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In 1750, Samuel Bradley claimed a small plot of fertile land near the Saco River (and what today is the town of Fryeburg, Maine), in the then Massachusetts Bay Colony, began farming, and built a homestead consisting of a traditional four bedroom farmhouse. Jacob Green, a craftsman in the area, later constructed an adjoining barn, which was typical of the functional architectural style of New England farmhouses during that era.
After occupying the homestead for only twenty-seven years, on May 13, 1777, Mr. Bradley deeded the homestead to David Hardy, the first of ten generations of the Hardy family to own the home and occupy the property. Subsequent to the initial purchase, and documented in deeds dated 1782, 1800, 1812, and 1815, additional land was acquired and accumulated by the Hardy family, and over time, "Hardy Farm" grew to be one of the principal farms in the area consisting of over one hundred acres.
Research has shown that the Hardy family has been identified with the history of New England and the South for well over three hundred and fifty years. It is known that Thomas Hardy and his brother John, along with Governor Winthrop, arrived in America in 1630. Tradition has it that three Hardy brothers came to America with the third brother settling in the South. It is documented that the third brother, George Hardy, of the Isle of Wight County in Virginia, was a prominent property owner and political leader there in 1635. Other Hardys, distant relatives of the three brothers, later came to America in 1730. The Hardy family originated in Normandy and entered England in 1066 with William the Conqueror.
The last members of the Hardy family to occupy the home as their principal residence were Chester and Alice Webster Black. Mrs. Black inherited the home from her aunt Mrs. Walter Hardy in 1941. The home was occupied by the Blacks until their death, at which time it was inherited by their daughter, Barbara Black Lawrence.
Records from the mid 1800's show that in about 1860, the Hardy family permitted residents of the
town to construct a traditional one room "little red schoolhouse" on their land, directly the North of their home. This schoolhouse served as the principal elementary school for the town of Fryeburg until 1948, when it was decommissioned and Mrs. Lawrence's parents, the Blacks, purchased it from the town.
As an adult, Mrs. Lawrence never permanently lived in the family's home, using it instead as a vacation home for a number of years after her parent's death. In 1998, two hundred and twenty-one years after the original purchase by David Hardy, Mrs. Lawrence and her husband William sold the family's home to a retired Army Chaplain and his wife, Marvin and Kathryn
Milbury. After the sale, the Lawrence's moved into the school house next door, initially as a vacation home, and today as their permanent residence which they have extensively remodeled.
"Marv and Kate" purchased "Hardy Farm" not only as their residence, but with plans to also operate it as a Bed and Breakfast. In the midst of their extensive renovations of the home and during what she describes as a particularly difficult period, one day in exasperation, Kate prayed for "a little peace within". Shortly afterwards, the renovations were complete, Kate found her peace, and Peace With-Inn was born as a wonderful little jewel of a Bed and Breakfast and a special place to share with guests.
In 1999, Ashley Link, an avid outdoors enthusiast with an interest and experience in outdoor leadership programs, met Kate where they were employees at Summit Achievement, a nearby, well known outdoors experiential school. Soon after Ashley got to know Kate and Marv, she purchased a gift certificate from them as a Christmas gift for her parents to stay at Peace With-Inn when they came to visit. When the Links subsequently visited, like so many guests before them, they fell in love with Peace With-Inn and also became friends with the Milburys. A year or so later, when the Milburys announced their decision to sell the Inn and retire in early 2002, the Link family purchased Peace With-Inn.
Today, while she is still active in outdoor sports, Ashley is the principal innkeeper and is assisted by her family in operating Peace With-Inn. Ashley enjoys surprising guests who frequently ask why George Washington's portrait hangs
in the dining room, with an explanation that our first President was only a young man of eighteen, when Peace With-Inn was originally constructed. The original hand-penned deeds, previously described, are preserved, on display, and are available for guests' inspection during their stay.
In operating Peace With-Inn, it is the Link's hope to build upon the Hardy family's rich history and the Milbury's tradition of providing a peaceful respite to their visitors through meticulous guest services and genuine hospitality. In this spirit, and based upon their own experience, they have adopted the phrase, "Come as guests… leave as friends!" Like so many other guests, Peace With-Inn became their "special place". Come find your own "Peace With-Inn" and make it
your
special place too!
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