A note from Mary & Ed:

Ed and Mary Hoeffel announce the closing of The Augusta Rose Bed & Breakfast effective August 25, 2014. We are retiring while we are still relatively healthy and able-bodied and are relocating to a small home in Napoleon. We plan to spend as much time as possible with our children and grandchildren in Texas, Colorado and Oregon, but will also continue to serve our community and our church during the time we spend in Napoleon. Our home, which has been on the market for the past three (3) years, will remain on the market until it is sold.

We wish to thank the members of the community for their support over the past 18 years. This has been an amazing journey. Since we opened our doors on July 3, 1996, we have met scores of wonderful people and made many friends. Through our guests, we have shared in baptisms, graduations, weddings, funerals, meetings, fundraisers, genealogy searches, geocashing weekends and many baby and bridal showers, along with retirement, birthday, Christmas and anniversary parties. It has been our privilege to host Miss Ohio many times over the years when she participated in the Tomato Festival pageant. We have also welcomed business people when they visit area offices, factories, hospitals and retailers, and travelers on their way through our state. Bicyclists and motorcyclists who travel the state scenic byways have been frequent visitors as have hikers on the Buckeye Trail.

Our neighborhood has played no small part in our success. "City people" are fascinated by the folks who smile, wave or stop and chat with them as they relax on our porch. These interactions have reminded us that community spirit is not universal, that the security we feel in our homes is not felt in many urban areas, that the trust we have in our neighbors is believed by many to have left with "the good old days".

We have been enriched beyond description by the folks who have shared their lives with us and who allowed us to share our life with them. Thank you to those citizens of the world (literally!) who have made our home part of their journey. We have been blessed by your presence and by the memories you have given us.