The White Tree Inn is a lived-in boarding house with two shared bathrooms and multiple private bedrooms. It is a 125 year old house that has its own unique charm. Honestly, if you want a hotel style stay, this is NOT it. But, we enjoy sharing our home with others and try to thoughtfully make your stay as safe, comfortable and restful as possible! We would also love to share details about Buena Vista, its history, where to eat, what to do, or on the other hand, leave you alone. Our home was built in 1896. We have been asked if it was built as a nunnery because it was immediately in front of the Catholic Church which was located on the next lot on 21st Street but removed to Lexington in 1911. In the 1920's-40's the house functioned as a boarding house run by Jenny Brown and her daughters. J.W. Brown, her husband, was a railroad conductor until he lost an arm in a railroad accident. In time, the boarding house became their mainstay with the daughters selling bag lunches at the railroad depot two block away. Significant town figures, like the high school baseball coach Louis V. "Nubby" Schreiner, Doctor Eason, railroad workers, clerks, stenographers, etc. boarded in the abundant bedrooms. Our hometown historian, Francis Lynn, said that important individuals in town, such as Russel Robey who lived two doors down, "took their meals" at Jenny Brown's boarding house. Lynn knows that Jenny only purchased the finest fresh meats because he delivered them to her back door as a teenage worker at the downtown butcher shop. Lynn, who grew up across the street and a few houses down, also remembers that the residents enjoyed music and visiting in the evening after their dinner meal. We hope to learn more about this home we love and the people who walked its halls. We also hope that everyone who visits the White Tree Inn leaves inspired to learn more about the everyday historic aspects of their homes, towns and families! Each one of our listings is for a private room in this 7-bedroom house. The rest of the house (the bathrooms, utility room, living room/dining room, kitchen, and front porch) is shared space. You are welcome to use Jenny’s kitchen. Please, ask us any specific questions you might have. You are welcome to use the laundry facilities with laundry soap provided, as well. We are in and out of the house all day but will try to accommodate your needs. As I said, we love people but can leave you alone if that is what you need/want. Our home is situated across the street from the post office, across the street and one building down from the library, two blocks from the municipal building, around the corner from the best Italian restaurant in the area, and across the street from the downtown park. Perfect, right? Five blocks away, up "Sem" hill, stands Southern Virginia University, far enough away that we do not live with the students but close enough to hear them singing on quiet Sunday evenings. Three blocks toward the river is a nice 2+ mile gravel path on the flood wall. If you walk/bike to the end, you might catch a glimpse of the river otters, ... if you are lucky. The local transit bus, Maury River Express, stops one block from the White Tree Inn, at the Modine Public Library on Magnolia Avenue, at regular intervals. On it, you can travel easily around town, to Glen Maury Park, the Rockbridge Center of Dabney S. Lancaster Community college and into Lexington with stops at the Goodwill and Wal-Mart. A schedule can be found in the hutch in the front hall. Our daughter, Johanna, will be your hostess. At various times, we may have long-term boarding house residents, usually Southern Virginia University students.