The Dimmick Inn: beyond retro

Benefit dinner rolls back the calendar Milford — Ghosts of Pike County Past may have been stirring for Halloween doings, but the Dimmick Inn has a ghost that haunts them year round…Miss Fan. That would be Miss Frances Dimmick, one time proprietor of the Dimmick Inn. Miss Fan, as most called her, took over running the Inn for her father, who built the establishment in 1828. The original structure was ravaged by fire, but was re-built, under the guidance of Fannie, in 1856. “Miss Fan, like the waterfalls, mountains and streams, was one of the attractions of Pike County.” An 1859 advertisement claims “the table will be well furnished and the bar constantly supplied with choice wines, liquors and ‘segars’”. Present day proprietors, the brother’s Jorgenson, have set like goals for their establishment, and in honor of Miss Fan will turn back the hands of time on Nov. 15, and host an evening featuring delectable items often seen on the hand written menus of the olden days. In a time when expert fly fisherwoman Fannie often harvested the catch of the day from the streams of Pike and prepared much of the fare herself, the evening’s menu reflected the tastes and home cooking expertise of Pike County’s favorite hostess. Although the brothers may spare their guests a recreation of Miss Fan’s famous “Stuffed Kidney” and may not be seen anytime soon in their waders casting the Sawkill, baker Nancy Featherstone is diligently working on recreating the famous Apple Tapioca! The event would not be complete without some rousing live fiddle music, as Miss Fan was an awesome fiddle player. The evening will even feature a visit from Miss Fannie Dimmick herself! This interesting evening is brought to you in cooperation with the Pike County Historical Society (PCHS) where the original menus, from which the meal will be derived, are part of the archives. A share of the proceeds will go the Society to help with archival preservation. The PCHS has many documents pertaining to not only the Dimmick, but all the Inns and Boarding Houses of Pike County; this is the Jorgenson Family’s way of helping the cause while providing their guests with a unique dining experience. Tickets are $45 and include appetizer, main course, dessert and coffee. Cash bar from 5-6 p.m. in the new “Upper Deck Lounge”, sit-down dinner with Miss Fan at 6 p.m., on Sunday Nov. 15. Please call to reserve, seating is limited to 50. Call Nancy at the Dimmick to reserve at 296-4021 or Lori at the Columns at 296-8126.