Most stays are proceeded by months of anticipation either as a repeating guest with an educated expectation or new guests with fantasy fleeting thoughts after months of research and yearning. The slapping of the ocean against the ferry, or the winds pressing against the airplane's wings, arriving " on Island" is exhilarating either way --- truly an adventure---and arrival at the Century House is a highlight: ...the aromic delight of the cascading flora: tulips, daffodils, geraniums, roses, lilacs - smells in the air - along with freshly brewed coffees and teas & homemade cookies and cream.

A friendly greeting, a thoughtful nestling into one's chosen room and perhaps a cup of tea and a book, a snooze before venturing off to the lure of the beach, the bike path, the art galleries, or a scintillating bite to eat!

Soon the renown "sunset arrival "--- whether nestled on the beach or relaxing on the Century House veranda --- before heading out for the evening's soiree. Dinner time: the theatre, private party, jazz, dancing or just meandering the cobblestoned streets and discovering one of the freedoms of Nantucket's proverbial gardens. The salt air infects and at some unexpected point the lure to return to the Century House beckons and one sinks into the custom made mattresses with a smile on one's face.

Time passes and the wiff of Innkeeper Gerry's specially ground coffee beans pervade the air early- competing only with the smell of the freshly homemade goodies awaiting at Gerry's Berry Buffet Breakfast - ah! the berries cascading on his famous granola. Perhaps first a morning jog or leisurely stroll experiencing a new dawn awakening on this exquisite jewel of an Island Retreat. Discover the Freedoms and Experience Nantucket Island...come aboard and you'll likely have the ride of you life!

Either way, we're open for suggestions!

Clematis - Clematis Vitalba

This large first floor corner room with an additional door opening onto its own seating area on the verandah, with views of a restored 18th century Kite Hill farmhouse. This room features a high ceiling, antique cast iron fireplace insert, queen canopy bed, Victorian marble top bureau, love seat, wide pine floors, oriental rugs, refrigerator, small bath with warm wooden and marble shower floors. Antique Laura Ashley wallpaper and original oil paintings by local artists decorate the walls.

Geraldine Mullin has been living on Nantucket a lifetime or so it seems. When you first meet her you encounter those striking blue eyes that resemble the color of a Nantucket beach. She knows the 'inns'-and-outs, the popular and the less desirable places. She could tell you stories no one else knows about. Secrets, etc.

She initially joined the Century House to redecorate the inn and kept adding to her responsibilities in all facets of innkeeping with her in- depth knowledge of the industry and the Island. She made Nantucket her home in 1985 as it reminded her of her roots in Scituate Mass - another community by the sea - saying "she couldn't resist the beauty, historic charm and 'museum like' spirit of the Island. This year Geraldine returns to the inn as "Assistant to the Innkeper," working with two other returning staffers highlighted in previous issue, Gloria Savizon (returning for her 5th Season), and Otilia Herput (returning for her 2nd Season).

The historic Century House dates back to the Cliff Road land purchase in 1833. According to research performed by Edouard A. Stackpole, renowned Nantucket historian and former director of the Peter Foulger Museum, a member of an old Nantucket family of Scottish roots, Captain Robert Calder, built the Century House. Over the years, Capt. Calder took part in several long, successful voyages to hunt whale, and eventually completed the construction of the house in the early 1840’s. It is said that Capt. Calder chose this site because of the privacy, the ocean breezes, the views, and the genuine serenity the location provided in the 1840’s and still exhibits today. According to Mr. Stackpole, the Century House is the oldest continuously operating guesthouse on Nantucket Island to date. Visit www.centuryhouse.com for details. Season begins May 15 and ends October 15.