Historic Springfield Ohio Home Finally Becomes Bed & Breakfast

Emma’s Bed and Breakfast is the amalgamation of years of history, years of dreaming, and some very fortunate timing.

Historically, Emma’s is known as "the Cartmell house." J.M. Cartmell built the old beauty as a family home back in 1833. He was a county assessor and a farmer, and while the outbuildings that housed goats, cows, and other livestock no longer stand, it is easy to see the history in what does remain: the house. Originally built in brick, the additions to the main home are clear: a new kitchen, an enclosed porch, and more living space. The parts that remain unchanged are what give the house its character, though. The first impression the house gives is through the stately columns on the front porch, giving the house its classic look. Just the thought of a large plantation brings to mind the kind of columns that uphold the Cartmell House’s history. Perhaps the most exciting bit of history, though, would be what is commonly called the "widow’s walk," a small, fenced-in area on the roof. This area lends to images of the house’s original inhabitants running up to the roof to watch the road for incoming visitors. Having been built right on a national road, Route 40, the Cartmell family would have seen an abundance of travelers heading out west in their stagecoaches, and perhaps the Cartmell children would have been the first to run to greet the new visitors.

Some years went by, and the old Cartmell house opened shop as the Weider Tea Room. A community staple, this tea room saw an influx of visitors throughout the warmer months, and then closed down for the winter. One of the children who grew up in the house during its tea room days described the fun of the tea season. During the winter, the house was just a home for the family. But when the days warmed up and grew longer, all of the furniture was moved upstairs, crowded into the family’s new living space. Tables and chairs were set out, and the entire first floor of the house became a hub of activity for gatherings and parties, friends and lovers, all out to enjoy some tea and treats. When fall came, the shop closed up, and the house turned into "just a home" once more.

Years passed again, and the house found itself up for sale. Its new owner was the Cox family: a couple who wanted to open and run a bed and breakfast. They worked hard for their dream, enclosing the porch to add a living room and adding a huge deck in the back of the house to overlook the woods behind it. They painted and wallpapered with the same wallpaper that is found in the White House. They scoured antique markets, looking for the perfect pieces to adorn the rooms for beloved guests… And then tragedy struck. Mr. Cox passed away, leaving Mrs. Cox in the big old house full of dreams, alone.

Anyone who has owned a big, old house like the one on State Route 40 knows that keeping such a place up is no easy feat. A couple full of passion can work together to maintain an estate, but one woman on her own quickly found herself in over her head. Between her own grief and the tenacious growth of the gardens, the house grew to be too much of a burden, and Mrs. Cox found herself once again putting the house on the market, never having realized her dream of opening the place as a bed and breakfast.

Meanwhile, just a short 15 minutes away, a man named Ronald Brown was finding himself at a crossroads in his life. Having run a bed and breakfast in London, Ohio for 14 years, it was time to move on. Ron was simply driving down the road one day when a "for sale" sign on the side of the road caught his eye. He had seen the building before. It was such a big beauty, who wouldn’t have noticed it? He decided to stop.

When Ron and Mrs. Cox met, it seemed like a force larger than themselves had brought their situations together to forge a new path. Mrs. Cox was saying goodbye to the big old house she longed to see as a bed and breakfast, and Ron was looking to start a new venture with the years of running a bed and breakfast backing him. There was even an office building on the premises, perfect for Ron’s accounting firm, which he hoped to grow. A deal was struck.

Ron and his employees threw themselves into their new project, getting the new Emma’s Bed and Breakfast ready for its debut. They scrubbed the whole house to make it shine, ensured that each of the five bedrooms had a private bathroom for their guests, and filled each room with the amenities that would make sure everyone’s stay was as close to perfect as possible. The first guests rolled in through the first few weeks of August 2015, and the guest base has been growing ever since. The guests become part of the tradition of history and comfort when they stay at Emma’s. They are thought of more as extended family than anything, as they come back year after year. Guests of Ron’s bed and breakfast in London have started staying at Emma’s, loving the grand rooms and unique history of the house. Everyone leaves happy and looking forward to future stays.

Ron’s work is never over, though. The old house that began as the Cartmell house is still looking forward to years of improvement, as the land that was once roamed by farm animals becomes scenic paths through the woods. Soon there will be a pond full of fish for guests to enjoy. One day, there may well be cabins interspersed throughout the 9-acre property, providing private escapes for travelers.

The residents of the big old house on Route 40 may not climb up to the widow’s walk to watch for stagecoaches anymore, but they will never stop looking down the road for their newest visitors and friends.

Emma’s Bed & Breakfast is located east of Springfield on the Historic National Road at 4200 E National Rd. Telephone number is 937-505-3602. You can view all the gorgeous rooms and amenities on www.emmasbb.com