■RVpT Happy Triangle K^Couple In Love With That Old House

H> Srhaad Jr. CAPK MAY - Fortified by American ingenuity and captivated by Victorian charm, a transplanted couple has joined the ranks of a growing list of people who are establishing bed and breakfast guest houses in Cape May City A little more than two years ago, the abode at 238 Perry Street was a routine boarding house whose only claim to Victorian fame was that it was built in 1869. lacking were the charrti and ambiance of the specialized bed and breakfast,houses that had already recaptured the city’s history In* development characteristic of many Cape May residents,

ready.the house for the summer of 1980 It consisted of 15 rooms, none of which were hardly in the shape to which Victorian bed and breakfast guest houses are accustomed. From their former house the Hawkins moved in seven rooms of early American furniture (since replaced by early Victorian) and had to get rid of 15 rooms of improvised any season, seashore furniture left behind by the previous owner. » They spent countless hours working on the house. “We quit 9 to 5 jobs and took on 5 a m. to 9 p.m. shifts," said Hawkins whose many talents include that of plumber, carpenter, logo designer, chair caner, painter,.

yf»r% old. along came Nancy and Thomas Hawkins from another seashore resort, Manasquan in Central Jersey Inspired by the Victorian atmosphere of the city they had visited many times during the 32 years of their married life, they made a bold move, giving up two lucrative positions, he as a purchasing director and she as a marketing director, to purchase the house at 238 Perry Street. “It was a love affair between my husband, myself and the house, the first time we saw it," recalled an enthusiastic Mrs. Hawkins “We walked in the door and that was it." I.IKK. MOST love affairs, it took a hit of giving and taking before their romance with the house emerged into full bloom. For one thing, the furniture in their house in Manasquan had been early American and now they were switching to 19th Century Victorian "I wasn't so sure I liked the Victorian idea at the outset," said . Hawkins, “but now I think it's beautiful." They placed a deposit on their new house in October of 1979 around their 30th wedding anniversary. They were living in the three story structure on February 2, 1980 and opened three rooms on July 4, 1980 It was quite a challenge to 4 JUNO 1942

chambermaid and host. IN ADDITION to serving as hostess, his wife! is kept quite busy, too. Busing the so-called off

season, she prepares gourmet breakfasts for her guests. A typical breakfast would include rhubarb crisp, carrot applejuice, crepes filled with ham and morney sauce, sweet bread, and home made croissants. She also prepares special menus for people with allergies and for those who have speoial tastes. One woman, for instance, could not start her day without muffins, so Mrs. Hawkins baked and served different milffins each day. Her guest’s favorite turned out to be peanut butter muffin. During the summer season from June 15 to September 15, when it is very busy, Mrs. Hawkins serves only continental breakfasts which include fresh sweetbreads and liesh fruit juices. “It gets kind of hectic and it’s like throwing a big party every weekend during the summer," Mrs. Hawkins explains. THE HOUSE at 238 Perry Street is called the Barnard-Good House and is named respectively after the great grandfathers of Hawkins and his wife. It now consists of 12 rooms dnd six bathrooms. Five of the rooms are for guests as is a new two room suite (bedroom, sitting room and bathroom) on the third floor. As much of the building, the suite is the handiwork of Hawkins and is elegantly appointed in accordance with the Victorian lifestyle. Also on ti|e third floor is a king sized bedroom with lavender and blue iris wSBlpaper, a fourposter bed covered with purple com-

forter and lavender and lace counterpane made by Mrs. Hawkins. AMONG THE antique items throughout the house are an 1870 sideboard, an organ over a century old that was purchased in Lewes,- Delaware, and “that still works if you pump it hard," and a Caw May gasolier that is made out of iron, pewter and brass. On the first floor is a "Turkish or Cozy Corner which consists of sofa, ladies chair and gentlemen’s chair that dates back to 1870. Most conspicuous by their absence in the house are television sets. "WCjhave none," Hawkins emphasizes. "If people ask for rooms with television we recommend that they stay at a motel. Guests at Victorian houses want to walk back in time. They enjoy the personal touch, the ambiance of another era. When they enter our house, we want them to feel that they are walking into their own houses of a century ago " The Barnard-Good House often is photographed by tourists in the city. Hawkins is planning to make it even more photogenic. He’s considering having it painted in four different colors. It might take a while, though, for the job to get done. He and his wife are trying to agree on a color scheme. When they finally reach a meeting of the minds, it’s a good bet their decision will be a quality one. (Jacob Schaad Jr. is a veteran newspaperman who recently moved id Cape May City from North Jersey).

DIMM; HOOM HAS IS?0 *id<-board and a I'apn May gaaollrr lhal la madr oul ol Iron, powlpr and brasa.

R3Q Photo bv Dorn Ward