Story of the Metamora Inn

William G. Blacklidge was a Franklin County carpenter according to the 1860s and 1880s gazetteers. The Metamora Inn was built by Blacklidge in 1857 and his family was the home’s first residents.

This house was built in the Greek Revival style of the temple and wing. It is balanced with two wings flanking the “temple.” The centered, 2-story “temple” is divided into two bays as are both the wings. The front doors are in the wings. The “temple” has a gable roof and is prominently crowned by an Italianate bracketed entablature. The first floor windows have double-hung sashes and extend from floor to ceiling. The first floor, front openings have decorated low-profile hoods. The two glazed front doors in the two wings are identical late nineteenth century glazed replacements in the Eastlake style.

In the early 1900s, George Lennard, a banker at the Farmers Bank, bought the home for his young family. As banker, Lennard experienced three armed robberies during the 1930s.

During the mid-1900s, the home was vacated and fell into disrepair. The deterioration was so extensive, that the house was close to being demolished. However, Ray and Pat Gulley rescued the home by restoring it and converting it into a bed and breakfast.

GI and Jo Ball purchased the Inn in 2001, quickly establishing a reputation of reliable comfort, cleanliness, and gracious hospitality that the Inn still enjoys today.

New owners Bill and Karen Smith built a kindred spirit friendship with Jo and GI through many years of visiting the Inn, relaxing with the Balls out on the back porch, and basking in the laughter, wisdom, and music often found there. They hope to offer a similar brand of warmth and friendship to their guests as they take over the reins, adding their own personal touch on the rich tradition that is the Metamora Inn.