The Baron York Story

In the 1890’s, Mr. Barron (spelled with two “r’s”) built the Baron York building then sold it to his cousin, Mr. York.  The upstairs was Mr. York’s office.  He put in the first telephone in the area so that he could call his wife and tell her when he was coming home for lunch.  The York home is the second house on the right as you leave town on north 197.  Other people thought his gadget was quite handy and tied into his line. Before you know it, Mr. York started the Standard Telephone Company, which later became Alltel.

In the 1960’s, Mr. Freeland bought the building and made the upstairs an apartment, the first dwelling on the square.  He covered the heart pine floor with plywood and green shag carpet and put in the kitchen appliances that are still in use today.  (Check out the “retro” oven!)

The Baron York building was listed on the historic register but was misspelled with one “r.”  When Jerry and Monika Schulte bought the building in August of 2003 with a vision for an international café they made  the choice to stay with the misspelling and name the establishment The Baron York Café.

After three months of many hours of renovations, including exposing and restoring the original heart pine flooring, they began a search for someone interested in leasing the space and business.  They were unaware that for six months, Dea Irby had prayerfully searched downtown Clarkesville for a location for a tea room.  Her search had ended in August 2003 (the same month the Schultes bought the Baron York building) when God put the brakes on HER endeavor….She buried her vision but God resurrected it to an even better situation.  A realtor with whom Dea had spoken was also a friend of the Schultes and got them together in mid-October 2003. 

During her six-month search, Dea developed a business plan that included at least five “essentials” for her tea room (besides great food and service).  The first was that it was on the square; second, that it would have a book case with interesting books (there are still some on the bottom shelf); third, that it would have a guest book (please sign it); and fourth, that it would have a nice restroom.  All of these were accomplished by the Schultes before Dea came on the scene.  Now, the fifth “essential” takes a special note.  In her research, she had found a local merchant that had wonderful music playing in her store.  Dea noted that when she opened her tea room, she would find out what CDs the merchant was using.  When this merchant closed her business in early fall, the Schultes bought her sound system, CDs and all.  That very music is part of the music now heard while dining at the café.

God answered Dea’s prayers about a tea room exceedingly and abundantly above what she had asked or thought.  So, on November 15, 2003, the doors opened for the Baron York Café, Dea Irby, proprietor.  In August 2006, the Baron York expanded to include the whole upstairs.