About The Switzler House
The Switzler House started out in the 1840s as a one-room log cabin and was moved to its current location when the Civil War ended to become a home for the black servants of the wealthy Lavinia Bradford. The cabin, now the present-day bedroom, was likely expanded at that time to include what is today the living room. A few years later, the kitchen section of the home was added. Bathrooms were later built in space formerly devoted to porches, but the footprint of the home has not changed since the late 1800s.
Many of the
original features of the home remain, including the pecan
floors and the substantial wood mouldings. Guests will
notice the very deep doorway between the bedroom and living
room that indicates the size of the logs behind the
wallboard.Historical research conducted by Robert and Elsie Bailey, former owners of the Switzler House, found records indicating that Mrs. Bradford's fondness for one of her servants, Adeline Switzler, eventually led her to deed the property to the Switzlers. The home remained in the Switzler family's hands for 100 years until the last Switzler son passed away in the 1960s.
Although much historical research has been done on the freed slaves who comprised a large portion of the Arrow Rock population after the Civil War, the Switzlers had been largely forgotten until recently. Perhaps it was because their home was located several blocks away from the majority of the black residences or perhaps their close bond with Lavinia Bradford caused a rift in the black community, but Marty and Sandy Selby feel honored to be the caretakers of their home and the keepers of their story.
Adeline Switzler, her husband Franklin and some of her children are buried at the Sappington Negro Cemetery about five miles west of Arrow Rock.
About Your Hosts
Marty and Sandy Selby are firm believers that you don't choose Arrow Rock ... Arrow Rock chooses you. After a couple of years of looking for any excuse to spend a day in Arrow Rock, the couple bought a vacation home here: the Switzler House. Eventually even weekending here wasn't enough and the Selbys purchased a larger house on Main Street and made Arrow Rock their permanent home in 2009.
Marty is the facilities manager for the Friends of Arrow Rock and is responsible for overseeing the maintenance and preservation projects on the organization's 13 properties. He serves as secretary for Arrow Rock's Board of Architectural Review.
Sandy is the founding editor of Inside Columbia magazine and still manages its ancillary publications -- Inside Columbia's CEO and
Read Sandy's blog about life in Arrow Rock.
Marty and Sandy don't travel often, but when they do they splurge on the finest accommodations. They hope to offer that kind of luxury hotel hospitality to guests in their little bed & breakfast cottage in Arrow Rock.
About Arrow Rock
Arrow Rock is a National Historic Landmark, given that designation because of its location at the eastern end of the Santa Fe Trail and because it was the home of noted 19th century painter George Caleb Bingham.
The village retains much of its historic integrity thanks to the restoration and preservation efforts of the State of Missouri and the Friends of Arrow Rock.
Arrow Rock is also home to the Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre, an award-winning professional theater that has been entertaining audiences for more than 50 years.
There's lots to see and do in Arrow Rock, even on non-theater days. Read your hosts' suggestions for "Things To Do In Arrow Rock When There's Nothing To Do In Arrow Rock."
