The history of Alpenhof
Alpenhof Bed & Breakfast is a 300 year old converted bank barn that has been transformed by the Muller Family.
Alpenhof, originally known as the barn at Greendale, was built by the Miller family in the early to mid-1700’s. The property was originally a 500 acre plantation purchased part and parcel by Henry Miller in 1714. Miller was a weaver by trade – and established himself as an early manufacturer in the area, producing and selling woolen goods from his retail store on the banks of Ridley Creek.
With the addition of a gristmill and a sawmill - the enterprise was first known as Providence Mills, then subsiquently Bishop’s Mills, and finally, it was later renamed Sycamore Mills - becoming a business and social center in the early community. Many of the early buildings erected from these first settlers are still in existence today. A great deal of our colonial history and many ruins can be seen throughout the nearby 2600 acre Ridley Creek State Park – just minutes from Alpenhof. Adjacent to the park lies Tyler Arboretum – one of the largest and oldest arboreta in the Northeast.
The Miller family continued to hold the property until the early 1900’s. In 1904 F.H. Sheldon purchased a portion of land, which included the barn, and renamed it Sunnyside Farms. Then in 1963, the surrounding properties, including the barn, were purchased by the Arter’s Bros. – a construction company slated to develop the area of Upper Providence known as Rose Tree.
Originally, the barn was to be razed to make space for two new parcels in the “Tymberwyck” construction project; but Lee Arters, impressed with the barn and imagining its potential - converted it into a home in 1964-65. Lee agreed to sell the barn to Claire and Otto Muller to further finance his undertakings in the Tymberwyck Construction Project.
Since their arrival in the late 60’s, the Muller’s have lovingly spent the last 40 years making the barn into a home. Christened “Alpenhof” or “Alpine House” in 1987, Claire Muller and visiting horticulturist Josef Halda of Czechlosovakia conspired together to create a “small rock garden project”. Little isn’t a part of Claire’s vocabulary! Their resultant creation has been described as one of the most outrageous rock gardens on the East Coast.
Alpenhof, originally known as the barn at Greendale, was built by the Miller family in the early to mid-1700’s. The property was originally a 500 acre plantation purchased part and parcel by Henry Miller in 1714. Miller was a weaver by trade – and established himself as an early manufacturer in the area, producing and selling woolen goods from his retail store on the banks of Ridley Creek.
With the addition of a gristmill and a sawmill - the enterprise was first known as Providence Mills, then subsiquently Bishop’s Mills, and finally, it was later renamed Sycamore Mills - becoming a business and social center in the early community. Many of the early buildings erected from these first settlers are still in existence today. A great deal of our colonial history and many ruins can be seen throughout the nearby 2600 acre Ridley Creek State Park – just minutes from Alpenhof. Adjacent to the park lies Tyler Arboretum – one of the largest and oldest arboreta in the Northeast.
The Miller family continued to hold the property until the early 1900’s. In 1904 F.H. Sheldon purchased a portion of land, which included the barn, and renamed it Sunnyside Farms. Then in 1963, the surrounding properties, including the barn, were purchased by the Arter’s Bros. – a construction company slated to develop the area of Upper Providence known as Rose Tree.
Originally, the barn was to be razed to make space for two new parcels in the “Tymberwyck” construction project; but Lee Arters, impressed with the barn and imagining its potential - converted it into a home in 1964-65. Lee agreed to sell the barn to Claire and Otto Muller to further finance his undertakings in the Tymberwyck Construction Project.
Since their arrival in the late 60’s, the Muller’s have lovingly spent the last 40 years making the barn into a home. Christened “Alpenhof” or “Alpine House” in 1987, Claire Muller and visiting horticulturist Josef Halda of Czechlosovakia conspired together to create a “small rock garden project”. Little isn’t a part of Claire’s vocabulary! Their resultant creation has been described as one of the most outrageous rock gardens on the East Coast.
