- FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
-
Contact: Amelia Painter
- Phone:
712.260.5372
TotalWebDesigner.com
Launches Web site
For Farm House Bed and Breakfast
Fredericksburg, IA (May 19, 2006) -- Leading Iowa design firm
creates original Web site design for Dianna and Loren Engelbrecht, owners of
Farm House Bed and Breakfast of Fredericksburg, Iowa.
TotalWebDesigner.com has designed the newly launched Web site
with Emily Boetel acting as the lead designer. Boetel teamed with the
owners to create a unique Web site design emphasizing features the farm,
antique store and winery has to offer. "We wanted the visitors to be able to
see what accommodations and farm activities are waiting for them and not
just read about them,” says Boetel.
The Web site will explain to visitors how guests are pampered and what
additional amenities are available on the property. Farm House Bed and
Breakfast is a family-oriented lodging establishment on a working farm.
The
Engelbrecht farm was given to Frederick Padden as a land grant in the
1850’s. Frederick was the founder of Fredericksburg and built the first of
everything in the town. In the 1860’s he served in the Civil War. He
returned home from the Civil War with injuries from which he never
recovered. Padden is buried in the local Pioneer Cemetery located on the
Plum Creek Bike and Nature Trail in Fredericksburg. His son, John Padden,
built our house and some of the farm buildings around 1911. In the 1920’s
John lost the farm through foreclosure by another neighbor who had loaned
him the money to build the house and barns. He supposedly left
Fredericksburg with a buck wagon, his mules, and his family. No one seems
to know where the family went.
The
farmer who loaned the money then moved his family into the Padden farm home
and the farm remained in their family for 40 years. The family was very
eccentric and stories abound in the community about them. In fact, a book
needs to be written about the family and the house. It is said the bachelor
son who later inherited the farm and house farrowed hogs in the dining room,
cleaned grain in the living room blowing the chaff out the front door,
changed his clothes once a season, had jars and jars of silver dollars in
the pantry, and eventually died along a creek in Denver, Iowa when he became
disoriented.
Eventually, the farm was sold after all the family members had died. From
the 1970’s until 1993 when we purchased the farm, the home had many
different owners and renters. Fortunately, all the original woodwork was
not painted and damaged and none of the architectural features of the home
were destroyed. In 1993, Dianna and Loren Engelbrecht purchased the home
and spent the next 5 years restoring it and making it into the Farm House
B&B. They hosted their first lodging guests in September of 1998.
The
establishment has grown substantially since 1998. In 2004, the Engelbrechts
planted one acre of grapes, 200 red raspberry bushes, 100 blueberry bushes,
and many fruit trees with the expectation we would one day have a winery for
the production of our own wines. In 2005, they planted 2 more acres of
grapes and more red raspberry bushes. During April 2006, 3 more acres of
grapes were planted as well as black raspberry bushes and currants. The
grapes are planted along the Plum Creek Bike and Nature Trail that goes
through the farm. From the ridge on the trail you can look down on Plum
Creek as it lazily winds through our pasture and you can see about 300 head
of Holstein cattle in their lots and pastures. The trail also goes between
the Engelbrecht’s vineyard and farm pond where guests can fish and picnic.
Visitors love to walk or bike the 4 mile trail that is connected to the Farm
House B&B.
The
Farm House Antique Shop is located in a remodeled farm shed across the
driveway from the B&B. In the Antique Shop you will find beautiful oak,
walnut, & pine furniture. They feature many primitive pieces including all
kinds of agricultural items. The Engelbrecht’s love the unusual – so you
will see many one of a kind pieces such as a wonderful 1860’s pine cupboard
right from an old log cabin, a four foot butter table with a roller to
remove the liquid during the butter-making process, and two wonderful
European walnut Hunter’s Cabinets with ornate animal, fish, and bird
carvings. They also sell Iowa wines, cheeses, truffles, and other gift items
in the shop. Shop hours are Wednesday
–
Saturday from 11:00 – 5:00. Other days and times we are open by
appointment. However, the Antique Shop is always open for B&B guests.
The
long term goal of the Engelbrecht family was to eventually create a winery.
They are almost there! They will start making wine this summer and fall.
They will start by making two white wines and one raspberry wine with
September of 2006 as the target date for selling them. Red wines will also
be made this year, but will need to be aged for at least one year.
Right
now there are plans to have a Grape Stomp in August 2006. Anyone wanting to
prune, plant, or pick grapes are welcome to help- just contact the Farm
House Bed and Breakfast at 563-237-5969 to make arrangements.
This working farm B&B is proud to give guests the opportunity
to assist with chores or just watch as family members and staff milk the
cows, feed the chickens, gather eggs, and much more.
Bed
and breakfast accommodations give guests a unique and personalized travel
experience with a touch of local flavor. The Farm House B&B is a charming,
privately owned bed and breakfast that is an affordable choice for pleasure
or family travel. To view the website please go to:
http://www.thefarmhousebb.com
About TotalWebDesigner.com
Amelia Painter, a Web site designer since 1995, founded TotalWebDesigner.com
in 2004 as a multi-faceted Web design and marketing operation. Current
clients include: Iowa Bed and Breakfast Innkeepers Association, Minnesota
Bed and Breakfast Association, Nebraska Bed and Breakfast Association, the
William Sauntry Mansion, and many other lodging facilities. For more
information or to view their portfolio, visit
http://www.TotalWebDesigner.com or call 712.260.5372.
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