Heywood Braun and other literary wits. Actually, it was Kaufman’s wife, Beatrice Bakrow, who found this property in Holicong, PA, which was then owned by Juliana Force, the director of New York’s Whitney Museum. Beatrice called her husband and convinced him he would love its tranquility, as well as the quiet people who lived nearby, insisting that they would not pry into his colorful lifestyle.
A handsome three-story fieldstone manor, it was resplendent with master bedrooms, private baths, dressing room, study, ser- vants’ quarters and guest
rooms.
Kaufman extensively renovated the prop- erty. Over the years, countless luminaries, including his Algonquin counterparts, Harpo Marx, Kitty Carlisle and many oth- ers spent happy getaways here.
Some 40 years later, the property would become known as the original New Hope bed-and-breakfast.
Today, its charm, sophisticated history, and exceptional amenities attract major pharmaceutical firms and businesses for meetings. Figueroa reveals that just three months after she and her husband pur- chased the property in 2004, a fire caused extensive damage. “It took us two years to restore Barley Sheaf to its original glory, and now we proudly present this impor- tant conference and events facility.”
“When the Doylestown branch of the Michener Museum closed, we bought its George S. Kaufman collection, which adds to the historical prestige seen throughout our buildings and grounds,” she continues. “There are personal notes, playbills, photos, and each suite is either named after one of his plays or a theatri- cal reference. Rooms are decorated to highlight different eras, such as the Art- Deco Kaufman Writing Room.”
Barley Sheaf’s 1740 Manor House features luxurious suites, complete with private
bath, steam shower, whirlpool tub, fire- place and wet bar. Large-screen TV with Blue Ray and DVD capabilities, Bose® stereo, and a courtesy snack bar are among the many in-room amenities offered here. There are additional suites in the farm’s 19th century Stone Bank Barn, a magnificent architectural center- piece. Nestled amid giant London Plane trees, hydrangea, lush gardens and a koi pond are the George S. Kaufman cottages, styled to represent the property’s storied past - yet fully equipped for the present.
Meeting guests delight in visiting farm ani- mals, taking a dip in a junior Olympic- sized swimming pool, playing games like pool, darts, volleyball, croquet (Kaufman’s favorite sport), or partaking in recreation- al opportunities like hiking, biking and cross country skiing.
Still more options include working out in the on site fitness center, or simply soak- ing in all of the property’s history.
14 November December 2013
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100