About Cottage Farm B & B
About Cottage Farm's Origins
Cottage Farm was orginally a parcel of 70 acres fronting the Maury River, near Glasgow in Rockbridge County. In November 1890, at age 24, Briscoe Girard Baldwin sold the acreage for $10,999.10. He did, however, retain ownership of a four acre portion of Cottage Farm, including the "dwelling house" and lived there with his family until his death in 1949. The property remained in the Baldwin family until sold by his daughter, Mary, in 1964. Cottage Farm has since had five different owners, until purchased by the Gorsky's in 1998. The familiar Cottage Farm moniker has been known in the area for more than a century and will continue to warmly greet guests in the future.
About Rockbridge County
Rockbridge County is near the southern portion of the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Surveyed by George Washington and once owned by Thomas Jefferson, Natural Bridge, a massive stone formation and historic site that spans the Cedar Creek is the county's namesake. The area was first settled in the early 1700's. Rockbridge County was established in 1777 with Lexington as the county seat and incorporated in 1841. Two legendary figures, Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson, each made Lexington their home-one before the Civil War and the other after. Lexington was named after the Revolutionary War battle fought at Lexington, Massachutetts and contains many official state and national historical landmarks. Buena Vista, the only other major city in the county was incorporated in 1892.
About the Hosts
Prior to becoming the owners and hosts of the Cottage Farm Bed & Breakfast, both Ken and Denise Gorsky pursued completely different professional careers. Ken served for 27 years in law enforcement and retired a Chief of Police in Maplewood, New Jersey. Denise, a Teacher of the Hearing Impaired for ten years, taught pre-school children at the Summit Speech School in New Providence, New Jersey. Both possess talented cooking and organizational skills; essential to good innkeeping and an enjoyable bed and breakfast experience.
