Village Squire, 1980-10, Page 20Old-fashloned charm and hospitality welcomes travellers at Cherrydale Farm, 11/4 kilometers east of Benmiller. The 145 -year-old
farmhouse at Cherrydale accommodates twelve to sixteen people in comfortable surroundings reminiscent of its era.
Cherrydale Farm: a home away from home
By ELAINE TOWNSHEND
In 1830, Michael Fisher purchased 5.465 acres of land in the
bend of the Maitland River from the Canada Company. He sold
parcels of his property but made his home on a choice site just
east of what is now Benmiller. Michael Fisher first built a log
shanty, then a log cabin and five years later, an impressive
three-storey stone farmhouse with walls at least three feet thick.
It s reported he brought mechanics and materials from York to
build the first house in Colborne Township._
Today the 145 -year-old house, well -Kept over the years, has
changed little from the original. For the past one -and -a -half
years, it has served as a unique guest house -a home away from
home for hundreds of ttavellers.
Owner of Cherrydale Farm is Joanne Maicoieni, a
former owner of Benmiller Inn and sister of the current owner.
Mrs. Mazzoleni has installed modern comforts in Cherrydale
without destroying the special charm of its era.
Wainscotting throughout the house and a wooden cupboard
built into a wall in the dining room have been stripped and
refinished in their natural state.
A long wooden dining table and other smaller tables, some of
which came from England, fit the home's decor and an original
stone fireplace adds warmth to the dining area and living room.
Stones in portions of the bedroom walls have been exposed to
give each room an interesting look. Work on the walls revealed
some closed -in windows. Rather than filling in the wide window
sills, colourful quilts were nung in the recesses to serve as
PG. 18 VILLAGE SQUIRE/OCTOBER 1980
headboards for beds. A wagon w nee! makes another unique
headboard. Vanities of a simple wooden structure complement
the rest of the furnishings. with storm window frames used for
several mirrors in the house.
A door with a stained glass window, at the end of the upstairs
hall, opens onto a balcony.
Cherrydale Farm accommodates twelve to sixteen people.
overnight rates for a room with adjoining bath is $40 for single
and S45 for double. Three rooms share a bath. but each has its
own vanity. The bunk room. with two bunk beds. is exceptionally
popular with young people.
I'he suites consist of two rooms -one on the second floor with a
double bed and one in the air conditioned "loft" with twin beds
and a bath.
The whole house can be rented overnight for $220.
HOMEMADE BREAKFASTS
Rates include a continental breakfast of homemade breads and
jams, sweet rolls. orange juice and coffee. The Cherrydale
Special, an old-fashioned "egg -in -the -hole" breakfast, is
popular; an egg is placed in a hole in a slice of bread and fried
with the bacon. Homemade baking is done by a neighbour, Mrs.
Phyllis Uurst. She and her husbana, Albert. operated a
farm -vacation -plan on the site for approximately eighteen years
before Mrs. Mazzoleni took over.
Breakfast is the only meal prepared at Cherrydale, although a
large garden behind the house gives guests a taste of fresh