Your Hosts
Joe and Kathy Kollar, and our twin sons (age 4-1/2).
Kathy is originally from the Ashland area, growing up about 30 minutes away on a farm near West Salem, Ohio. She lived in Ashland for about three years before moving to Maryland. While home to visit her parents for Christmas she met Joe who was then attending the University of Akron. By Memorial Day Joe had moved to Maryland and we were married on Labor Day weekend. Joe eventually graduated from Gallaudet University in Washington, D.C. and Kathy graduated from the University of Maryland University College. Joe served in the Army National Guard until 2006 when we made the big decision to move to a place that was more family friendly.
Ashland Ohio's motto is "Ashland Ohio, Somplace Special." Sometimes the locals seem to scoff at the idea that they could be living in somplace special, but that's just humility. Having moved to a small town after living in an urban environment, we can assure you that Ashland Ohio is indeed someplace special, where people are friendly, traffic is light, and the neighborhoods safe.
The House
Our home is a spacious Colonial Revival American Foursquare. This truly American house style developed in part as a reaction to the excesses of the Victorian era, and featured plain, efficiently laid out floor plans. Our Foursquare was built around 1910 and featured closets and large windows in a relatively compact cube. While most Foursquare homes have a large porch covering the entire front of the house, ours was substantially renovated in 1951 to become a "Colonial Revivial" style Foursquare house. Instead of a large covered porch we have a smaller porch, almost a stoop, with wrought iron railings. The color scheme is white with black shutters, with other "colonial" touches inside.
Since buying the house in 2006 we have installed a new siding, roof, and gutters, blown-in insulation, and put in all new windows. The garage has also gotten new roof, siding, and gutters. Inside the house we've added central air conditioning, refinished the hardwood floors, painted all the walls and trim, and updated electrical wiring. In addition, we have reconfigured a hallway, updated the patio, and completely renovated the bathroom for the first floor Music Department guest room. The third floor has also been completely renovated to create the Art Department guest room. On the second floor one bathroom became two, giving the English Department guest room a spacious whirlpool tub, and by adding a door in the hallway the History Department has gained a private bathroom with a shower.
Early morning, 7/6/08.
We're Green!
We care about the environment, and have taken steps to operate in a eco friendly manner. Some of our efforts include:
- Composting
- Recycling glass, plastic, paper, cardboard, and metal
- Use of compact flourescent light bulbs as possible
- Installation of a high-efficiency furnace and heat pump
- Installation of a high-efficiency/less water washer and dryer
- Using soap dispensers instead of individual plastic bottles
- Using distilled water dispensers instead of individual plastic bottles
- Promoting the reuse of towels
Contact Us
All of our rooms are now open! The Music Department opened July 19, 2007. The Art Department opened October 23, 2007. The English Department opened June 10, 2008, and The History Department opened June 21, 2008.
Please call or e-mail for additional information, or make a reservation request.
Gift Certificates
We also have gift certificates availble for purchase, either by phone or online through a secure checkout.