Discovering Heritage: The Fascinating History of Our Historic Bed and Breakfast

Just three and a half miles from Interstate-81 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, near the state’s capital, Harrisburg, sits a lovely Federal-style home that has welcomed guests as a Bed and Breakfast for nearly 30 years.  Whether you are coming to Carlisle or Cumberland County to attend an event, visit family or friends, or just need a comfortable overnight stop, Pheasant Field Bed and Breakfast is your home away from home offering a glimpse of bygone eras.

The home and farm, begun in Colonial times, has grown with the area through the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, has seen runaway slaves passing through on the Underground Railroad, and experienced nearby fighting during the Civil War as soldiers worked their way towards Gettysburg, as well as all the other ups and downs our still-young nation has experienced.  It is a testament to the architects and builders and all of the previous owners and tenants that this magnificent collection of historic structures, so lovingly maintained, stand strong to be enjoyed and experienced in comfort in this modern day and age.

Origins

The land here at Pheasant Field Bed and Breakfast has a rich history dating back to the mid-1700s. Historical records show the property once belonged to Matthew Miller, an Irish immigrant who came to the area in 1730 and purchased a large tract of land from William Penn’s heirs.  Original tax records for Middleton Township dating back to 1758 reflect the name Matthew Miller, a wealthy farmer owning approximately 3,000 acres of land on the outskirts of Carlisle in what is now Middlesex Township.

Matthew’s oldest son, John, was given a plot of land of 346 acres around 1775 based on local tax records. He owned horses, cattle, sheep and two slaves that apparently cooked meals and cleaned.  The rest of the land passed to John upon Matthew’s death in 1790.

The graves of both Gen John Miller (d. Jan 10, 1812) and Matthew Miller, Sr. (d. Aug 28, 1790) are located on the property, a short distance behind the farm buildings.  There has been much research done into John’s title of General, whether having served in the Revolutionary War or a Pennsylvania militia.

The most useful information on General Miller is a USAWC Military Studies Program Paper titled, “The Search for General John Miller and The Revolutionary Officer,” A Group Study Project, by Lieutenant Colonel John M. Gravois and Lieutenant Colonel Rudy A. Stupar. John Miller was apparently an outstanding citizen, but no records of him possessing the title of General appear to exist.  His name is found on roles as a militia private, but the title of General is not mentioned in his will, his obituary or any tax records. 

It is speculated that he may have joined or organized an unofficial military club in which he held a leadership role where he was referred to as General.  The paper says, “His family, however, may have enjoyed the title since his grave and the Ege genealogy bear the title proudly.”

The Property Today

Pheasant Field Bed and Breakfast has retained 10 acres of the original land grant.  Two acres are across the road from the house and include waterfront along a lovely neighborhood pond.  Dotted with trees and greenery, and an island with a white bridge and wedding arbor, the home’s front porch is the perfect place to spend a relaxing evening enjoying the serene view.

The eight acres surrounding the historic farmhouse present a more farm-like setting of open pastures and original farm buildings.  The farming industry has always been an important part of Cumberland County. Throughout the past 250 years, the land originally owned by the Millers had been planted with corn, alfalfa, soybeans, sorghum, and wheat. Although some of the original farmland has been sold for non-farming purposes, much of it continues to be used for dairy and crop farming. The current property has also seen use as a dairy farm and a horse breeding facility. 

Sharing Our Home

The historic farmhouse was converted into and has been a continuously running Bed and Breakfast since 1994.  The original bed and breakfast owner reworked the floorplan to give all the guest rooms private baths and, in the early 2000s, added an addition to the northwest end of the historic summer kitchen to add more guest rooms. 

Horse boarding was offered in the barn stalls to locals, and travelers with horse trailers could stay and rent paddock or stall space for their horses overnight.  Decorative gardens and trellis arches were used for wedding ceremonies and tents were erected to host wedding receptions. 

The second owners of the bed and breakfast took over in 2013 and continued the existing business practices and lovingly maintained the grounds and buildings.  The current, and third owners took possession in the spring of 2023.  The full time horse boarding has been discontinued, but otherwise Pheasant Field Bed and Breakfast continues to provide comfortable rooms to overnight guests, serve delicious breakfasts, has spaces for pets and horses, and hosts lovely, elegant weddings.

The Buildings

The property contains structures that date back to the time of original settlements in the history of Middlesex Township in Cumberland County. On the property stands the original farmhouse, a summer kitchen (which is now part of our dining room), a stone barn and a corn crib.  We understand the historic stone barn and summer kitchen were built circa 1794.  The farmhouse is said to have been built around 1802.  

The Farmhouse

The farmhouse is a Federal-style building constructed of handmade bricks with a limestone foundation and metal roof. The top of the exterior window frames has a design almost identical to the design of John Miller’s father’s house, which dates back to circa 1785.  Original wood plank flooring is still visible in many rooms in the house.  And the original horsehair plaster still exists on many walls.

The former summer kitchen, built in the late 1700s, became part of the main house in 1978 by means of a sun room extending from the rear of the main house to the east end of the summer kitchen. The structure is wood frame and at one time had a metal roof.

Original exposed ceiling beams remain, along with a narrow circular stairway to the left of the hearth that led up to a loft that was probably used as sleeping quarters for slaves and farm hands. To the right front of the hearth, floorboards can be removed to expose a small hiding area under the floor rumored to have sheltered runaway slaves prior to the Civil War as part of the Underground Railroad.  This hole also gives a glimpse of the original structural foundation beams set on limestone.  

The Barn

The historic architectural style of our stone barn is of interest to historians as this type of barn was built in our area only in the late 1700s to the mid-1800s. The barn is a typical architecture style for barns in eastern and central Pennsylvania. It is believed that the original section of the barn was constructed prior to building the house. 

A guest of the bed and breakfast relayed to us that in Colonial times it was common for families to build a barn to use while farming in the warm season, and then return to Philadelphia for the winter for safety. The barn’s foundation and walls are constructed of limestone with vertical slits on the northeast and southwest ends. The vertical ventilation slits are wider on the inside than the outside of the wall to enable early settlers to have a wide angle for shooting.  This would have been important for defense in Colonial times, and may have proven useful during the Revolutionary War or Civil War. 

After a fire destroyed the post-and-beam frame portion of the barn in 1975, a concrete block foundation and frame walls were added on the northwest and southeast sides.

The Corn Crib

The corn crib also appears to be an original outbuilding. This style of corn crib had two sides for corn storage, and a covered pull-through space in between.  This allowed a wagon full of corn to be pulled in and its corn unloaded into either side crib.  It also provided a space to store the wagon.  It is a post-and-beam frame structure with a metal roof. Some of its cross beams and support posts are hand hewn, indicating they predate 1800. Wooden pegs, yokes and iron fixtures used to suspend animals for butchering are also evident.

The Area

The structures give us a glimpse back to the earliest days of Cumberland County, established in 1750 and settled by the Scots-Irish as far back as the 1730s.  The Borough of Carlisle was established soon after, in 1751, and named for its sister town in Cumberland, England.  The Cumberland Valley is still a highly productive agricultural region, as it was back then.  The countryside is dotted by local farm stores selling fresh milk and ice cream, locally raised meats, and fresh produce.  Originally an intersection of several Indigenous trails, Carlisle now sits at the intersection of Interstate 76 (the Pennsylvania Turnpike) and Interstate 81, two major trucking routes, creating an ideal location for distribution warehouses.

What brings people to Carlisle?  Famous for its car shows, Carlisle Events hosts a dozen auto related events each year, including the GM Nationals, the Ford Nationals, the Chrysler Nationals, the Truck Nationals, Corvettes at Carlisle, and the Import/Kit Car Nationals. 

The Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) draws students to Carlisle from across the country, and even across the world to participate in CPYB’s rigorous training.  Dickinson College, Penn State Dickinson School of Law and the United States Army War College are all located here, drawing in students, faculty and their family members who all help to support a vibrant arts and restaurant culture. 

And there is no lack of outdoor activities.  The local creeks and rivers teem with fly fishermen, kayakers and inner-tubes.  The Appalachian Trail and several nearby State Parks offer many scenic and wooded hiking opportunities.

Come Visit!

For more than 220 years, the land and buildings at Pheasant Field Bed and Breakfast have grown up and stood strong in the Cumberland Valley.  Central Pennsylvania has so much to offer: the Appalachian Trail, quaint country towns with great downtown shops and restaurants, Carlisle car shows, a wine lovers trail through wineries and vineyards, a chocolate lovers trail, apple and maple festivals, and historic college campuses. 

Next time you’re passing by, come take a walk through history with us, and enjoy a comfortable night and delicious breakfast, to boot!