Going on 2 1/2 years, Richard Spanton Jr and Chrissie Spanton are anticipating the opening of their bed & breakfast, Copperstone Inn.

In July of 2006, Richard and Chrissie embarked on an adventure to renovate a limestone home on their property that was built in 1858.  The addition that was on the home was in disrepair and needed a complete overhaul.  Rich and Chrissie decided to tear down the addition and start with a fresh one.  They also wanted to add a foundation and basement below to support the new addition they were adding on.   The original addition was on a slab.  As the excavators were digging the new foundation they grazed the original homes’ limestone foundation and it began to crumble.  Richard Spanton Jr and Chrissie did not hesitate to save their historic home and called in a professional home mover to shore and beam the original structure up and dig a new foundation on the original home that was built in 1858. ESTIMATED WEIGHT OF THE LIMESTONE HOME: 250 TONS! The home remained suspended in air (so it seemed) for approximately 2 months while the masons, excavators and home movers worked together to secure the homes new foundation.  The new foundation was built with 9 foot ceilings and the home movers slowly pulled the steal beams out of underneath the 1858 home and rested it on its new base.  "That was so stressful, any wrong move could have made our historic home crumble," said Richard Spanton Jr.

Once the new foundation for the original home was complete, the excavation on the addition resumed.  Quickly after the addition foundation was complete, the framers moved in on the job and began framing the addition and the masons were on the inside re-tuck pointing all of the exposed limestone.  At this time it was growing colder and winter moved in.  That did not slow Rich and Chrissie Spanton down.  The only thing that did slow them down on the project is that they had their wedding to plan and prepare for.  So in the midst of this enormous undertaking, Rich and Chrissie had the most luxurious wedding in January, 2007.  They went on their honeymoon then returned to check on the progress of their home.

“Richard Spanton Jr and Chrissie Spanton not only got married they also run a national construction company, an elk farm, their organic farm, a graphics and web design company and are adding on the bed & breakfast”.

When Rich and Chrissie returned from their honeymoon, they began to replace the worn down trusses on the 1858 home.  They had a crane come in and remove the current trusses and replaced them with new ones.  The new trusses had a higher pitch to match the pitch on the new addition.

Fast forward a few months and now we are into the summer of 2007.  The plumbing began in April, the new roof was complete with a beautiful lifetime shingle, the radiant heat floors were being put in in the entire basement (heated by corn), and after finishing the tuck pointing of the original homes' limestone, the masons began putting the new limestone on the addition. The custom copper work began.  Rich and Chrissie did custom copper work on the entire home. The frieze board had to be custom manufactured to our specs. It is pretty amazing. "I have really never seen this amount of copper used on a residential home. Well, maybe in Lake Forest, IL but not out in the sticks by us," said Rich Spanton Jr. It is pretty amazing and the craftsmanship is second to none.

This project has been a long project for the Spanton's, but when you take a look inside today their hard work has really paid off.  The home is almost complete as of 9/18/08.  With incredible custom carpentry, the whole home had beautiful old oak floors installed, plaster walls instead of drywall.  Each bathroom was carefully planned out by Rich and Chrissie and all have different types of slate with open 2 person showers.  The woodwork around the whole home is gorgeous.  "It is absolutely breathtaking," said a Moen rep.  When looking at their incredible views of Orchard Ridge Farms, Richard Spanton Jr and Chrissie Spanton have nailed this project.  They preserved an important piece of history and made it even better.  They also built this property to be environmentally friendly since Rich and Chrissie are avid supporters of the environment.    “We used all local products, blown in insulation, low VOC paints, 2X6 framing, local wood, we are heating the entire home with corn & radiant heat and are only using all natural cleaners, soaps and amenities.  The sheets are made from organic cotton too,” said Chrissie Spanton

Visit this beautiful Bed & Breakfast, Copperstone Inn
Owners Richard Spanton Jr & Chrissie Spanton