"Into the Knight"
I step inside Room 4 of the Kitty Knight House, rumored to be Miss Knight's bedroom 250 years ago, and as my guide finishes her sentence of historical information and myth, the door swings shut on its own
The Kitty Knight Story
When guests stay at the Kitty Knight House in Georgetown, Maryland, they are treated to a plethora of charming attributes. The antique building, once two separate colonial homes, is now filled with an elegant and spacious dining room, ten guest rooms of varying sizes and accommodations, and an 18th century tavern, all of which have their own unique stories within the woodwork.
The most famous of these stories is the tale of daring and compassion expressed by Miss Catherine Knight during the War of 1812. In 1814, as Great Britain and the fledgling United States waged war on North American soil, destroying even the presidential mansion (the White House), Kitty Knight was living an independent, simple life on the shore of the Sassafras River, in what is now Georgetown. The British invaded the Eastern Shore in this year and began a fiery siege of Georgetown, which would have been burned completely had Miss Knight not convinced Admiral Cockburn of the British navy to smother his torch. Kitty saved both the building that is now the restaurant and a neighboring home that is now attached from the English flame, as well as the remainder of her community. Her defiance of the British and her bravery in facing them made her a local celebrity, even after her death in 1855.
Dining with Kitty Knight
Sitting in the open, sunlit dining room of the Kitty Knight House, enjoying my
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complimentary Kentucky Hot Brown, I am delighted by the Victorian-esque piano and violin duet descending to my ears from several strategically placed speakers near the ceiling. The music and view of the Sassafras combine to create a very staggered perception of time: that of being caught in a place where time has been slowed and life suspended in 18th century charm.
Guests to the House can indulge in the same experience as I while partaking in one of the numerous dishes offered. The menu, in typical Eastern Shore style, is filled with several different seafood options, ranging from the Kitty Crab Cake Sandwich to Little Neck Oysters to Clam Linguine. However, in order to avoid being shallow or run-of-the-mill, the menu describes Southern dishes such as my Kentucky Hot Brown Sandwich, made of turkey, tomato, cheese, and bacon, and meals of a tropical persuasion like the Key West salad, composed of greens, mangoes, strawberries, almonds, seasonal fruits, and served with passion-fruit vinaigrette.
The menu and dining atmosphere are elements that, if excluded, the House would not have been named "the most romantic restaurant on the Bay" by Chesapeake Bay magazine in 2004. And according to Sally Rifenburg, the general manager of the Kitty Knight House, the staff and food make the restaurant a success.
"The breathtaking view of the Sassafras River encourages people to come for the first time, but they come back after experiencing our staff and excellent food," Ms. Rifenburg stated proudly during our interview. She also informed me that the business is run mostly as a restaurant and not a Bed and Breakfast or Inn. Most of their business comes from the restaurant, especially in the summertime, when the KKH offers live music on their most attractive feature, the dining deck. During the winter more of the dining business will be conducted in the tavern, offering patrons a cozy, laid-back environment where they can enjoy the same quality food and
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service.
*****
After seeing the door swing shut independently, rather than shivering, I laugh at the delightful prank "Miss Kitty's ghost" has played. Ms. Rifenburg has just finished explaining to me that when people stay in Kitty's room, if Kitty likes you, she will want you to stay and will shut the door. The rocking chair, supposedly Miss Knight's, was taken out of this room after guests complained that the furniture rocked on its own.
Over-"Knight" Accommodations
Being shut into one of the KKH rooms is not an unpleasant endeavor. The room I was shown contained a king-sized post bed, elegant wooden furniture and an antique writing desk, complete with ink-stained leather. A bathroom was attached, sparkling white with a large whirlpool tub as well as his-and-her sinks. The view from the window overlooks the pleasantly ebbing Sassafras, and one can envision many a gorgeous sunrise and sunset from the second floor perch.
An extra lavish touch in every room of the KKH is the hand painted wall paper, a different pattern in every room. The subtle beige and warm yellow on the walls accent the antique-look of every piece of furniture and complete the overnight experience. The warmth and attractiveness of the bedrooms are a tribute to the uncommon beauty possessed by Catherine Knight in her heyday, a beauty that even lured the eye of George Washington at a ball in Philadelphia while the Continental Congress was in session.
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Admiral Cockburn's Tavern
The original wooden beams of the Kitty Knight House are still beneath the floors of the dining room, providing an attention-calling ceiling to the Admiral Cockburn Tavern, named for the man Miss Knight persuaded to stop burning Georgetown. The fireplace is also an original piece of the house, though it has been modified through the years so that it can no longer be walked into. Both the ceiling and fireplace are elements that Joe and JoAnn Thomson, who own the building, as well as Ms. Rifenburg hope will create the comfortable, casual dining environment they are striving to create over the winter.
The tavern's already existing, small dining area proudly displays a copy of the speech Cockburn made after deciding to spare Georgetown from the flame, as well as metal pitchers that imitate those that would be found in colonial taverns. This portion of the building was once the kitchen used by Miss Kitty and later residents. It is also speculated that the once dirt-floored room and the cellars beneath were part of the Underground Railroad.
*****
Celebrating its 250th birthday this year, the Kitty Knight House's original front door will undoubtedly open to hundreds of guests who are sure to be satisfied. Whether one is drawn to the place by its rich history, delectable fare, or romantic guest rooms, it is unlikely that anyone will walk away disappointed. The staff and owners' efforts to create a tribute to Miss Knight as well as a classy Eastern Shore dining experience shine through irrepressibly in every respect and would certainly be appreciated by the heroine of Georgetown herself.
Works Cited
Rifenburg, Sally (personal interview) September 15, 2005
http://www.kittyknight.com/pages/about.htm
*Note: The quotes information on page two of my paper that is credited to Chesapeake Bay magazine is not something I looked up. That information was given to me orally during the personal interview.