The Sheppard Mansion, a downtown Hanover bed and breakfast, and the Carriage House Market, is closing this month.
The well-known bed and breakfast is a hallmark of the downtown Hanover community, situated just a block off of the Hanover square on Frederick Street.
The bed and breakfast is known for its opulent rooms and stately presence locally.
“It is with great sadness that we announce the closing of the Sheppard Mansion effective December 17, 2016,” noted owners Kathryn Hoar and Heather Lunn in a Facebook post.
Hoar confirmed the closing this morning, but declined further comment.
The bed and breakfast opened almost 20 years ago. The building itself is more than 100 years old. It was built in 1913 and restored in 1999, the B&B website said.
“Small businesses are passion projects and unfortunately, for whatever reason, they sometimes can’t make that go on forever,” said longtime Hanover resident Brian Shea, who also is a Hanover Council member.
“I know Kathy and Heather and they are involved in many other things in the community,” Shea said. “(The mansion) is still going to stand there, the family is still going to be active in the community.”
Shea had never stayed at the mansion, but was a regular customer of the Carriage House, which opened in 2010.
“We really loved to go there. I’m going to miss that,” Shea said. “I now need to find a new cheese hookup.”
Sheppard Mansion Facebook note, posted Sunday morning:
Here is the Facebook post:
Dear Customers and Friends,
It is with great sadness that we announce the closing of the Sheppard Mansion effective December 17, 2016.
Who knew when we opened in 1998 as a Bed and Breakfast, we would then launch 2 more businesses on the property–the restaurant in 2005 and the Carriage House Market in 2010. We have been blessed over these 18 years to entertain people from all over the world and to be the backdrop for so many wonderful events — proposals and weddings, baby showers and christenings, first dates and quiet getaways, fundraisers and festivities.
We are not selling our Great-Grandparents home, rather simply choosing to close the space as a public venue for business reasons. Who knows what the future holds for this house, but it will always be a part of Hanover’s Downtown, as it has been since 1913. We feel truly honored to have been in business for these 18 years. We wish you a very Merry Christmas and a Peaceful 2017.
Sincerely, Kathryn Hoar & Heather Lunn
