Historical Park View Inn Sold to Maryland Couple

BERKELEY SPRINGS, May 4 1972 - Mr. and Mrs. William L. Harmison have sold the Park View Inn to Mr. and Mrs. Jack P. Barker, of Potomac, Md., and more recently of Boonsboro, Md.

A rumor of a couple weeks was confirmed Tuesday by statements by the seller and the purchaser.

This ends a long, long association of the Harmison family with the hotel business in Berkeley Springs, which spans about a century and a half and five generations of the Harmisons.

The Inn was built by William Harmison's uncle and aunt, Mr. And Mrs. Walter Harmison, but both his Uncle Walter and his father, Henry Harmison, were associated with the earlier Twentieth Century hotel business. Both were once bell boys in the old hotels and later shared in the management of the Dunn Hotel, which they leased. Both were also associated with hotel chains that took them out of Berkeley Springs for a time.

William Harmison, like his father and uncle, grew up in a hotel atmosphere and was oriented to the business. "Our great hope", said Mr. And Mrs. Barker," is that we may continue in the same fine tradition, synonymous with the Harmison name."

William Harmison became associated with Park View Inn living with his uncle and aunt after his parents dies in the 1930's when he was eight years old. After the death of his Uncle Walter, he assumed management of the kitchen, where the Park View Inn fame began, and was assistant manager of the hotel for his Aunt Jennie Harmison, until he became owner and manager.

The Park View Inn began in 1929 in the old Catholic rectory and the fame of its meals spread so rapidly their table had many more than their house could accommodate.

In 1933, the Harmisons purchased the old Berkeley Hotel site and erected the first unit of the Park View Inn, which has twice since been enlarged. The regard of the harmisons for the comfort of their guests has kept the dining room open through moving day from the old to new quarters, the deaths of the owners and close relatives.

In the 1840, Col. William Harmison the great-grandfather, operated the old Fairfax Inn on Fairfax street. He was associated with this establishment during the visit of President Polk. Later, members of the family have operated livery stables, stage coaches and boarding houses always close to the resort guest. The last two years have been some of the very best in Park View history. There need not be a reach into history to find the Harmison entertaining prominent people. The Park View has had a vice-president, senators, governors, cabinet members and those prominent in national affairs who came here seeking quiet and anonymity, which the Harmisons respected.

The Barkers became attracted to the inn and the town during a three-month stay at the Park View in 1970.

The Barkers said they were attracted by the tranquil mountain setting and the genuine friendliness of the people, which fostered a desire to become a part of the community. He said his philosophy was summed up like this "If you really want to establish yourself in an area - invest in it".

In 1947, Mr. And Mrs. Barker founded Camp Inverness for Boys in Potomac, a rural suburban area of Washington, D.C. Some years later, they built the Inverness School, a private institution serving the young people of northwest Washington and Montgomery County, Md. The school was one of the first organizations in the Washington area using the Montessori method of education. Both plants are in successful operation today.

Reprinted from The Martinsburg Journal, Thursday, May 4, 1972.