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The original farmhouse that is Cedar Knoll Inn today was constructed in the late 1800’s as a tenant farm house for the 115.34 acre plantation called “Marsland on the Potomac”. The property included the stately main house now known as the “Tower House” adjoining Cedar Knoll on the south), a 2-story boat house, barn and other out buildings.
In 1909 Dr. Bliss was playing cards upstairs in the boat house and lost the property in a poker game. He then moved across the river to Maryland and built a new home that is a close replica of the “Tower House”.
During World War I, the “Tower House” was used as a convalescent hospital for troops returning from the front.
When Gen. Drain owned the property, Wallance Beavers occupied the tenant farm house (Cedar Knoll) which had only 3 small bedrooms at that time, with his wife and 9 children. They had no electricity and carried their water from out by the barn. In 1930 they moved into the “Tower House” to oversee the property of Gen. Drain. Farm animals and crops were raised on the property, and transportation was by train from the nearby Hunter Station. The Potomac River was crystal clear and people fished and swam in its cool waters.
Mrs. Pauline Walsh was the first owner to use Cedar Knoll for commercial purposes. She added a screen porch, the Log Room, and a second story porch to the front of the building and extensively remodeled and redecorated the entire building into a fashionable antique shop called, “Mt. Vernon View Antique Shop”. Many notable people visited her shop, and she even sold antiques to J.W. Robinson Company in Los Angeles. Mrs. Walsh constructed the log cabin at the rear of what is now the parking lot. Water and electricity came from the “Tower House”.
Cedar Knoll Inn is indeed a perfect mix of historic charm, delicious food, and romantic atmosphere for a memorable event!
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