Fortified Bedford House

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Fortified Bedford House

1758: an old structure with a new story. Walls waiting to talk; to tell their tales; a 501c3

09/13/2026

We’ve had a jam-packed weekend—pun intended since we served lots of jam and cheese to our guests while they were with us. Friday we hosted nearly 50 children and adults for a history homeschool tour, and Saturday we hosted an Epic Ordinary event—a storytelling endeavor. Great appreciation and acknowledgement of the building, the curated spaces, and the company we keep—including our new resident skeleton upstairs that’s already been so much fun. The clerk at Wal-Mart named our skeleton “Henrietta” as she was scanning her at the register so “Henrietta” it is! Two take-away feedback lines from these two days: “People drive by this place every day and have no idea what’s here! Why have I never heard of this place?” And “This Sacred Space room—it’s so cozy and welcoming.” And so are we. We loved having you all here. Come back anytime. ❤️
#1758 Peppercorn Market

09/10/2026

Not fancy, not valuable, not important. Just another sign that people lived here & kept house here after the structure was purchased from the military. Why such stuff was stored in the attic used to bewilder me until I realized that someday when I’m gone, there’ll be somebody clearing out from under my kitchen sink & wondering to themselves, “Why in the heck was she saving a milk bottle & a baby food jar when she didn’t drink milk & hadn’t fed a baby in decades?” Just for fun & to keep the tradition alive, I’m keeping my secrets to myself. Mr. & Mrs. Fortified aren’t here to say why but they left us plenty to see.

09/09/2026

Hear ye, hear ye! Get ya paper right here! Read all about it! The Bedford Gazette in 1898–we know someone kept up with the news of the day! The Gazette is still here, our historic building is still here, I’m still here—a combination of miracles, hearty stock, blood, sweat & tears, & tireless work ethic. Carry on! 😎🙋‍♀️🙏🦬🌟

Be sure to notice the motto: “If it isn’t in the Gazette, it didn’t happen!”
And be sure to not the section called: “Town Talk and Neighborhood Notes.” One entry is unwanted spam mail met their usual fate and went into the waste basket. But there’s good news, too. There’s a festival planned at the church, and some people are camping at the Crossings and having a “fine time.” Poor James Armstrong—he’s got typhoid fever but at least there’s a family shoe sale during the week. All in the same column. 😎

09/08/2026

Busy day? Running late? Back in 1897 when the Barker & Baker company were around, you could get a “Hasty Lunch” made on Bedford Ave. in NYC. These were touted as the best chocolate the public had ever been offered & “never grated.” Somebody had a sweet tooth here once upon a time…or a suitor inclined to bearing gifts of fine treats…or both. Or none of the above. I don’t know—it’s just fun to imagine. My current story goes like this: “Stella, the sensational starlet of the latest stage extravaganza in New York City, got swept off to Bedford & to her Juliana St. hideaway last weekend. Free here of adoring crowds, mounds of floral bouquets left outside her city penthouse, & relentless paparazzi, Stella sat in her ornate powder room in which the walls were adorned with violet springs & gold fern wallpaper, surrounded by green fields, tree-covered mountains; & contemplated her next performance. She treated herself with fine Hasty Lunch Chocolates Dr. Gracie had gifted her. She’d already devoured the Guth Caramels & despite her persistent sweet tooth, she kept her figure in shape as to fit into her green silk & burgundy scrolled cape before returning to the opera. A few strolls along the Juniata River each day & meaningful meanderings past the stately homes of the neighborhood were just what the Doc had suggested. She picked up her lovely fountain pen, tickled her top lip with the white feather ornament, & dipped into the ink well the jewelers below had so kindly supplied for her. A note: check on repair of clasp for my diamond & ruby necklace, & remember on the next trip to bring back to Bedford Hasty Lunch Chocolates to share. 💋”

Peppercorn Market

09/07/2026

She’s here for all of it! Waving to the world! Our Fortified Bedford House & our home were packed with family & friends this Labor Day weekend. We’re so grateful & our hearts are full of thanksgiving!

Peppercorn Market

09/04/2026

I grew up with my Granny calling every crowded cupboard or pantry space “Fibber McGee & Molly’s closet.” The words just rolled off her tongue clickity-clack with a smirk & a smile. She loved that old show. Molly would hide stuff in the closet so her husband Fibber wouldn’t know what she’d gotten until when the doors were opened, everything came tumbling out. (Maybe like scurrying away too many online purchases that get plopped on the porch these days.)
Granny had a sewing closet like this packed with folded remnants of fabric swatches—always called “material” but with her Appalachian accent sounded like “maturyal”—& jars of buttons, bags of wrinkled zippers, straight pins, & all other manner of sewing notions. I recall a lot of felt squares, pillowy pipe cleaners, & old baby food jars. Apparently, the next church craft fair was just around the corner & all this would be handy supplies for a pin cushion made with a bar of soap & such.
She had a wicked sense of humor & she would have loved that I found this old radio show beveled jar in the attic of our building from a show that featured Throckmorton Gildersleeve—an outrageous character from her beloved “Fibber McGee & Molly’s Closet” episodes. She’d also love that she has a great-granddaughter who works for NBC—the network that made the shows.
The next time the now 7-year old Divine Miss Em—Miss Peppery—is here & we start to clean out her room, I’m gonna try it out. “Emmie, it’s time for you & Granny to get after that toy cupboard before it ends up looking like Fibber McGee’s & Molly’s Closet.” 😎
Some attic finds stay with the building; this one stays with me. ❤️

09/03/2026

One of my absolute favorite finds in the attic are these family photos. They survived in such pristine condition despite the young boy photo being propped up in an ornate chamber pot that also contained some empty whiskey bottles. 😎 I’m sure there’s more to this story but we’ll leave it right there. I’m determined to find out more about this family—-as AI photo recognition improves, it may provide more details & information. Oh, the fodder for future stories!

09/02/2026

The top photo is the advertisement sheets we found in the attic. The bottom is a stock photo of the binder that was made in the late 1890s. Looks like some pretty snazzy farm equipment! Learn something new every day! 😎

09/01/2026

I’ve named this little shrug “Letitia” after the wife of President James A. Garfield. The stitchery is ornate, intricate, & embellished—probably a lot like her life with the gallivanting Garfield. He’ll be part of a book I’ll write someday when I retire. Until then, there’s a structure to save & a story to tell.

08/31/2026

“Some broken things don’t need to be fixed. Sometimes they just need to be appreciated.”—unknown

Address

111 S. Juliana Street
Bedford, PA

Website

http://www.fortifiedbedfordhouse.com/

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