Shining Dawn Bed and Breakfast Retreat Center

A casually elegant stay awaits you in this magnificent, spacious brick and brownstone Queen Anne Bed and Breakfast located near the center of historic Hanover, Pennsylvania.  Built in 1902, the home features numerous stained glass windows, inlaid oak floors and paneling, ceilings with beams, carved limestone and marble mantles, and a bright, airy ambiance.

History abounds here.  Shining Dawn is located on a road upon which Union and Confederate Cavalries clashed during the Battle of Hanover.  Many historians believe that the Battle of Hanover had a positive influence on Union forces during the Battle of Gettysburg.  The Gettysburg National Military Park is only 15 miles to our west.  The first capital of the United States of America, York is only 20 miles to our east.

Although surrounded by pastoral Amish farms and charming scenery, Hanover is convenient to both the Washington beltway (1 1/2 hours) and the Baltimore beltway (1 hour). This makes our facility ideal for a weekend retreat from city living.  In addition to welcoming individual guests, we are well suited to provide accommodations for small corporate and group retreats.   We offer six comfortable guest rooms several of which can be combined into two or three room suites for small groups or large families.  Our spacious sunroom, living room, and dining room, which are interconnected by the grand foyer, provide ample floor space and flexibility for meetings, small group dining and activities. Wireless highspeed internet is available throughout the facility while the meditation room, and contemplation garden serve to help our guests relax in a tranquil atmosphere of peace and beauty. We look forward to welcoming you as our guests!  

Our spacious house and garden welcomes individuals, couples, families, and groups of all kinds.  

For individuals, couples and families looking for quality time together, Shining Dawn can provide quiet and cozy space to enjoy one another, or to enjoy the conversation and company of other guests. For corporate or retreat groups, we have ideal meeting spaces and special rates.  

Get the day off to a great start with a delicious, full breakfast. Our guests' day begins with a full breakfast served in either our Dining Room, or our Sun Room, at a table for two, or at a table with four or more. We serve a large glass of fruit juice, medium or dark roast gourmet coffees and a wide selection of black, green, herbal, caffinated or decaffinated teas. Our breakfasts always begin with a fruit dish such as carmel baked apples, peaches and cream, chocolate covered strawberries, poached pears with cream sauce, broiled grapefruit or breakfast parfait with fresh seasonal berries. For the main course some of our guests' favorite entrees are German Apple Pancakes, Fresh Blueberry Buttermilk Pancakes, Green Chili Quiche and Quiche Florentine. Entrees are generally accompanied with one or more side dishes such as scrambled eggs, Swiss scrambled eggs, breakfast potatoes, buttermilk biscuits, muffins, scones, avacado halves with cherry tomatoes, and delicious, low-fat soy breakfast sausages. Helen is a vegetarian and the soy sausages are very, very tasty.  However, if you are a "meat-a-tarian" let Bruce know well ahead of time so he can prepare some savory breakfast meat side dish for you to enjoy with your entree.  Whatever you do, don't let Helen know!

Sit and Relax before or after Breakfast before you head out to enjoy some of our many Attractions. Breathe in the serenity of our contemplation garden. Take a stroll down tree-lined Broadway to Hanover's historic Square.

After a full day of activities complimentary hot tea, cocoa, cold sodas and Hanover snacks are available at your convenience in our Sunroom. Meditate, read or just simply enjoy the space and share the peace in our Meditation Room.

Enjoy life, good times and good people surrounded by beautiful craftsmanship and attention to detail in our Living Room. Browse our library/book and gift store. Surf on our wireless broadband internet, check your e-mails on our guest computer
 

Enjoy a complimentary DVD movie rental in the privacy of your room or on our big screen guest television before turning in for another wonderful night of rest and relaxation.

From detailed arial photographs of Hanover, two of the most prominent features of our property are the turrets just off Broadway.  For that reason we've been told that the house is sometimes referred to, with good humor, as the "Madonna House."  Although she is most certainly not a painted lady, we think she is a stately Queen with a lovely glow, warm character and striking features.

In 1902 Tempeth Jacob Little presented this brand new house to his wife Georgia Anna Barbara (Bittinger) Little, and their three Little Princesses, Helen, Grace and Mary.  The Little Castle was built from top to bottom with high quality brick, stone, brass railings, hardwood floors, and doors, extensive wainscoting, plaster walls, ceilings, and molding.  In addition to the original stained glass windows, it featured a limestone fireplace with stone inlay in the grand foyer, a marble fireplace in the living room and several luxurious bathrooms made with marble and built-in porcelain fixtures.  Mr. Little had a business just two blocks down the street on Hanover Square; it was a clothing/department store with his partner, Napoleon Bonaparte Carver.  Around 1898, Tempeth sold his interests in the business to Carver, and started to finalize plans for his family's new house at 224 Broadway.  The Littles made this house their home for about 22 years.

In 1924, another Hanover Square merchant, Augustus H. Melhorn and his wife Anna, bought the home from the Littles.  Mr. Melhorn owned a store that sold liquor, drugs, groceries, and various general items to the public until he closed it in 1918.  The Melhorns made some significant, enduring enhancements to the property.  They added a sunroom that features stained glass windows on all three exterior walls, a porch, and a custom built-in wall fountain.  They also added a large detached two-story brick "horseless" carriage house complete with an automobile wash station, a unique walk-through door within the overhead door, and a wood stove.  Although it no longer has car wash capabilities, the carriage house can provide covered, off-street parking for our guests.

After making these significant improvements to the property, the Melhorns only lived in the house for about four years.  Around 1928, the home was sold to Albert F. Rees.  Mr. Rees owned a plant for processing hides and tallow on Center Street.  The home remained in the Rees family for about 27 years.

Around 1955, the home was sold to Dr. Burnell Grim and his wife Loretta.  Dr. Grim was a prominent veterinarian in Hanover, and owned the Hanover Veterinary Hospital a block down the street.  With 12 children and both sets of grandparents living with them, the Grims used every square foot of space in the house.  The Grims and many of their children still reside in the Hanover area, and it is such a pleasure to meet them and hear their wonderful stories of growing up in the house.  For example, we have learned that due to all of the foot traffic through the yard, the good doctor had to give up on much of his lawn and decided to turn the entire back yard into one large green concrete playground for his children, and their many neighborhood friends.  We often meet Hanover natives who still refer to the house as the "Grim House" and they recall having played here as children or accompanying "Doc Grim" on his farm house calls to treat area livestock.  Everyone has such good memories to share of the 20 years this large, remarkable family lived here.

Since the time of the Grim family, five other families have made 224 Broadway their home, each adding their own unique styles and renovations.

In February 2005, we purchased the property.  We feel very fortunate to be the new stewards of 224 Broadway, and to have the opportunity to transform this beautiful, historic property into the Shining Dawn Bed & Breakfast Retreat.  In our renovations and remodeling, we have strived to preserve the architectural integrity as well as the warm "home and hearth" feel that has endured for generations here by employing quality materials, attention to detail, TLC, and a lot of help from highly skilled local professionals and craftsmen.

We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you as our guests!

Our gracious house and serene garden welcome individuals, couples, families, and groups. For couples and families looking for quality time together, Shining Dawn can provide quiet and cozy space to enjoy one another, or to enjoy the conversation and company of other guests. For corporate or retreat groups, we have ideal meeting spaces and special rates.

Our spacious Sun Room, Living Room, and Dining Room are interconnected by a Grand Foyer. This layout provides our guests with considerable flexibility.

Our elegant Living Room, measuring 20' X 37', comfortably seats at least 16. All of the furniture can be removed to create a large open space for group movement activities, such as yoga. (See photo in Slide Show)

Our Meditation Room is an exquisite, hexagonal room with stained glass windows, oak beamed ceiling and wainscot. It has outstanding 'energy acoustics' for contemplative discussion and meditation.

Ideal for group dining or work sessions, our beautiful Dining Room measures 14' X 22', and provides comfortable seating for 14 at three round tables.

Enjoy complimentary tea, cocoa, and famous Hanover snacks in our lovely Sun Room. With a whimsical antique wall fountain and stained glass windows on three sides, this room is truly a delight on even the darkest winter day. Three round glass-top tables provide an ideal space for group work sessions or creative projects.

Our Contemplation Garden is an inviting outdoor space for group meetings, movement activities, walking meditation, or just relaxing under our 100 year old English Walnut Tree.

Wireless internet is available throughout the facilities. A guest desktop computer is also available for checking e-mail or surfing the internet. Group facility rates with 1, 2, or 3-meal plans are available. Please call us for more details and to book your group's next event.

Touring Hanover, Gettysburg, York, or Lancaster County makes a wonderful weekend vacation. If you make Shining Dawn Bed and Breakfast your 'home base' for a longer stay, you can experience an amazing diversity of attractions and events from quaint villages, like Mt. Gretna, to dynamic cities, like Washington DC.

There are hundreds of attractions in Hanover, nearby, or within range for an easy day trip from Shining Dawn Bed and Breakfast. Below are just a select few of our favorites. Visit our website for links to all of these attractions and more.

Hanover Pennsylvania

• Battle of Hanover Self-Guided Tour
• Codorus State Park & Lake Marburg
• Eichelberger Performing Arts Center
• Hanover Shoe Farms
• The Marburg Estate Winery
• Snyder's of Hanover Factory Tour
• Utz Potato Chip Factory Tour

Gettysburg (14.6 miles; 29 minutes) -- Famous as the site of the pivotal Civil War Battle, Gettysburg is a charming historic town ideal for remembrance, discovery, shopping and strolling. The National Military Park, & Cemetery is a "must see." While in Gettysburg, you may also wish to visit the Eisenhower National Historic Site.

New Oxford (6.7 miles; 14 minutes) -- "The antique capital of Central Pennsylvania"

Harrisburg (39 miles; 1 hr) -- Pennsylvania's State Capital has an abundance of things to see and enjoy. Try a cruise on the Susquehanna River.

York (22 miles; 40 minutes) -- York is a wonderful, culturally rich city with so much to see and do. While in York you may wish to take the Harley Davidson Factory Tour, the Uncork York Winery Tour, the Murals of York Tour, or the York Barbell Hall of Fame Tour.

Carlisle (31 miles; 56 minutes) -- Take one of the wonderful self-guided, walking or driving tours of this historic town and surrounding villages. From April through October, Carlisle is the site of numerous premier collector car shows.

Frederick MD (39 miles; 1 hr, 3 minutes) -- Visit this historic small city for fun downtown shopping and events throughout the year.

Hershey (51 miles; 1 hr, 13 minutes) -- "The Sweetest Place on Earth" features a theme park, gardens, and chocolate factory.

Lancaster County (48 miles; 1 hr, 15 minutes) -- Tour the Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch countryside, see 30 covered bridges, get lost in a giant corn maze, or take a steam train ride on the Strasburg Railroad so much to do.

Baltimore MD (56 miles; 1 hr, 21 minutes)

Harpers Ferry, WV (60 miles; 1hr, 27 minutes)

Washington DC (89 miles; 2 hours)

Brandywine Valley (85 miles; 2 hours)

Philadelphia (123 miles; 2 hrs, 25 minutes)