Details
Date: Sunday, May 15
Time: 4-7 p.m.
Location: The Barn at Silverstone, 62 Bowman Road, Lancaster
Tickets: $75 for members of the Historic Preservation Trust; $85 for non-members. Block of 10 tickets for members available at $700; block of 10 tickets for non-members available at $800.
Information: 291-5861 or hptrust.org.
Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor: S. Dale High Family Foundation
Supporting Sponsors: Atlee Hall LLP, Bertz, Hess & Co., LLP, Conestoga View Nursing & Rehabilitation, High Real Estate Group, Lancaster County magazine, Manheim Auto Auction, Millwood Farms, Orrstown Bank, Post & Schell, P.C., Shoppes at Belmont, Stable Hollow Construction, UGI, and Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority.
The Cause
The Historic Preservation Trust of Lancaster County is celebrating a milestone in 2016 – 50 years of preserving the county’s architectural history. Founded in 1966, the Trust has been directly involved in preserving more than three dozen landmarks that are of great importance to the history of Lancaster County, including the Trust’s headquarters, the Sehner-Ellicott-von Hess House (1787), where Andrew Ellicott tutored Meriwether Lewis on navigational skills prior to the Lewis & Clark Expedition.
Keeping these treasures alive, the Trust helps to develop ways to salvage the old structures, whether that means restoring entire buildings or dismantling materials to repurpose and reconstruct elsewhere.
“We work really hard to make sure that Lancaster is preserved and that we don’t lose our architectural and cultural heritage,” says board member and event co-chair Connie Ginder.
Being active within the various communities of Lancaster County is one of the many ways the Trust creates awareness of its mission: to encourage and facilitate historic preservation throughout the county. Other means of creating awareness include working with the townships and boroughs, communicating through the Trust’s website and other social media outlets, and attending and hosting events.
“As we go into our second half century, the Trust is looking more and more to bring in a lot of volunteers and attract a new, younger generation of people to preservation,” Gary says. “… Old has become new again.”
The Watch List, which is overseen by the Preservation Action Committee, involves 10 properties in the county that are in danger of disappearing either by demolition to make way for new development or by neglect. The properties on the list show promise for adaptive reuse.
“There’s so much more when you start digging into these buildings,” says Trust Vice President and event co-chair Becky Dillon. “That’s the thing that we want to try to preserve and to get across to people, that it’s not just a building; it’s history.”
Some of the properties the Trust has helped to save over the years include the home of Thaddeus Stevens, the neighboring Lydia Hamilton Smith House, the Watt & Shand building, and the Mayer-Hess Farmstead (which is actively being worked on by the Trust).
“Once these buildings are gone, you can’t get them back,” says Gary. “… We’re preserving Lancaster County’s culture and heritage for the next generation.”
The Vendors
Annie Bailey’s Irish Pub & Restaurant: Modeled after a Victorian Dublin-style pub, Annie Bailey’s offers a wide-ranging menu that includes signature Irish dishes as well as American favorites. The beer selection – craft, imports and domestics – is also impressive. On the gala menu: Shepherd’s Pie. 28-30 W. King St., Lancaster. 393-4000 or anniebaileys.com.
Byers Butterflake Bakery: Founded in 1968, Byers Butterflake Bakery is acclaimed for its cakes. At the top of the flavor list is White Rhapsody: white cake dotted with chocolate, topped with two types of raspberry filling and enrobed in butter cream. On the gala menu: Swiss lemon cake (yellow cake filled with lemon curd & lemon cream filling). 44 W. Main St., Leola. 656-6803 or byersbakery.com.
Divine Swine In Out BBQ: Enjoying its second full year of business, the eatery attributes its success to genuine BBQ and keeping its preparation simple, traditional and honest. On the gala menu: Pulled-pork sliders, Cherry Hard Apple Cider. 2684 Lebanon Rd., Manheim. 879-9494 or divine-swine-bbq.com.
Dutch Haven Shoo Fly Pie Bakery: If you’ve driven along Route 30 in Ronks, then you’ve seen Dutch Haven’s distinctive windmill. The bakery has been selling and shipping shoofly pies for nearly 70 years. On the gala menu: Shoofly pie, Grandma Jack’s caramel corn. 2857-A Lincoln Hwy. East, Ronks. 687-0111 or dutchhaven.com.
Federal Taphouse Lancaster: Celebrating its third anniversary in Lancaster, the taphouse is known for its beer selection – 100 craft beers on tap from as near as Lancaster County to as far away as Scandinavia – and coal-fired oven in which pizza, burgers and seafood are prepared. On the gala menu: Mortadella mini sandwiches with house-cured meats. 201 N. Queen St., Lancaster. 490-6932 or federaltaphouse.com.
Food For Thought Catering: “Innovative cuisine using local and pure ingredients, which yield earthy, rustic and mind-smart fare” is the creation of owner Gina D’Ambrosio (Trost), who has more than 25 years of experience in the food industry. On the gala menu: Jerk chicken, salsa and bread. 241 W. Roseville Rd., Unit 2, Lancaster. 267-495-6677 or foodforthoughtcateringpa.com.
Forklift & Palate: Housed along with The Warehouse Hotel and Spooky Nook Sports in a repurposed industrial warehouse, this eatery offers “a dining adventure like no other.” On the gala menu: Pork osso bucco, charred asparagus. 2913 Spooky Nook Rd., Manheim. 537-6205 or forkliftandpalate.com.
Gracie’s On West Main Diner: Mariella “Gracie” Volker and Jim Rutolo make just about everything from scratch – even jams, jellies and dressings – using ingredients sourced as locally as possible. Catering is available, too. On the gala menu: Cochinita-style wild-caught Texas Gulf shrimp with a smoked pineapple slaw, served on warm corn tortillas. 264 W. Main St., Leola. 826-4314 or gracieslancaster.com.
Gypsy Kitchen: Ed and Ellen Diller, whose motto is “Dish the love and nourish the community,” operate this catering company out of Lancaster Theological Seminary’s Dietz Hall Refectory. In addition to catering, they also offer lunch (Mon.-Fri.) and dinner (Fri. & Sat.), eat-in or take-out. On the gala menu: House-made chicken, pancetta and pepper sliders. 555 W. James St., Lancaster. 824-2714 or eatgypsykitchen.com.
The Inn at Bully’s Restaurant & Pub: An inn, pub, bed & breakfast, and family-owned and operated restaurant all in one, Bully’s offers award-winning cuisine and the largest selection of beer in the area (home of the Bully’s Beer Bible). On the gala menu: Creamy crab soup & braised pork belly slider. 647 Union St., Columbia. 684-2854 or bullys-restaurant.com.
The JDK Group: The Central Pennsylvania catering and events’ company continues to reinvent the standard for special events and hospitality services in the region. On the gala menu: The JDK Group is partnering with The Vineyard at Hershey to create food and wine pairings for the evening. 21 N. Prince St., Lancaster. 730-4661 or thejdkgroup.com.
Lancaster Brewing Company: The brewery, which initiated the renaissance of craft beer in Lancaster, produces 20-plus varieties of beers on an annual basis. Many pay homage to Lancaster and its agricultural roots. On the gala menu: A selection of beers. 302 N. Plum St., Lancaster. 391-6258 or lancasterbrewing.com.
Lancaster County Coffee Roasters: Walk into any local office, and you’re likely to find Lancaster County Coffee Roasters brewing in the break room. The family-owned business sources its beans and carefully roasts them in its Lancaster City facility. On the gala menu: Fresh, locally roasted coffee. 747 E. Ross St., Lancaster. 392-2080 or lancastercountycoffee.com.
Lickity Split: Specializing in soups, sandwiches and decadent desserts, many of which entail ice cream. Catering is also offered: mobile ice cream trucks are a signature of the company. On the gala menu: Thanksgiving Day sliders (roasted turkey, stuffing, cranberry). 209 E. Main St., New Holland. 354-4086 or lickitysplit.info.
Lombardo’s Restaurant: Established in 1946, Lombardo’s is still Lancaster’s go-to place for lasagna, manicotti, cannelloni, spaghetti & meatballs and other Italian-American comfort foods. On the gala menu: Cocktail meatballs. 216 Harrisburg Ave., Lancaster. 394-3749 or lombardosrestaurant.com.
Miesse Candies: What began in 1875 as a man selling vanilla caramels out of his horse-drawn wagon has grown into an indelible part of Lancaster’s confectionary history. On the gala menu: A variety of chocolates. 118 N. Water St., Lancaster. 392-6011 or miessecandies.com.
Nissley Vineyards And Winery Estate: Lancaster County’s premier winery for nearly 40 years, Nissley added more honors to its trophy case: Eight medals (three gold, one silver, and four bronze) for its 2013 and 2014 vintages, with its Black Raspberry©2014 winning Double Gold & Best of Show Fruit, at this year’s Pennsylvania Farm Show Competition. On the gala menu: A selection of Nissley Estate-bottled wines. 140 Vintage Dr., Bainbridge. 426-3514 or nissleywine.com.
Penn Square Grille: Located in the former Watt & Shand Department Store, the Grille offers a variety of delicious classics. On the gala menu: Smoked chicken salad on a pretzel bun. 2 E. King St., Lancaster. 207-4033 or pennsquaregrille.com.
Pierre Deragon Personal Chef Services: Armed with a lifelong passion for cooking, Pierre Deragon offers a variety of elegantly effortless menus for any occasion. He credits his talents to his Southern roots and especially his mother, who let him roam freely in her kitchen. On the gala menu: Lasagna alla Bolognese, Chicken Marsala, and Zabaglione. 610-763-4945 or lancasterpersonalchef.com.
Plum Street Gourmet: Innovative take-home cuisine and exceptional full-service catering are what the owners of Plum Street Gourmet do best. Whether it’s preparing for a wedding, corporate event or just a quick lunch, this gourmet has you covered. On the gala menu: Signature salads. 1831 Oregon Pike, Lancaster. 394-3882 or plumstreetgroumet.com.
Railroad House Inn: Owners Jerry Bowden and Freddy States have hit a homerun with the makeover of this Marietta restaurant that reopened in February 2015. Everything is new from both a decorative and culinary perspective. On the gala menu: Pulled spring chicken tacos. 20 W. Front St., Marietta. 426-4141 or railroadhouseinn.com.
Reading Soda Works and Carbonic Supply: Offering 13 delicious flavors, the “Old Fashioned” soda with a Pennsylvania Dutch taste has been producing handcrafted soda, packaged in glass bottles, since its inception in 1921. On the gala menu: Reading Draft Premium Reserve Soda with pure cane sugar, natural ingredients and caffeine-free. 614 Gregg Ave., Reading. 610-372-2565 or readingdraft.com.
St. Boniface Craft Brewing Company: What began as the county’s first one-barrel, nano-brewing company in 2011, has grown into a 15-barrel brew house that features a taproom and events such as food-truck weekends. On the gala menu: A selection of beers. 1701 W. Main St., Ephrata. 466-6900 or stbonifacebrewing.com.
The Scarlet Runner: Classically trained Chef Hilary Mace uses seasonal ingredients from Lancaster County farms to create her menus. Living in Europe and working in restaurants along the East Coast also influenced her repertoire. On the gala menu: Smoked beef short rib, poblano-onion jam, buttermilk aioli & popped rye berries, fennel jam, Linden Dale Farms Chevre, pickled strawberry. 435-3133 or thescarletrunner.com.
Seasons Olive Oil & Vinegar Taproom: This savory boutique treats its oils and vinegars like fine wines and allows customers to taste before they buy. Stainless-steel Italian fustis help preserve the products’ quality, flavors and healthy antioxidants. On the gala menu: Persian lime olive oil cake & other oils, vinegars for tasting. 36 W. King St., Lancaster. 396-1380 or seasonstaproom.com.
Stoudt Brewing Company: Ed and Carol Stoudt are both pioneers of the craft beer movement: Ed’s passion is evident in the beers, and Carol is known as the “Queen of Hops.” The brewery offers a variety of authentic lagers and ales. On the gala menu: Baguette with cheese and sliced steak, beer. 2800 N. Reading Rd., Adamstown. 484-4386 or stoudts.com.
Sugar Whipped Bakery: Owner Stephanie Samuel began augmenting her family’s income by baking for friends. Now, she is a full-time baker, operating a dessert truck and a new shop in Lititz, providing her sweet treats that are made from scratch and utilize fresh, local ingredients. On the gala menu: Lavender cookies & other treats. 77 E. Main St., Lititz. 578-2202 or sugarwhippedbakery.com.
TÈ: A convergence of the various regional styles and culinary experiences found throughout Italy are presented by this 5-star, formal Italian restaurant. On the gala menu: Butter-poached Maine Lobster resting in a Wilbur chocolate risotto encased in a fried pasta cup. 38 Deborah Dr., Leola. 556-8715 or teattheinn.com.
Thorn Hill Vineyard: Specializing in hand-crafted artisan wines of exceptional quality, owners Jack and Amy Thorn create full bodied, intensely flavored, richly textured wines of structure, depth and balance that reflect the qualities of each vineyard site. On the gala menu: A variety of wines. 1945 Fruitville Pike, Lancaster. 299-3688 or thornhillvineyards.com.
The Vineyard & Brewery at Hershey: Promising to be “the Pennsylvania wine that will change your mind,” four friends birthed an idea in 2008 that led to the wildly successful winery and brewery. On the gala menu: The Vineyard at Hershey is partnering with The JDK Group to create food and wine pairings for the evening. 598 Schoolhouse Rd., Middletown. 944-1569 or vineyardathershey.com.
Wacker Brewing Company: Documented as the oldest institution of its kind in the county, Wacker can trace its roots back to 1853. It continues its legacy of offering local, handcrafted quality beer. On the gala menu: Wacker German Pale Ale. 417 W. Grant St., Lancaster. 617-2711 or wackerbrewing.com.
The Waterfront Restaurant: This eatery, nestled along the banks of the Conestoga River, offers delicious meals and drinks, a waterside view and a casual, elegant dining experience. On the gala menu: House-made dessert, “mini” Jumbo Lump Crab Cake with remoulade, and a seasonal selection from the garden. 680 Millcross Rd., Lancaster. 390-8777 or thewaterfrontlancaster.com.
Willow Valley Communities Food Services: Willow Valley is dedicated to providing healthy and fun meals to its residents. It hosts Jazz Brunch, as well as presentations on clean eating and alternatives to processed foods by Chef Sean Cavanaugh of John J. Jeffries. On the gala menu: Crab & pea fritter with preserved lemon & black truffle aioli, spring risotto with morel mushrooms, and lemon panna cotta. 450 Willow Valley Lakes Dr., Willow Street. 464-6800 or willowvalleyretirement.com.
John Wright Restaurant: This riverside restaurant is the perfect setting for an intimate date night, family celebration or just getting lost in the view. Enjoy fresh, locally produced foods that vary with the seasons and a spectacular view of the Susquehanna River. On the gala menu: Apple-smoked Verlasso salmon with fresh fruit salsa. 234 N. Front St., Wrightsville. 252-0416 or jwrpa.com.
The Setting
The Barn at Silverstone is the perfect venue to showcase the marriage of preservation and conservation, according to Historic Preservation Trust President Gary Klinger. This newly renovated, historic property has ample space to host any occasion, which is only one of the many reasons why Trust board members chose the venue to hold its 32nd annual Gourmet Gala.
In 2003, Toni and Lorin Wortel purchased the forgotten property – which at the time consisted of a limestone house, spring house, four-car garage, large barn, tobacco barn, tenant house, in-ground pool and a pond on a total of 56 farmable acres.
Records indicate that the original limestone mansion was built in 1750 by Thomas Evans, whose father received a land grant directly from William Penn. Before the Wortels made their purchase, the property had laid abandoned for approximately 12 years. The Wortels subdivided the property shortly after the purchase and kept 10.5 acres of farm and woodland, which included the main building (limestone house), spring house, pond, pool and garage.
A multitude of renovations and enhancements took place – including the addition of a geothermal heating and cooling system and a 100KW solar field that completely powers the property – before the couple opened the doors of the award-winning Silverstone Inn & Suites in 2007. (The inn also received a Historic Preservation Trust award during that same year.)
Eventually, the Wortels purchased an additional 5 acres to include the original stone bank barn, hay barn, sheep house and tenant house.
“This was their dream home. They loved it,” says Miranda Wagner, daughter of Toni and Lorin and co-owner of The Barn at Silverstone, referring to her parents. “Nobody really wanted to have anything to do with it, so we had the opportunity to purchase it and renovate it,” she says of the property. “It took us three and a half years because we did it primarily by ourselves. … We were able to purchase a little more land, including this barn, and eventually renovate it into a wedding venue.”
åfter years of planning, but only five months of nonstop work, The Barn at Silverstone opened on September 1, 2015.
“This barn was dated to the early 1800s. Everything is original in the barn, except for the ceiling; it had to be insulated for the heating and air conditioning portion,” says Nick Wagner, Miranda’s husband and co-owner of the venue. “All of the floors were reclaimed, as well as the stone gable ends, and all original stone was pointed and cob blasted. There was a little sheep house that was demolished, too.”
Miranda adds, “We took the stone from the sheep house and built the fireplace out of it. We took the old timbers from the barn that we didn’t use, and we built the rest of the pavilion. We’re really into restoring old buildings and trying to keep as much original as possible.”
The couple has breathed new life into the barn by creating a stunning wedding and event venue, which consists of The Barn Hall (a large, elegantly designed indoor space), The Stables (a more modest space that radiates a rustic ambiance), and The Courtyard (a unique, outdoor area that overlooks the pond and natural spring).
“I think it is the epitome of Lancaster County,” Nick says of the entire property. “It’s country and friendly; it’s community-driven and wholesome.”
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