A Christmas tree gives a festive spirit to the common area at the Crooked River Inn Bed & Breakfast in Prineville.

A whole lot of gumption, one part foresight and another dash of great inspiration is leading Elizabeth Hendrix to celebrate her first Christmas in her newly renovated, century-old farmhouse, which is now proudly known as the Crooked River Inn, in Prineville.

Outdoor holly boughs and wreaths welcome holiday visitors and family. From the curbside gate to the outside porch, the white clapboard house sets the welcoming holiday scene that Hendrix is happy to share.

However, a year ago not everything was quite so merry and bright.

“I saw the house for sale on Craigslist in November last year, and when I stepped in here I knew this house was meant to be,” explained Hendrix, who is retired. “But I also knew it needed a lot of work. Turns out it was more work than I had imagined. We took off at least 20 layers of wallpaper. It was more than six months of constant local construction workers in this house.”

Underneath the decades’ worth of old dark wallpaper, Hendrix found a gold mine of shiplap walls made of hand-hewn boards, which Hendrix believes were logged and milled locally.

She runs her hand against the rough texture of the whitewashed wall, admiring its unique features and original character.

“It was so much work after the wallpaper was all scrapped down. We had to caulk and use rope between each board, and at the very top of each wall, we took off the top board to blow in insulation,” said Hendrix, 69, sitting in a comfortable chartreuse chair while admiring the cozy room oozing with charm. A large Christmas tree sparkling with little lights and vintage ornaments added to its appeal.

History highlights

The once-forgotten farmhouse is located on W. Second Street. It was built in 1906 by Columbus Johnson, one of Central Oregon’s early settlers who became a well-known livestock man.

When he built his home, according to city records, his ranch was on the “western fringe of town.”

The Johnson’s eventually sold their property to the McKenzie family in 1964, and they turned the farm home into a boardinghouse.

“The way I heard it, some of the people who stayed at the boardinghouse back then had farms and ranches in the outlying areas, and when the women were pregnant, they stayed here so they could be closer to the doctor in town,” Hendrix said. “In fact, I had a lady who knocked on my door and told me her father was born here in what is now my study. Back then the doctor made house calls and delivered babies at home.”

The next generation of the McKenzie family closed down the boardinghouse and made it into a family home, until Hendrix bought it last autumn.

Decking the halls

Hendrix’s new home is now a busy bed-and-breakfast getaway. Since she opened last summer, it’s been almost completely booked.

The fun part for Hendrix was the decorating.

Once the renovation was completed in June, Hendrix, who has collected antiques her entire adult life, went hog wild decorating her century-old farmhouse. Christmas has been no exception.

— Reporter: halpen1@aol.com