Blog at Port Washington Inn – Milwaukee-Area B&B

The Port Washington Historical Society is making it ever easier for locals and tourists to interact with the history of Port Washington. Like a captivating book, Port Washington’s history is a ‘good read’ but especially inclines one to an on site investigation of the pre-civil war buildings including the 1860 Historic Lighthouse, now a museum that’s open weekends May-October.

A self-guided walking tour of prominent downtown historic buildings has been a favorite with guests of the Port Washington Inn, who are often attracted to the inn by its history.

In fact, the history of Port Washington Inn is connected to the German brewing tradition by George Blessing who built this home for his family when he moved to Port Washington from Chicago after purchasing the Port Brewing Company.

This past fall (2009) the Port Washington Wisconsin Historical Society featured all establishments that produced or served beers within Port Washington’s history. This event was attended by one of the Blessings’ grandsons who shared several stories of his Grandfather Blessing. This grandson has visited the Port Washington Inn several times and each time we are regaled with his memories of time he spent here with his grandparents and extended family.

As with any community, there were ‘movers and shakers’ who propelled Port Washington’s growth from a meager Lake Michigan harbor to a thriving center of trade and the county seat of Ozaukee County, Wisconsin.

The evidence is recorded in a ‘Homecoming’ Book published around 1908 in which are pictures and advertisements of significant businesses as well as prominent residences, the George Blessing home among them. A copy of this book was gifted to the inn by the Blessings’ grandson. The Port Washington Inn now has had several of the photos from the book professionally copied and framed; they are on display in the parlors.

Scaffolding, which has been visible around Port Washington Inn since November, is disappearing today, February 4th!

It’s time to celebrate the inn’s fresh new look, most especially on the exterior but evident as well on the interior where we’ve been painting and finessing. Far from feeling its age (107 and counting), the inn’s exterior now matches the tasteful interior. The careful attention to the trim details of the building have taken time and patience to replicate but not to do so would have been to lose the integrity of this historic Port Washington landmark.

George and Eva Blessing, who built this home in 1903 would, we believe, be pleased to see how it has been preserved and shared as a bed and breakfast inn. They came to Port Washington from Chicago when George purchased the Port Brewing Company. Their house on Sweetcake Hill was situated to take advantage of the views and the breezes of Lake Michigan just four blocks down the hill. What an idyllic setting they chose and what a wonderful home they built! We are proud and happy to share the Port Washington Inn bed and breakfast with our guests.

Whether you are a professional photographer or an amateur shutterbug, Port Washington Wisconsin offers opportunities galore. Follow this link http://www.ci.port-washington.wi.us/Photos/Gallery.htm to view pictures shared on the Port Washington Wisconsin website.

In our lifetime we’ve experienced summer Saturday nights when small Iowa communities gathered outside to watch a movie projected on a screen, drive-in movie theaters, small town theaters where a single movie might be featured for a week or more, big city theaters in NYC where it seemed not only the building but the patrons might qualify for the historic registry, the video stores where people flocked to rent their favorites to watch on their VCR’s and now……Netflix.

Movies are great (the best of them are) and our movie video collection at the Port Washington Inn has always been popular with our guests. But the collection is becoming a piece of history as it is completely on VCR format. Now, not only does each of our guestrooms have a VCR but it also has a DVD player! So bring your Netflix movie with you to watch uninterrupted.

“Love is in the “Frigid-aire” so grab your sweetie to celebrate Valentine’s Weekend during the 36th Annual Winter Festival; “Romancing the Snow” in Historic Cedarburg, Wisconsin, February 13 & 14. So, don’t be stupid, cupid…wend your way to romantic Cedarburg and be our funny valentine.”

For all the details visit: http://www.cedarburgfestivals.org/winterfestival.html

All events are open to the public and most are free.
Info: 262-377-9620 or 888-894-4001
Saturday 8am – 10 pm
Sunday 8 am-3 pm

Stay at the Port Washington Inn and add a Lake Michigan view to your Valentine’s weekend while saving 30-40% on your stay! Port Washington, only 9 miles from Cedarburg, offers a variety of locally owned restaurants plus a chocolate shop (The Chocolate Chisel) and a wine making shop (From Vines to Cellar), Bernie’s Meat Market, and stunning views of Lake Michigan!