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Hello, we are Rebecca and Scott Sipprell, the current owners and
innkeepers. We took possession of this grand house in May 2006. We first
fell in love with the town of Washington and the river, before we ever
discovered the wonderful Moss House. Rebecca has managed a B & B, run a
housekeeping business, sung opera, and worked as a receptionist, to name
a few skills. Oh and she loves to cook! Scott has worked in the computer
field and is now a handyman extraordinaire, always busy with tools. With
our combined skills we expect to keep The Moss House, with its easy
coastal charm, a haven for the weary traveler.
The Moss House was
built by Frank Adams Moss and Mary Bonner Moss. The
Mosses decided to build the house shortly after their marriage in 1898.
Construction started in 1900 was completed in 1902. They lived in the
"little house" next door on Van Norden Street while the house was being
built.
Local timber, milled at the Moss Planing
Mill, provide much of the lumber for the house, including the heart pine
floors through out the house. The carved mantles, each unique in design,
were milled especially for the house, and three of the four guest rooms
feature the original mantles. The fourth mantle was removed and the
fireplace blocked off for a bathroom addition while Mrs. Moss still
lived in the house.
Mary Bonner's Influence
Family history says Mrs. Moss played a significant role in the
design of Moss House, particularly the signature red roof and the long,
slow incline of the stairs. Although no one seems to know what inspired
the concept, the steeply pitched tin roof can still be seen from many
points in town, including the bridge over the Pamlico River. As for the
stairs, her descendants theorize that she designed them that way just so
she could slide down the banister, something she did every day, even
when she was well into her 70s.
The
house was sold in the early 1960s, which marked the first time it wasn't
occupied by the Moss family. Since then it has seen five different
owners and occasional periods of vacancy, but there have been few major
changes to the original design. One couple did a great deal of
painstaking preservation work, ripping out crumbling plaster, rewiring
the entire house, and restoring all of the mantles. In 1993, Leonard and
Johanna Huber, a couple from New Orleans, purchased the home and
converted it into The Acadian House Bed & Breakfast. Two bathrooms and
central air conditioning were added for the comfort and convenience of
the guests.
Mary Havens Cooper, who is the
great-granddaughter of the original owners, purchased the house in the
spring of 2001. The name was changed to honor here great –grandparents.
Many of the modern updates are thanks to her efforts and her love of the
family’s home.
Mimi Linthicum purchased The Moss House in 2004 and continued it as a
thriving business and a chance to share a piece of Washington’s history
with others who enjoy, history, old houses and the relaxed atmosphere of
this Victorian coastal classic.
Welcome - Whether
you are a returning guest to the former Acadian House, The Moss House
under previous owners or are new to our Bed and Breakfast, we hope you
will enjoy our personal service and gracious hospitality. We look
forward to sharing it with you.
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