Recess Inn B&B, Ethel
November 2019
For seventy years, the school building that now houses the Recess Inn welcomed students in tiny Ethel. In 1910, all 12 grades held class inside its walls, but the last school bell rang in 1980. Today, Ethel’s current population tallies approximately 50 people, and students attend school in a neighboring town.
History buffs will be glad they detoured to this slice of Americana because, for the past 25 years, the inn has preserved the history and stories of all who entered its doors. An added bonus, train buffs will enjoy watching the Burlington Northern and Amtrak barrel enroute to Chicago.
Innkeeper Nancy Morford, who lives just down the street, says, “My brother rescued the building from demolition. Eventually, our cousin from California envisioned the former school as a bed and breakfast and a family gathering place.”
In 1992, almost everyone in town helped restore the building. Nancy remarked that people were so excited to have the old schoolhouse spruced up that they happily volunteered. One pastor was skilled in carpentry, and the mayor and her husband spearheaded the wallpapering.
Principal Oral Hawkins impacted many students during his 40-year stint. His piano and desk still grace the library along with the original blackboards that span one wall. Memorabilia scattered throughout the inn includes the original handheld school bell, athletic jerseys, readers, dinner buckets, desks and more. Lining the downstairs walls, senior class pictures date from the late 1940s and ‘50s with classes that averaged 11 students. Large wood shelves in the kitchen once stored school supplies.
Many students come back, and some request to stay in their former classrooms. My girlfriend, Diane, and I stayed in the Primary Room, where the first through third grades were taught. Perfect for a girlfriend getaway, it contains a queen and double bed. Another bedroom served the fourth through sixth grade classes. Across the hall, the bedrooms were former high school classrooms, while junior high held class in the basement.
Available for guest use, the red and white, fully-equipped kitchen makes the inn an excellent spot for family reunions and large gatherings. The inn doesn’t offer Wi-Fi but does have cable television.
In the morning, Nancy often serves her signature made-from-scratch biscuits and homemade gravy. During our stay, fruit, scrambled eggs, meat and her homemade sour cream coffeecake rounded out a delicious breakfast.
Visit RecessInn-com1.webs.com for more information.