An historic property in Ashe County is receiving some much needed renovation in preparation for a return to its glory days.

The former Black Bear Inn, located on the road that bears its name just outside West Jefferson in the Baldwin community, is being renovated by Raney and Ken Rogers and their daughter Liz Rogers for both a residence and a business. They have an option to purchase the property and have been hard at work uncovering its historic beauty underneath decades of neglect.

“We want to renovate it so we can bring it back to its former glory,” said Raney Rogers, a local artist who has also created a holiday painting of the house as a fundraiser for the restoration project.

“Christmas at Historic Black Bear Inn” is a delightful look at what could have been the inn’s heyday. The winter scene could be anytime from the inn’s birth in 1915 up to today. The house is decorated for Christmas with green wreaths sporting red bows, lights shine from the windows and people can be seen inside perhaps laughing and sipping hot cider, sharing holiday stories and getting reacquainted with family and friends. A horse-drawn sleigh is passing by the well-known stone archway, a backdrop for many photographs over the years. Snow is folded like frosting on the ground and draped over trees and bushes as winter bare trees stretch their limbs toward the cloudy sky.

“It’s a Currier & Ives type of scene where you can see people in the windows and imagine warm cider, a crackling fire and happy, laughing people in a holiday setting – all the things that make Christmas special,” said Raney. The delicious contrast between shivery cold outside and soothing warmth inside during this most wonderful time of the year conjures up memories of many happy holidays.

“This painting evokes the Christmas spirit. Inside you can hear carols, smell the cider and feel the warmth of the people and the place,” Raney said. “Outside you can hear the sleigh bells, feel the crunch of snow under your boots and smell smoke from the chimney.” All these things fill the heart with happiness and nostalgia for today and times gone by.

That is the feeling the Rogers’ want to bring back to the former Black Bear Inn. They have achieved historic status for the inn by having it placed on the State Register of Historic Places. As they renovate and repair, they will restore and preserve the building’s characteristics so it will be a home and business for today and tomorrow with all the charm and history of yesterday.

Raney said the inn was built in 1915 and served as a bed and breakfast establishment from around 1927 to 1960. A few families have occupied the house, but for long periods since 1960 it has been unoccupied and neglected. Lots of renovation is needed.

“As we scrub and paint and refinish, it’s like its coming back,” Raney said of the house. “It’s all about gaiety and hospitality. The house is warm. It’s a happy house. So many people have told us stories about going there or working there and about Fred and Lessie Ray who built and ran it. Lessie was an artist like me, and Christmas was her favorite time of year and mine. We want to bring it back to a state of elegance the way Lessie and Fred had it.”

Raney said her family is renovating the house to have living quarters upstairs and a day spa downstairs. There will be space for Raney to paint. Ken is a landscape architect and will work on the grounds come springtime. Liz is a massage therapist and will offer her skills at the spa. They also plan to host weddings and receptions, chef’s dinners, art exhibits and musical performances. Raney said the surrounding scenery lends itself to beautiful outdoor weddings.

The Black Bear Inn was built on the Black Bear Trail that ran through the area as a scenic route from Canada to the Florida Keys. The inn opened at the house, Raney said, for travelers looking for a place to stay. A sign was erected in 1927 and the first guests arrived three days later. There are postcards from all over the world and the inn was known as one of the finest east of the Mississippi. The Ray’s raised animals, had numerous staff, and were known to feed as many as 100 people in a day.

Those who knew the inn or find its history fascinating, or who just love beautiful artwork can reserve a print of “Christmas at Historic Black Bear Inn” by Dec. 15. Call Acorn Gallery in West Jefferson at 246-3388 or go online to www.acorngallery.com. Custom framing is available.

Raney is also presenting her painting of Ashe County High School with the Husky logo as part of her series on the county’s high schools. Prints can be reserved by Dec. 15 by calling or going online. Also available are Christmas cards of “Christmas at Historic Black Bear Inn,” tiles and other new works of art.