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Professor invests in Poland
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Flo Rance and her husband, Michael, take a break in the inn’s dining area. Michael Freeman, a professor at Harvard University’s medical school, bought the inn, and Mrs. Rance, Freeman’s aunt, and his cousin, Chris McQuown, are overseeing the daily operations.
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The historic Inn at the Green on South Main Street in Poland has a new owner with local ties. Ginny and Steve Meloy had owned and operated the establishment for a quarter-century.
By Ashley Luthern
Poland
A Harvard University medical school professor is now the owner of a local inn he frequented as a boy.
Michael Freeman of Boston grew up in Los Angeles but would travel often to Poland to visit his mother’s family.
“It’s a bit of a romantic idea not based in any rational decision- making,” said Michael Freeman of his purchasing the Inn at the Green on South Main Street.
Freeman learned that the 3,300-square-foot inn was for sale while staying with his family in Poland last Christmas.
“It was sort of a miracle,” said Ginny Meloy, the inn’s former owner and keeper with her husband, Steve. “There was a knock at the door Christmas afternoon, and someone said they were interested in buying it.”
The next day Freeman talked to the Realtor and bought the inn, which had been for sale for eight weeks at an asking price of $299,000. County records show it sold for $283,000.
Freeman returned to Poland temporarily two weeks ago to help with the transition. Last week, the day-to-day operations of the inn were taken over by Freeman’s extended family, including his aunt, Flo Rance, and cousin, Chris McQuown, both of Poland.
“We’re all born and raised here and went to Poland schools,” Rance said. “It’s like a family affair.”
The family appreciates the 25-year-legacy built by the Meloys and said they will continue operating the bed and breakfast in much the same way.
“There aren’t going to be too many changes. We’re updating it a little bit,” Rance said, adding that new events, such as showers and tea parties, might be held there, too.
The Inn at the Green was built in 1876 as the five- bedroom Walter Arrel home, and the Meloys converted it to a bed and breakfast in 1986. It also was the last bus-stop on the line from Youngstown, said Rance, who remembered the comfort of seeing the building from the bus.
“I think when you go by at night, it smiles at you when the lights are all on,” Rance said. “It’s a beautiful place.”
As for the Meloys, they haven’t gone too far — just a few blocks.
“The inn, it’s part of us and our psyche,” Ginny said. “We’ll think about it a lot, but we are really ready for this change. We really are quite excited for our new life. ... No more 24/7 responsibilities.”
She added when her children and grandchildren come to visit, she and Steve will rent a room at the inn and sneak away for a good night’s sleep, happy with their decision and the new owner.
“That’s what we wanted, someone who really loved it,” Ginny said.