The Fisk House in Bovina - A Great Place to Stay!

When people visit our area they frequently ask me where they can go to spend one or more nights in a relaxing and comfortable place to stay. When asked, I usually recommend The Fisk House, a cozy, inviting and intimate Bed & Breakfast owned and operated by Lee and Roxie Liddle located on Fisk Road (off Rt. 28) in Bovina.

While The Fisk House has only been open since Memorial Day weekend 2006, it has since firmly established itself as a lodging destination of choice amongst travelers. It is certainly one of the most talked-about BnBs in the area. As a matter of fact, it was awarded the New Business of the Year Award for 2006 by the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce. Anyone who stays at The Fisk House becomes acquainted with Lee and Roxie. The care they provide to their guests and warm laid-back manner make it easy for guests to relax, unwind and feel right at home.


The background and history of The Fisk House is rather interesting. Back in 2005, Lee and Roxie were looking around the area for a renovation project, something that needed a major do-over with the goal of placing it back on the market to sell once complete. In their search for such an investment property, they came across the home now known as The Fisk House. It was a seriously run-down home, the victim of substantial neglect and damage. It suffered from a fire just six years before which totally destroyed the living room and staircase. In addition to this, part of the foundation needed repair along with new electric service, furnace and well. The house was in very sad shape indeed and on the auction block when Lee and Roxie stepped in to secure the winning bid.

But this isn’t how the history of the home started. Actually, you have to go back to 1869 when the original structure on the property, a hotel, burned down. The current home was built by Earl and Amy Fisk in 1903 on the same foundation as the former hotel. Earl Fisk sold Rawleigh Products (antiseptic salves, medicated ointments, spices and extracts), which still exist today, to local farms and farm families. Earl and Amy had children and one of their daughters, named Laura, lived in the home not long before it was sold at auction. John Raitt, an author wrote about The Fisk House in his book titled ‘Root in the Road’ and referred to it as the “Hotel at the Hook”. It was given this name because the layout of what is now known as Fisk Road, prior to the construction of Rt. 28 had a turn in it that took the shape of a hook. Unfortunately, this portion of the road which was located near a beautiful stone-work Episcopalian church, which still stands and further enhances the charm and appeal of the entire area, is now gone.


Sometime around 1938-39, a stone bridge was constructed over the Little Delaware River where Rt. 28 lies today. Because of this improvement, the Fisks decided to change the back of their home to give it a more formal appearance by adding a rear porch with support columns, stairway, and large bay doors. These improvements were made sometime between 1938 to 1942.

As the years went by, the home gradually fell into disrepair and neglect. It was truly a sight for sore eyes. Then came Lee and Roxie. With Lee’s construction experience (he is the owner of Second Nature Construction specializing in custom homes and baths, commercial and residential painting, stone and masonry work, and historical restorations) and both Lee and Roxie’s vision for the home’s potential, they are the reason the home was given a second life. Ten hours per day, seven days each week for six months they tirelessly toiled to transform and lovingly restore the home to its original splendor and youth. Every molding, window, piece of trim was either restored or replaced with a historically correct equivalent. All the work Lee and Roxie did turned out to be a labor of love and a house rescue. While they worked on the home, Lee and Roxie fell in love with it and decided that they could never part with it. The home has now become a part of who they are and they greatly enjoy sharing it with their guests.

It’s interesting how what started as a hotel in the 1800s that later burned down and then after became a home has now come to be a Bed & Breakfast, once again caring for the needs of weary travelers. The Fisk House has been restored to its original elegance and ambience along with the added modern conveniences and functionality necessary to provide comfort to its guests. The home has wireless internet, cable T.V. in each room, insulated dividing walls between the rooms to ensure privacy, and air conditioning.


The interior of the home looks much the same as it originally did - except that it now has a total of 3 ½ baths instead of only one. The French doors in the living and dining rooms, while not the originals, are nevertheless from the same period that the home was built and have the original hardware (knobs, hinges, brackets). This is typical of the interior architecture. Roxie told me she fell in love at first sight with the staircase, railing (made of cherry) and landing between the first and second floors. There are five very tastefully decorated and charming bedrooms in the Bed and Breakfast - the Lavender Room, Rose Room, Peach Room, Cottage Room and the King Room. The Fisk House also has a comfortable living room, formal dining room, and modern spacious kitchen with center-island and eating area.

Outside there is a lovely field-stone porch overlooking the backyard along with an in-ground swimming pool for their guests. Lee and Roxie also rehabilitated a barn across the road from The Fisk House that serves as a multi-dealer antique store and art center featuring high quality antiques and collectibles.

The Fisk House is inseparable from its loving rescuers and restorers – Lee & Roxie Liddle. Together, the home and its owners make for a wonderful, charming, and friendly lodging experience for visitors to our area of the Catskills. Abundant outdoor recreational activities such as hiking, canoeing, fishing, skiing, and shopping are all in close proximity to the BnB. Or, if travelers simply want to rest, relax and restore their souls, there is no finer place around than The Fisk House.

You can find out more about The Fisk House online at http://www.fiskhouse.com/. You can also read about the Fisk Barn Antique & Art Center at http://www.fiskbarnantiques.com/.

George Stewart - An Icon in Delhi

When people ask me about the some of the most interesting people and places around Delhi, I invariably think of George Stewart. George is a local icon. If you haven’t met him or visited his store, Stewart’s Department Store located at 85-87 Main Street in Delhi, you’ve been denied a real pleasure. George is now 88 years young and has been working at the store since he was a boy.

“Stewart’s”, as it is simply called, started as a department store under a different name circa 1883, the same year the building it is located in was built. When you enter through the front door, you are stepping back in time. There is a certain quality and comfort to that. Not much has changed regarding the store in terms of its appearance or the way business is done since the earlier part of the 20th century – except that Stewarts now accepts debit and credit cards. Stewart’s, by the way, sells men’s and women’s clothing, baby clothing, bulk cloth, suit jackets, ties, buttons, ribbon, hats, Woolrich sweaters, wallets, belts, underwear, socks, boy scout supplies, etc.

Here’s some of the history- While it was founded by Aaron Stern, Chauncey Stewart (George’s father), purchased the business in 1926 and subsequently purchased the building in 1928, just before the great depression. George remembers that times were rough during these early years; however, his father did his best to pay the bills and keep the business going. George said he believes the stress of those years probably shortened his father’s life, though his dad remained active in the business just a few months before he died in 1970. With the assistance of two farmers turned investors, Chauncey was able to keep the doors of the business open and survived the depression.

According to George, his father Chauncey was excellent as a storeowner and manager– good with his customers and a genius at calculating figures. He sold goods that were, for the most part, similar to those that the store still offers today, except in the early days, the store also sold rugs, linoleum, and dress patterns, which it no longer carries. Through the years, a lot has changed in the world, however, not much has changed at Stewarts except the names and faces of customers, cloth sizes, and prices. For instance, bib overalls once sold for $3.95 at Stewart’s. Hard to believe, isn’t it?

After WWII, George returned to Delhi and worked in the store. There were plans for George to have a store in Margaretville; however, they never materialized. George officially took over the store in 1966. George was faithful and dutiful by following in his father’s footsteps and conducted business as his father had done for many years before him. To George, his guiding principle through the years has been the ‘golden rule’ – do to others, as you would have them have them do to you.

As the years went by George has had to deal with recessions and competitors. Life was never easy and there was always plenty of competition for Chauncey and George in Delhi. In the earlier years there were five other stores very similar to Stewarts right in the village of Delhi. Years later, there was Ames Department Store and more recently Walmart just 20 miles away in Oneonta. When asked how he dealt with the competition, he said that these larger department stores actually helped his business, as opposed to hindered it. His product availability, knowledge and personal touch tended to win out over cheaper prices and lack of good retail customer service in the long run.


While a lot people have patronized Stewart’s over the years, there was perhaps no one more famous than Allen Ginsberg. George told me that Ginsberg came into his store when he was up in our area on a visit back in 1994. Ginsberg told George that he couldn’t find tan khaki pants in a 28” long size anywhere – not even in New York City. Well, guess what, George just happened to have them in stock. Ginsberg became a good customer of Stewart’s immediately.

I’m happy that though the world has changed so much during my forty some-odd years, some things like Stewart’s have remained relatively unchanged. While I’m not afraid of the future, I love and take comfort in some of the quality things from the past. Stewart’s is one of those quality things. Thank you, George, for who you are and what your store means to all of us who love and appreciate you.