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| Village Barn of Fleetwood |
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| The Patriot: Posted on Wed, Oct 22, 2008 Three-Mile House gets a facelift By Lisa Mitchell; Patriot Editor Work is evidently being conducted at the old Three-Mile House on Rte. 737, three miles outside Kutztown. New property owner John Burns, of Fleetwood, immediately began the building's facelift after purchasing the property on Oct. 15. "I kept driving by seeing that for sale sign. I said, 'I have to have it' and bought it five or seven days later," said Burns. Since then, Burns said at least 100 people have stopped to ask him what he's doing to the Three-Mile House in Greenwich Township. "It's one of the last things you see when you leave town and one of the first you see when you come back into town," said Burns. To dispel any rumors that may be circulating, such as demolition, Burns invited The Patriot for a tour. Walking around the exterior, Burns pointed out the German lap siding and stone work. On the roof are antique weather vanes. The property was deeded in 1850, but he believes the log building portion dates back to the 1830s. "It has a lot of history and it needs a lot of work," he said. Removing the aluminum siding revealed what Burns believes to be the indentation made by the original Three-Mile House sign. Also, shadows can be seen where shutters were once hung. Around the building, Burns removed old trees and overgrown shrubbery. Out front is the original well and hand pump. Inside, Burns has been just as busy, removing numerous layers of wallpaper and linoleum flooring dating back to the 1920s. Since 1850, the building has been a bar and restaurant, a dance club, and the Three-Mile House serving breakfast in the morning and music in the evening. More recently, it served as a construction office and storage. One visitor told him that one of the owners of the Three-Mile House lost the building in a poker game and had to live in a cottage across the street. A recent visitor to the property gave Burns some historical records. According to records, Pete Shlenker owned the building and then Bill Kurtz. From 1949 through 1959 the Heisers owned it. Then, from 1978 to 1999, it was owned by the Oldts. Howard and Darlene Kressly owned the property until Burns purchased it on Oct. 15. Much work is yet to be done to achieve his completion goal of spring. Burns hopes to create a general store and an antique shop on the entire first floor, as well as offer beverages. He hopes to rent one wing for a sandwich shop. What will be its name? Burns plans not to name the general store and antiques shop the Three-Mile House. "Those days are gone. It's time to move on forward," he said. However, he does not know yet what he will call it. This is not the first historical property renovated by Burns. Previous properties include the Kutztown Shoe Factory, Kutztown Power Plant, the Village Barn of Fleetwood, which was a speakeasy; the Old Seaman Chevrolet Dealership in Fleetwood, and more recently the Top Motel in Krumsville. Previously, Burns was an auto mechanic and later owned Kutztown Furniture. He has been rehabbing since 2001.An antiques auction will be held on Nov. 8 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the old Three-Mile House. |