In the News
26 March 2008 - KCUP Radio Show
Belinda Goody appeared on the local radio station KCUP 1230 AM to talk about Seal Rock's fascinating history. Host, Andrea Dumas, (also a resident of Seal Rock) was captivated with the information shared by Belinda on the show and hopes to do a follow up show and perhaps a series of Seal Rock historical accounts.
13 February 2008 - Newport News-Times
Ribbon-cutting held at Seal Rock Bed & Breakfast
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The ambassadors from the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce helped owners Dee Brodie (center) and Belinda Goody (right, with scissors) for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday at Caledonia Bed & Breakfast in Seal Rock. (courtesy photo) |
Barbara B. Covell For the News-Times
Belinda Goody and Dee Brodie, owners of Caledonia House Bed & Breakfast in Seal Rock, have officially opened their doors to the local community. "We decided to have a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the local chamber of commerce, then the idea grew to an open house with the community," said Goody, still enthusiastic, albeit a bit tired after a full weekend of visitors touring the historic grounds, walking paths, and exceptional Scottish-themed home.
"Of course, the real beauty is in the natural gifts of the land and the rich history of this house," continued Goody. She has been working on a personal project of developing the story of Seal Rock - its rich history in being founded and settled by early farming and logging families.
Goody and Brodie purchased the property in May 2007 and began extensive renovations throughout the interior and exterior, doing all of the work themselves. Brodie, originally from Scotland, was a shipbuilder by trade. He also endured seven months in Antarctica as an ironworker in subzero temperatures in order to save enough for the purchase of the Caledonia House property.
The two are both greatly humored by their story - the months of work endured in order to start taking guests at Caledonia House by September 2007. They knew the winter season was fast approaching and planned an official open house and ribbon-cutting ceremony for February. "We wanted to do this when people could think about springtime coming, instead of winter coming," Goody said.
At 8 a.m. on Friday, members of the Greater Newport Chamber of Commerce joined Goody and Brodie as they pulled the red ribbon across the front door of Caledonia House Bed & Breakfast - the moment they had worked so hard to attain.
About 24 hours later the doors opened again for the community.
For more information on Caledonia House B & B, contact caledoniabnb@peak.org or call 563-7337. The business is also featured online at www.caledoniabnb.com.
Barbara B. Covell can be reached at bbcovell@mac.com.
February 8, 2008 - Newport Chamber of Commerce
This morning 15 members of the Newport Chamber's Ambassadors were treated to a hearty Scottish-American breakfast at Caledonia House B&B. They sampled Celtic Blueberry Scones crafted from 100 year old family recipe, Lorne Sausage, fresh fruit and Jacobite Eggs from the menu along with hot coffee and assorted teas.
After breakfast, the Ambassadors learned about this history of the home and its place in Seal Rock. They also learned about how the transformation of the home took place, a bit of information about the owners and all the amenities offered to guests of the B&B.
Then, a tour of the B&B's 5 guest rooms and other guest facilities, which include a small picture gallery with beautiful snapshots from around Scotland!
Finally, the ribbon cutting ceremony was held to signify the beginning of this new venture for this ambitious couple, Dee Brodie and Belinda Goody.
February 6, 2008 - Newport News-Times
This morning 15 members of the Newport Chamber's Ambassadors were treated to a hearty Scottish-American breakfast at Caledonia House B&B. They sampled Celtic Blueberry Scones crafted from 100 year old family recipe, Lorne Sausage, fresh fruit and Jacobite Eggs from the menu along with hot coffee and assorted teas.After breakfast, the Ambassadors learned about this history of the home and its place in Seal Rock. They also learned about how the transformation of the home took place, a bit of information about the owners and all the amenities offered to guests of the B&B.Then, a tour of the B&B's 5 guest rooms and other guest facilities, which include a small picture gallery with beautiful snapshots from around Scotland!Finally, the ribbon cutting ceremony was held to signify the beginning of this new venture for this ambitious couple, Dee Brodie and Belinda Goody.
SEAL ROCK BED AND BREAKFAST PLANS OPEN HOUSE
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Caledonia House, a bed and breakfast in Seal Rock, will hold an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. (Courtesy photo) |
The owners of Seal Rock's newest bed and breakfast, Caledonia House, will host an open house from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 9.
The 1946 cottage-style home has been transformed into a beautiful Scotland-inspired retreat. Visitors can tour the home at their leisure, and, weather permitting, enjoy a walk along the 2.4-acre nature trail, which doubles as a wildlife habitat certified by the National Wildlife Foundation. Visitors are encouraged to bring good hiking shoes if they plan to use the trails.
The historic Caledonia House is located at 6575 NW Hwy 101 in Seal Rock. Visit www.caledoniabnb.com or call 563-7337.
December 24, 2007 - KNPT AM 1310
"Chamber in Action" (Click a segment to hear our radio show!)
Segment 1 Segment 2 Segment 3
November 7, 2007 - Newport News-Times
Couple Create a Cultural Oasis with 'Caledonia House' - Seal Rock's Newest Bed & Breakfast
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The scenic backdrop behind this lovely 1940s-style home can cause visitors to miss the ample signage for Caledonia Bed & Breakfast in Seal Rock. (Photo by Barbara Covell) |
Midway between Newport and Waldport is the community of Seal Rock, offering a plethora of unique shops, art studios, antique and craft stores, as well as the distinctive residences that dot the shoreline in-between state parks which preserve the area's lush and primitive beaches.
It's no wonder that Belinda Goody and Dee Brodie selected this area to relocate from the Colorado Mountains, as the pristine geography, weather patterns, and friendly locals reminded them of Dee's beloved homeland in Campeltown, Scotland. Campeltown is located on the Kintyre Peninsula, an area made famous by Paul McCartney in the '70s when he wrote a tribute to the people of Campbeltown with his song, "Mull of Kintyre."
"It is rumored that the Ortons had a small grape orchard on the property," said Belinda. "It is possible that this was a precursor to today's very popular Oregon vineyards," she added.
Belinda was able to gain more information about the house and Orton family by initiating contact with one of Adelia Orton's distant relatives, Barbara Day. "She has been wonderful, she even sent me a photo of Adelia Orton when she was a young woman. We were so pleased and happy that it is now hanging on our walls in the family history display area, " Belinda said.
Their dream place took some work before either one of them could get any sleep, much less dream peacefully. Their six-bedroom, six-bath spacious home had all the essential elements for a bed & breakfast on the coast, but just about everything needed updating or modernization. However, this did not slow them down. The determination and enthusiasm in Belinda and Dee's faces was evident as they carefully described the process that brought them toward their ultimate goal.
"I was working from 5:30 in the morning until midnight for a long time," Dee said, laughing. "It took us a month just to paint the outside of the house. And then at night, we'd come in and paint the rooms. Of course, we thought it would move by faster, but it was important to get all of that done just right," he added. "It's such enjoyment to look back now," Belinda said, while reminiscing.
When asked about the color choices of all the interior walls and rooms, Dee was quick to say, "That's Belinda's influence. She wanted colors that are soothing and not glaring." Belinda added, "The colors are like Scotland with the heather on the hills and blue of the ocean. That's what I remember from being there."
Each room is uniquely named after one of the Isles (islands) from the part of Scotland where Dee originates. There is a private bath with modern fixtures, soft towels and bedding, flat-screen television, an in-room service cart with coffee/tea, a binder with local area information (including walking trail map), a writing journal, tartan fabrics and paintings to add a special touch to each room's individual size and personality. All the beds and bedding look fresh and new, with a few antique furnishings added to enhance each room's diversity. There's a distinct Scottish-American flavor to each room's decor.
The common areas reflect the host and hostess' taste and desire to provide a blend of opportunities to their guests. The morning coffee/tea area faces the 2.4 acres of wooded trails. There is a sofa and lounging spot to watch movies/DVDs or browse reading material from the wall of library books. Adjacent is a designated business center for those who wish to compute, send/receive Faxes, make copies or other business-related functions.
Then there is the entrance hallway, decorated with photographs and a map of Scotland that designates Campeltown, Kintyre Peninsula, and the Isles that surround the predominantly western and southwest area of the peninsula. Visitors are encouraged to become familiar with the Scots through information readily available on Scottish history, noted authors, actors, musicians, Scottish whiskey, inventors/innovations, and other interesting facts and figures.
The main dining area is soft and rich with delicate colors, tartan table settings, a fireplace and sofa. Top it all off with a Scottish/American breakfast menu that features Oban Oatcakes, Jacobite Eggs, Cherry Almond Scones (from a 100-year-old family recipe), Paisley Parfait, Lorne Sausage, and Fruit Tartan for the perfect combination for a bed & breakfast.
Belinda and Dee are gracious hosts, striving to accommodate their guest's needs, in addition to promoting their new home - the Oregon coast. A guest survey offered to all guests anonymously reflects a near 5.0 rating, out of a total possible rating of 5.0.
There's a tub room located on the north side of the property with a Jacuzzi spa, warm heaters, scented candles and soft towels. The door locks for privacy, but also gives other guests an alert when the tub room is occupied. After a moment of soaking in the ambience, there's little wonder this tub room is not a favored spot among guests.
The exterior 2.4 acres is an added treasure for guests visiting Caledonia Bed and Breakfast. When they first closed on the property in May, Dee and Belinda had no idea their acreage included the treasures of old Orton family farm equipment, a pond, and assorted wildlife. Dee became accustomed to going out early in the mornings with his machete in hand; first clearing a pathway, then expanding his efforts to designate a trailhead, firepot and differentiated trails. Because of the diversity in wildlife, the National Wildlife Federation has certified the property a Wildlife Habitat. "It provides food, water, shelter and places to raise their young," says Belinda, posting a sign on the Caledonia Bed and Breakfast property. Now the trails are completely cleared, with signage posted along the way so visitors don't miss the best in bird watching or a hiking opportunity. Maps of the property trails are available in each guest room.
There is a separate and fascinating story about how Belinda and Dee managed to acquire this house and land that they've refurbished into a magical place.
Belinda worked 10 years active duty in the Air Force, transitioning to reserve status in 2000. She has been trained as a forensic meteorologist and has a consulting business in the private sector. (Because of her military background and Dee's five years in the Scottish military, they offer a special discount to active duty and retired military.)
Dee worked as a shipbuilder in Scotland, but the decline of the industry had him look at other opportunities in the U.S. That is when he moved to Denver, Colo. and met Belinda. In preparation for this move and the purchase of the B & B, he took a seven-month job as an ironworker in the Antarctica. He was hired by a private contractor to replace concrete footers for a reverse osmosis plant. "It was over 100 degrees below with the wind chill factor. We had to defrost the soil in order to do our work. Some days you could only work for 10 minutes and then go back inside, relieve some body else and start again," he said, reminiscing. Belinda smiled and took his hand. "It was worth it," she said. "It was a long time getting here, but now we're here and this is home."
For more information, go to www.caledoniabnb.com or contact the owners, Belinda Goody and Dee Brodie at: Caledonia House Bed & Breakfast, 6575 NW Pacific Coast Highway, Seal Rock, (541) 563-7337, caledoniabnb@peak.org.
Barbara B. Covell is a correspondent with the News-Times. She can be reached at bbcovell@mac.com.
