfanwy, an immense gentle Irish wolfhound that one simply has to hug, and Leroy Brown, our cover dog. Leroy came from Puerto Rico. His heritage is unknown, but he is a charming mixture. Then there is Belle, a Cavalier King Charles spaniel who visits each summer. Over a 25-year period, many of inn's dog guests have left for other fields, and often their owners will bring their new companions to be introduced.
Some inns that permit dogs charge a large amount each night for the dog, but we feel that an extra $10 per night helps to cover the extra cleaning needed, especially for very hairy dogs.
Hansel
For further information, contact Walker House at800 235-3098
Walker House - 64 Walker Street, Lenox, MA 01240
TEL: (413) 637-1271 / TOLL FREE: 1-800-235-3098
FAX: (413) 637-2387
E-mail the Innkeeper: walkerhouse.inn@verizon.net
The Inn Cinema Expands Its Archive
The Walker House Cinema archive continues to grow.
Among more recent acquisitions are the “Bourne” series, Kenneth Branagh’s sumptuous wide-screen version of the complete “Hamlet,” Sergio Leone's milestone Clint Eastwood epic "The Good, the Bad and the Ugly," the colorful Michael Todd production "Around the World in 80 Days" starring David Niven, Cantinflas and a galary of cameo players. Two classic John Frankenheimer films have been added: the original "Manchurian Candidate," based on Richard Condon's chilling novel and "Black Sunday," the director's powerful story of a terrorist group attempting to blow up a blimp over the Super Bowl. The latest additions to the Judy Garland collection are a new special edition of Vincente Minnelli's "Meet Me in St. Louis" and Mort Lindsey's "I Could Go on Singing" Garland's last film, which also starred Dirk Bogarde.
Continuing as a member of the Film Movement, Walker House has added Bohdan Slŕma’s funny and tender “Something Like Happiness,” Sndrine Bonnaire’s moving portrait of an autistic woman, “Sabine,” and Jens Lien’s award-winning Norwegian feature, “The Bothersome Man.” And Jose Henrique Fonseca's "The Man of the Year," the latest edition in a rich vein of recent Brazilian cinema.
The Film Movement releases a new film each month simulataneously through a selected number of art film theatres in large American cities and its members, such as the Walker House Cinema. A full collection of the entire Film Movement series is available for viewing for guests at the Inn.
The Cinema's Quentin Tarantino's collection was completed recently by the purchase of "Kill Bill, Vols. I and II." Another recent acquisition is "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on journalism," the new film by Robert Greenwald, the director of "Uncovered: the Whole Truth About the Iraq War," also available at the cinema. A happy comedy addition, is a new release of Marx Brothers movie madness including "A Night at the Opera," "A Night in Casablanca," "A Day at the Races," "Room Service," "At the Circus," "Go West" and "The Big Store."
For more information about the Walker House Cinema and special weekend film festival parties call the Inn, 800/235-3098, or email: walkerhouse.inn@verizon.net
The Cinema: Also Great for Special Events
The Walker House Cinema is an ideal place to watch special events being televised, such as the World Series, Monday Night Football, major college football games and post season bowl contests, as well as the next N.B.A. and college basketball seasons. For more information, and to arrange parties at the Cinema, call the Inn, 800/235-3098; email: walkerhouse.inn@verizon.net
The Bus: A Great Travel Alternative
Here's an easy way to travel between the Berkshires and New York and Boston.It's called The Bus.
Large red and silver Bonanza/Peter Pan buses operate several times daily between New York's Port Authority terminal in midtown Manhattan and Lenox.
The trip, less than four hours long, is taken in comfortable heated coaches that travel through the attractive countryside in upstate New York and Connecticut before depositing their passengers less than a block from the Inn. Connecting buses also travel to Albany, N.Y. and Bennington, VT.
From Boston, riders are treated to a trip of less than three hours between Lenox Village and South Station. These Peter Pan Trailways buses also operate to other New England points, such as Providence, Hartford and New Haven.
For bus information, call 800/343-9999 or Peter Pan Bus Lines
Walker House - 64 Walker
Street, Lenox, MA 01240
TEL: (413) 637-1271 / TOLL FREE: 1-800-235-3098
FAX: (413) 637-2387
E-mail the Innkeeper: walkerhouse.inn@verizon.net
