About 250 years ago, in a farm hamlet tucked away in a corner of what would become Wyomissing, Nicholas Stoltzfus planted seeds.
Out of love — for his wife, Katharina Bermann, and his Amish culture — the German native had left his homeland, where Amish beliefs were not tolerated.
Its seeds quickly sprouted, filling the farmland with bountiful harvests.
Over the centuries, the roots of Stoltzfus also spread, as generations of descendants, each larger than the last, moved throughout the state and eventually the country.
Today the Property of Nicholas Stoltzfus looks a lot like it did in the distant past.
It has become a symbol and cultural center in the Amish community, hosting an annual auction where hundreds of people gather to sell quilts and other homemade goods.
And from July, part of the property has become something else: a backyard loft for rent, where guests can experience a modern take on rustic surroundings, community ties and enduring passion. for the Amish culture that drove the Stoltzfus farm – and the Stoltzfus family. — to cross the centuries.
“It’s not just an Airbnb, it’s an Airbnb that feels like coming home,” said Esther Stoltzfus, caretaker of the Stoltzfus property, “I just try to create a really special, intimate and warm.”
Along with her husband Elam Stoltzfus, a Morgantown native who grew up Amish, Esther Stoltzfus transformed part of a Sweitzer barn on the site into a contemporary loft with a classic twist.
Instead of farmland, a bustling garden now surrounds the exterior of the barn, with a multicolored array of flowers arranged around the yard.
The loft itself is furnished with a collection of antiques carefully curated by Esther Stoltzfus over the years, including a rocking chair that was her parents’ wedding present and an art deco porcelain table from the time of the Depression.
“I deliberately try to create a real feeling of warmth with the colors I have chosen, the comfortable chairs, it’s just like home,” Esther Stoltzfus said.
A centerpiece in the apartment decor is a rainbow patterned bedspread.
“(The quilt) was made for us by an 86-year-old lady, an Amish lady,” Stoltzfus said, “Elam had done some work for her husband. Instead of him paying us, she gave us the quilt It was a barter deal, we were both very happy with it.
Much of the loft shows the collaborative nature of the Amish community; the shower and cabinets were installed by the Stoltzfus’ Amish relatives.
Even the barn itself was a joint effort: It was built in 2011, in an Amish “barn barn” involving dozens of community members.
Unlike its counterparts of the past, the barn is air-conditioned and fully equipped with modern conveniences.
Esther Stoltzfus noted that one of her goals as a host is to connect guests with the best the region has to offer.
To that end, she said guests can also expect a welcome gift basket filled with locally made treats – as well as a pot of fresh coffee beans roasted on site – and a fridge stocked with beverages. , including sodas from Reading Soda Works.
“I want people to be able to have good coffee in the morning,” noted Esther Stoltzfus.
Esther and Elam Stoltzfus said renovating the barn’s attic – previously a meeting room – was a labor of love.
“It’s not a money-making thing for us, it’s more of a fun thing, it’s a great project, kind of a way to give back…it feels really noble, it doesn’t isn’t really that noble,” Esther Stoltzfus said with a laugh.
She said the loft is an extension of a lifelong passion for welcoming guests.
“We’ve had a lot of people in our house over the years, we’ve had many, many people who have come to sit at our table and eat,” Esther Stoltzfus said, “it’s something we’ve always had. wanted to do.”
Money raised from renting the loft on Airbnb will fund property preservation efforts, the couple noted.
Once slated for demolition by the state in the 1970s, the farmhouse has been revitalized through the efforts of local historians, volunteers, and the Nicholas Stoltzfus House Preservation Committee.
The Stoltzfus house itself has been restored to resemble its 18th century roots, complete with replica furnishings, as well as Stoltzfus originals, such as a chest that Elam Stoltzfus said has been with the family since they arrived in America .
But the restoration isn’t complete, and some parts of the house require additional work — work that will be funded in part by money raised from Airbnb, Elam Stoltzfus said.
House tours are part of the Airbnb package, if guests are interested, the Stoltzfuses noted.
Other plans, Esther Stoltzfus said, involve Amish school children from Lancaster County coming to visit the property.
“There are so many (Stoltzfuses) out there,” Esther Stoltzfus said, “it’s their heritage.”
Some historians estimate that there are up to 1 million descendants of Stoltzfus spread across the country, according to The LNP, a Lancaster-based media outlet.
“One of our missions here is to emphasize to all of the extended family that this is their home,” Esther Stoltzfus said, “we want them to feel like they can come here and enjoy it.”
The site often hosts Amish reunions and community gatherings, but anyone can rent the facilities for weddings, reunions, or other events.
The barnyard loft has already caught the eye since bookings went live in July, but there are plenty of summer days left open on Airbnb.
“We want people to come here and make memories,” Elam Stoltzfus said, “a lot of old people remember the house when it was abandoned. That’s the last thing we want to see again.”
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