Brimming with history, beautifully decorated rooms, and hospitable innkeepers, Spencer House Bed & Breakfast warmly invites you to settle in and enjoy your stay. This magnificent mansion is an award-winning bed and breakfast, consistently listed as one of TripAdvisor’s Top-Rated Bed and Breakfasts.

Meet the Innkeepers

Originally from Lancaster, PA, Steve Freysz and his wife Lisa purchased the Spencer House in August 2018. “It was always our dream to run a bed and breakfast,” Lisa explained. “We came across the listing, toured it twice, actually, and everything just came together. We knew we were meant to buy this house.” With Lisa’s 20 years of professional cooking experience combined with Steve’s management background, they make the perfect team, providing their guests with welcoming hospitality and quality service. The couple not only manage Spencer House, they reside there too.

A Rich History

Located in the heart of Erie’s historic “Millionaire’s Row” on West 6^th Street in Downtown Erie, the Spencer House was the very first bed and breakfast established in the city. The Second Empire Victorian three-story mansion was built in 1876 by Judah Cole-Spencer, founder of Erie’s First National Bank, who gave it to his son William as a wedding present. The Spencers kept the house in the family until 1980. The house has served as a bed and breakfast since 1992. Steve and Lisa are happy to offer interested guests a guided tour, sharing the captivating history of Spencer House. Read more about its history here.

Enchanting Atmosphere

Spencer House feature six bedrooms, each with a private bath, library, parlor, and dining room. Notable features are everywhere including sculpted light medallions, pocket doors, handcrafted hardwood moldings, and seven fireplaces. One of Spencer House’s more interesting qualities is the presence of inscriptions carved into the wood on mantels and entranceways in the dining room, library, and the second-floor “Nursery Room” bedroom. These inscriptions are original to the house and are written in various languages such as English, Old English, Scottish, Greek, and Latin, citing Bible verses and religious references. The couple has masterfully balanced preserving the property’s historic charm of the property with necessary renovations to meet modern standards, adding large-screen TVs and Wi-Fi. “Surprisingly, for being 148 years old, the house only needs minor repairs here and there,” explained Steve. “We’ve had to put a few patches on the roof, and painted some of the rooms, but overall the house is in great shape.” Amazingly, all the original oak wood used in constructing the interior is still intact, as is the slate roof.

Local Love

Although the grounds are too small to maintain a garden, Steve and Lisa strongly support local businesses, utilizing products from Pulakos Chocolates, Courtyard Winery, local florists, and farmers markets to augment their guests’ stay. They also offer overnight packages with specialty services from Monacella Massage and Kinesiology, eBike-Drop, ASCEND Erie, and Your Sailing Adventure.

Treasured Guests

The Freysz fondly refer to their guests as family members. “Over the years, we have made strong connections and established long-term friendships with some of our clientele,” Steve commented. Many of their guests are from Pittsburgh, but they have also hosted people from across the world, including China, Australia, India, Great Britain, Germany, Norway, and Sweden. Steve continued, “Lisa and I pride ourselves on providing a warm, welcoming environment for our guests to relax, enjoy their stay, and have a memorable experience. Spencer House is more than just a bed in a room.”

Explore Your Surroundings

Enhance your stay with a stop at nearby attractions including the Hagen History Center. Operated by the Erie County Historical Society, the three-building campus is home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s original San Francisco office and the Watson-Curtze Mansion, a grand late 19th-century mansion that showcases the opulence of the Gilded Age. Enjoy a sumptuous meal from Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro (pictured), a locally-owned restaurant specializing in Caribbean and Southern regional fusion cuisine, or explore Downtown Erie and pick up an Erie keepsake at Erie Apparel. For a complete list of things to do, click here.