About
History of the Duke of Clarence
About the Duke of Clarence
The names “The Duke of Clarence” and “Adelaide’s” draw directly from the Town of Clarence’s history.
History
The town is named in honor of William, Duke of Clarence, later King William IV, the fourth son of George III of the United Kingdom, and his Queen Consort, Princess Adelaide of Saxe-Meiningen. This loyalist sentiment of towns taking their names from British royalty and aristocracy is also seen in the naming of other area communities, for example the Town of Amherst, named after the British general who had commanded the British forces in the American colonies in the mid 18th century.
Most previously the property was named The Asa Ransom House (1970-2022), after the town’s first settler who built a tavern on this site, and a grist mill nearby. The original tavern burned and some 30 years after Asa Ransom’s death, the existing structure was built in 1863. In the 70s and 90s the building was expanded to include more guest rooms and a restaurant. The property was themed after local American history and inspired by Historic Williamsburg.
Prior to 1970, the property was operated under a variety of names and styles of cuisine dating back to 1799.
Current Day
Since taking ownership in August of 2021, Bradley and Cassandra McCallum began updating and refreshing the inn. They replaced the bed linen with 600 thread-count Egyptian Cotton bedding, the toweling with high-density Turkish Cotton toweling, and the pillows with luxury feather-down pillows. They have tripled the Wi-Fi capacity and are currently replacing the existing televisions with smart television units. These changes have been well received.
They are committed to seeing the inn and restaurant thrive, not just survive. As the property has transitioned repeatedly over its 200+ year history — most recently in 1970s from Mill Road Restaurant to the Asa Ransom House, and now to The Duke of Clarence, Bradley and Cassandra will continue to make necessary changes in a way that retains the soul of the place, while evolving it into a business that is viable for the long term.
Continued Improvements
The changes will be gradual and evolutionary, done in a way sensitive to the distinctive character of the place. In addition to the things already mentioned, future changes will be the development of a multi-year improvement and redecoration plan for the property, and the addition of a craft cocktail bar in the style of a traditional private club.
The visual aesthetic of the interiors, as we transition them, will draw inspiration from multiple sources: the William IV era, the early Victorian era, and the beloved grand country houses of the United Kingdom and France. The aesthetic will be elegant and refined, but relaxed, eclectic, approachable and extremely comfortable.
Call to make a reservation
(716) 759-2315
