savor — guide to dining on the azalea coast
61
»Breakfast«
at the • •
INN
Centuries ago, monasteries across Europe provided shelter and a warm meal for weary travelers, a practice
that inspired the people of the British Isles to open their homes to others visiting the countryside,
looking for food and a safe place to spend the night — thus the term “bed and breakfast.”
The tradition carried over with the early American settlers, as pioneers explored the
uncharted North American terrain, seeking refuge in homes and taverns. It disappeared as America
prospered, then returned with the Great Depression, when families, desperate to bring in extra
money, took in boarders and guests. Following the end of WWII, the term “tourist
homes” was used instead of “bed and breakfast,” but the trend dissipated
again in the 1950s due to the rise of motels along the new
American highways.
by Justin Jacobs
Photography by Joshua Curry
www.wrightsvillebeachmagazine.com WBM
