Whispering Sisters Bed and Breakfast in Philipsburg, Centre County is closed for business, and everything must go.
“A lot of the things are family heirlooms and it’s time for them to go to a new family now,” said owner Cheryl Moran. “Some of the things I will be able to enjoy. My family has purchased some of them.”
Moran and her husband have retired and moved to Florida, but they’re not selling the old Rowland Mansion, originally built in 1873 for US Representative Charles Hedding Rowland.
The Morans are turning it back into six apartments, which is how they originally bought it. They’re looking for tenants who appreciate the building’s historic charm as much as they do.
“The joy that my husband and I have had with family, friends, teaching Penn State Extension classes here for cooking,” Moran said. “Important events like retirement dinners, weddings, birthday parties, baby showers. Lots of baby showers and bridal showers. It has been wonderful to take part in other people’s joy.”
While walking around the building, exploring, it’s easy to get lost among the 43 rooms, all decorated ceiling to floor with antiques, all collected by the Morans.
“Area flea markets, antique stores, Conklins up the road supplied a lot of things for us,” Moran recalled. “It was a treasure hunt everywhere I went for years and years and years. …Some of the things I actually acquired growing up and had been with me my whole life.”
The antiques may soon be gone, but the building will look the same when new tenants move in. The difference will be the new furniture they bring with them. Rent ranges from $725 to around $1200 a month, depending on which apartment you live in (it’s based on square footage). Those prices include water, sewer, heat, and trash.
“Each heirloom from like the 1800’s has passed from family to family to dealer to family to flea market ended up in my lap,” Moran said. “Now it’s gonna be in someone else’s home to enjoy. So it’s kind of a legacy.”
Moran said not everything was sold in the auction, so there might be another opportunity to get your hands on a piece of history. She said she’s not sure, however, if they will do another online auction or take the items in person to an auction.
