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[Pages S764-S765]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
CENTENNIAL OF BEAUMONT INN
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, in Kentucky's oldest town sits a
beautiful and historic building on the top of a hill. Beaumont Inn,
with its name taken from the French for ``beautiful mount,'' is my
State's oldest Southern country inn. The Harrodsburg establishment is a
beacon of hospitality with a distinguished history, and I would like to
take a moment to mark the centennial anniversary of this treasured
Kentucky landmark.
When the main building of today's Beaumont Inn was constructed around
1845, no one could have perceived the incredible future in store, but
then again, the location had already had a notable history. An original
wooden structure on the site was believed to be the childhood home of
John Marshall Harlan, future Kentucky attorney general and Associate
Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
For many years afterward, the site served as a series of schools for
women, including the Greenville Institute, the Daughters College, and
finally as Beaumont College until 1916. The next year, the grounds were
purchased by an alumna of the Daughters College, Annie Bell Goddard,
and her husband Glave. In 1919, the Goddards opened the new 31-room
Beaumont Inn, and the same family has proudly operated this wonderful
Kentucky establishment ever since.
Throughout the next century, Glave and Annie Bell's descendants have
welcomed countless guests to the inn, preserving this historic
building, its picturesque scenery, and the tradition of
[[Page S765]]
Southern hospitality. Beaumont Inn grew, both in physical size and in
prestige, even earning inclusion onto the National Register of Historic
Places. Some of the new buildings include the Greystone House, Bell
Cottage, and Goddard Hall, which honors Beaumont's founder. Not only is
the inn a charming destination, but it is also a museum filled with
interesting artifacts of Kentucky and American history. Today, the inn
is operated by the fourth and fifth generation of the Goddard family,
Chuck and Helen Dedman and their son, Dixon.
It is beyond question that quality cuisine is a vital aspect of all
Southern hospitality. As a pinnacle of a traditional Bluegrass
experience, Beaumont Inn sets a high bar. Visitors are drawn to its
main dining room by the famous ``yellow-legged'' fried chicken and 2-
year-old Kentucky-cured country ham. The inn's cornmeal batter cakes
are a breakfast favorite. In recognition of its culinary excellence,
Beaumont Inn has earned some of the highest accolades in this field,
including the America's Class Award from the James Beard Foundation.
Visitors can also enjoy a Kentucky bourbon at the Owl's Nest lounge or
at the Old Owl Tavern, named one of the best bourbon bars in America.
As Kentucky leads the Nation in a bourbon revival, the inn has also
become an official stop of the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. These amenities
reaffirm the strong bonds between this historic institution and one of
the Commonwealth's signature industries. In fact, the New York Times
published an article about the storied history of Kentucky Owl Bourbon,
recently revived by the Dedman family.
I look forward to my next visit to Beaumont Inn, and I would like to
thank the Dedman family for their tireless efforts to preserve this
Kentucky treasure. Their stewardship of this historic site and long-
term vision helps connect our Commonwealth's past to its bright future.
As Beaumont Inn celebrates 100 years of excellence, I would like to
extend my best wishes to the Dedmans, the staff, and all who enjoy this
beloved institution.
____________________
