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New life is being breathed into an old blue mansion in Somerset County.
“Remember Me” Rose Garden, a nonprofit organization that is in the process of creating rose gardens in New York, Washington, D.C., and Shanksville as a living tribute to those who died in the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001, recently entered into a lease-to-buy agreement with the owner of the property to acquire a four-story mansion situated on 33 acres along Route 30 in Shade Township.
Sue Casey of Portland, Ore., founder and president of “Remember Me” Rose Garden, said she had been eyeing the mansion for a few years, and when the opportunity presented itself, she and others in the organization decided to purchase the site. They received the keys to the home March 1.
“It’s less than a mile away from the garden, and it will be a great place for a regional office and community meeting place,” Casey said.
The plan also is to convert the newly named “Remember Me” Rose Garden Inn into a bed and breakfast that will help generate revenue to complete the Flight 93 Rose Garden and sustain it into the future.
As a way to increase interest in the project, a tour of the property will be held at 10 a.m. June 2, followed by a fundraiser luncheon at noon at Green Gables Restaurant near Jennerstown.
“Because we’re a nonprofit everything comes in by donation, so we hope when people walk through the house they’ll be inspired to give,” Casey said.
The house hasn’t been lived in for years and is in need of extensive renovations such as painting, removing old wallpaper, and updating the plumbing and electric. Appliances are needed.
The group is in the process of acquiring some furniture, but people can choose to sponsor a room by donating either money or furniture for a specific room.
“There has been a lot of interest shown in this house, and people have stories to share about the place and their hopes and dreams for it,” Casey said. “We’re stepping into that role now and making it happen because we believe this is going to work.”
The goal is to have the bed and breakfast up and running by July or August.
“We have some grants we are waiting to hear on, but we are hoping somebody will come in and offer to help paint the ceilings or bedrooms for us,” Casey said.
“The people of Somerset County are very generous and giving and want to help out, so we think they’ll step up.”
Casey said the idea for “Remember Me” Rose Garden came to her 10 years ago and she has been working ever since to make the three memorial gardens a fitting tribute to those who lost their lives.
“It was a leap of faith then and it’s a leap of faith with this house, but I know in my heart it will be a success,” she said.
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