Your Innkeepers
Linda & John Messer
Meet Linda and John Messer, the owners and innkeepers of the John H Wallace House. They are the proud parents of four grown children Victoria, Madeline, Abigail, and Samuel and five (and counting) grandchildren Evie, Connor, Clara, Sonya, and Audrey.
Linda was born and raised in Denville, NJ; John in Lancaster, PA. Their love story began in Westfield, NJ, when a chance meeting through a mutual friend led to a first date sailing off Sandy Hook, resulting in an unexpected dunk in the bay for Linda. Despite the aquatic mishap, the couple has been happily married for 38 years – and counting.
They began married life in Plainfield NJ, and then moved their young family to Media PA, a quaint suburb of Philadelphia, where for over 30 years they raised their growing family. Linda, armed with a degree in Multinational Corporate Studies from Upsala College, currently serves as a Regional Human Resources Manager for Arkema, a global chemical manufacturing company.
Meanwhile, John, a licensed professional Chemical Engineer from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) in Worcester, MA, owned his own consulting firm, Analogy LLC. He consulted to chemical, cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical industries and is currently semi-retired.
Motivated by the birth of their first grandchild near Boston, MA, the couple started a new chapter in Milford by looking at a map and choosing the closest point to Massachusetts without leaving Pennsylvania. They decided to explore Milford on their way home from Boston one weekend and loved the character of it!
The John H. Wallace House captured their imagination, and they seized the opportunity to begin a multi-year project that embodied their shared dream of opening a bed and breakfast. Their goal was to restore its original beauty and have enough space to host the entire family for holidays and special occasions. John refocused his expertise into renovating and converting the house, which dates from the early 1800's. It was a substantial effort. They acquired it through their company, Babakuny Holdings LLC. "Babakuny" is a name their toddler son gave to frogs, and the word is a fun part of their family history.
Community engagement is a cornerstone of the Messer family values. Both Linda and John were heavily involved in Rotary International when in Media and are now members of the Rotary Club of Milford-Matamoras, John currently serves on the Milford Borough Planning Commission. They are also proud members of the Chamber of Commerce, Milford Presents and the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. Says Linda, "Milford is a hidden gem, and we want to be active in ensuring a great future for the town."
During a formative period in their children's lives, the family lived for a summer in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. It was a total-immersion experience, at times actually sitting in the center square at night and meeting local families. This provided a unique cultural experience for the children, emphasizing the importance of embracing and understanding different cultures. It brought a new light to the saying "One is not better than the other, it's just different."
A recent family vacation to Vermont's blueberry festival provided cherished moments of relaxation around a campfire, sharing meals, laughs, and stories, rekindling the joy of family life. Linda explains, "With little ones in the family again, it's nice to be able to get together as a family."
The Messers thrive on exploration, venturing off the beaten path with recent vacations to Belize, Nicaragua, Argentina, Costa Rica, The Azores, Iceland, and Madeira relishing the opportunity to experience different cultures and meet new people. As a couple, John and Linda enjoy hiking, chasing waterfalls, gardening, entertaining friends, cooking and restoring old houses. A fun tradition that Linda and John have together is that whenever they walk across a bridge, they share a kiss!
Sports loyalty runs strong in the family, with the Messers still supporting the Philadelphia Eagles and Phillies. While Linda was initially a New York sports fan, decades of Philly living converted her allegiance. One thing the family does unite in is their support for Penn State. Their son played with the Blue Band while attending school there and "we are hooked for life," John tells us.The Messers approach life and embrace challenges with a blend of humor and pragmatism, exemplified by their favorite sayings. They chuckle at a not-so-politically-correct saying attributed to John’s mother, "Wish in one hand, s#$% in the other and see which one gets filled first." You don’t get there by wishing alone. Their second saying is, "It's only paint," and is their code for recognizing that most decisions can be undone if they find out that plan "A” wasn’t working. This started with the color of one of the dining rooms in their old house and continues as they laugh about choosing colors.for the John H. Wallace House.
They love the fact that they can walk just about anywhere in town, especially to one of their favorite places, the Riverview Overlook on the Cliff trail with views of the Delaware River and NJ, which they find so relaxing.
They are also finding it easier to make friends here since they are in town and are grateful to find that people are friendly and welcoming to them.
As they settle into their new home, the Messers look forward to forging connections with their neighbors through shared activities, welcoming guests to the inn as new friends, and envisioning s'more making and game nights for kids and adults alike. Grateful for the well-wishes on their B&B venture, the Messers look forward to getting to know the community better and contributing to its vibrant future.