Reasons To Stay at Oft's Bed and Breakfast

We had four lovely women stay with us this week.  Three came from eastern Nebraska and one from Virginia to reunite at our home.  It seemed Carley, Betty, Susan and Mary Jane had a good time.  Before they left, they took time to take pictures. 

It took a little time to figure out how to operate the X&&?@!!!! camera.  Finally, the right switch got pushed, smiles followed and pictures were taken.   A sack of home baked cookies were sent home with them, (we doubt they made it that far).  We enjoyed the conversation and meeting you!

Pot Bellied Project

Our home was built in 1910 and was originally heated with coal and wood stoves.  A few years later a hot water-radiator boiler system was installed and the boiler was fueled with coal.  We installed high efficiency heat pumps during the renovation allowing us to removed the deteriorating chimney and a lot of the piping.  We can no longer install a functioning stove but we still wanted to have a parlor stove for the decoration.  We found a stove.

Searching Craig's List, I found an old stove for sale.  I contacted the listing and that lead to a phone conversation and a meeting with "Fred" at a storage facility in Omaha.   Fred had a plain 'pot bellied' stove that was used by his grandfather to heat his basement.  It had seen a lot of use but it was all there and in fairly good shape.  Price negotiations resulted in the loading of the stove into the back of my pickup.  Explanations were given to the wife upon arrival back home and it was moved to the basement for restoration.  Now I have to find some good metal bushes and some stove black.  Another project for me when the weather gets bad.   

I'm still looking for a more ornate stove and depending upon how the restoration turns out, it will either end up in the Dining Room or possibly out to the old farm house.  Either way, its going to get enjoyed.  

Oft's Bed and Breakfast: "It's a Family Tradition"

Our guests, Joan, Merv and Sylvia left early this morning so Linda and I got an early start at cleaning rooms and doing laundry.  As I was making a bed, I couldn't help but to reflect that both my mother's and father's parents were farmers but grandparents on both sides had been inn keepers.  Heiko Mueller was an inn keeper in German before he immigrated to America and Eggert Oft started one of the first hotels (see: http://bennhistsoc.blogspot.com) when Bennington was found in 1888.  Eggert and his family lived in, and operated the hotel for 11 years.  So as Hank Williams so eloquently sang, cooking breakfast and making beds; "Its a family tradition."

Eggert and Rosa Oft (1882)
Owned and operated Oft's Hotel, Bennington, NE

Meilina and Heiko Mueller
Inn Keepers in German (1890)

Annual Nebraska Association of Bed and Breakfast Meeting

This past Monday and Tuesday, Linda and I attended the Nebraska Association of Bed and Breakfast's annual meeting.  It was originally scheduled to occur in Brownsville, NE but had to be moved to another location because of the flooding this summer.   The venue was moved to the Prairie Creek Inn which is located near Walton; just east of Lincoln.  It was hosted by Maureen and Bruce Stahl who provided a warm and friendly atmosphere for the meeting.




The Levette House

 

You might ask; "what do Inn Keepers do at their meeting?"  That is a good question.  The first morning we had an Inspiring Inn Keeper's Course which I helped moderate.  About 25 people attended.  Attendees ranged from those who have been in the business and simply wanted to share to those who are interested in possibly starting a B&B.  

That afternoon we had a workshop learning how to promote our businesses on facebook.  We learned the fastest growing age group joining Facebook are those over 55 years old.  (Possibly the last to join).  Nearly 800 million belong to this networking community. 

In the evening we went to the Deer Creek Winery which was only a few miles from Bruce and Maureen's.  They have an excellent selection of Nebraska wines which they produce on their farm.  I bought several early Christmas gifts and brought a couple bottles back for ourselves. 

On Tuesday, we heard presentations about Nebraska's Agritourism opportunities and better ways in Market our businesses on the Internet.  Both presentations were excellent.  It was wonderful to meet with a group of people who speak the same language....that's cooking eggs and washing sheets.  

Another Great Grandson

A Special Quest!



October 1, 2011 was a special day at the Oft-Gordon House.  Mike Oft; a great grandson of Eggert and Rosa Oft came and stayed with us.  This was Mike's first visit to his Great, Grandparents Eggert and Rosa Oft's Home.  Mike's mother Betty, stayed with us last year and we their quests at their family home and ranch in Ontario, Oregon.   

Mike Oft

Mike's family lineage goes like this:  Mike's father was Eggert Oft, who was the son of Hans Oft, who was the son of Eggert Oft, who was the Great Grandfather of both of us.  We are 3rd cousins! 

Mike's family got caught in the housing market squeeze; finding themselves owning two homes, one in Oregon and another across the country in Massachusetts.  His Oregon home has been on the market for over 2 years and just sold recently.   This is the last trip of his family's move to the East Coast.  He was accompanied by Gary, a fellow music instructor and longtime friend.  Gary shared that when they were much younger they both talked about touring across the country by bicycle but simply didn't find time.  Now they are doing it by truck!

We visited the family farm which was bought by Eggert in 1880 and remains in the family today.   Walked through the old farm house where his grandfather and my grandmother grew up.  His grandfather and grandmother lived in the home when they were first married and its highly likely his father Eggert was born there.  His grandparents moved to Oregon in 1914. 

I had to take this photo op..  This is a 'drop rake'; an original piece of horse drawn equipment on the farm that was undoubtedly operated at some point by Eggert and Hans.  A 100 years later, another Oft sits at the rake's 'controls.'