The Cottage That Found Us

by Linda Brain Beck

[Originally published in the Fall 2025 issue of Mount Gretna Magazine. View the full issue to see this story in its designed layout, complete with additional images.]

Photo by Shannon Fretz Photography. Linda Brain Beck and husband Ed enjoy a conversation on their cottage porch.

“If we owned this cottage ….”

That’s what my husband, Ed, and I whimsically pondered last August as we sat on the bright red rocking chairs as renters of 114 Otterbein Ave.

Through some mystical Mount Gretna magic, we found ourselves sitting on those same chairs just a few months later, this time as cottage owners and part-time residents.

The idea of owning a 130-year-old cottage certainly gave us some pause. But our rental experiences had cemented the feeling that this community was a perfect fit for us. Like many residents before us, we succumbed to Gretna’s charm and embarked on this promising new adventure. Through that, we’ve discovered previously unrecognized connections, unexpected finds, and an unbeatable sense of community.

Unrecognized connections

Looking back, I realize that Gretna played a subtle yet supportive role throughout our lives.

Ed’s father’s family owned a Pennsylvania Chautauqua cottage that his grandfather, Edgar Beck, sold during World War II due to gas rationing. The gas rationing made the short drive from Middletown problematic.

Like many of Ed’s relatives, we often lamented not having that legacy. As a child, Ed’s family took regular trips here. His father frequently tried to pinpoint where the Beck cottage had been located — now a research project for us.

Having grown up in Elizabethtown, I, too, have fond memories of trips to get ice cream at The Jigger Shop Ice Cream Parlor. My high school prom was at the Timbers Restaurant and Dinner Theater. I played mini golf many times over the years. And I distinctly remember reading a news article about quiet hours and marveling at how this concept could be achieved.

We introduced our son — now 24 — to Gretna through playdates at the playground. More recently, we’ve all attended the art show and become season subscribers to the Gretna Theatre.

As we grew to know Gretna better, we discovered the Chautauqua Summer Programs series. As lifelong learners and educators, we realized spending an entire summer here would allow us to soak in immeasurable formal and informal learning opportunities. So, we decided to begin by renting for one week in July 2024, with the intention of gradually adding more weeks to our rental period. We had only added one more week when we completely upended that bucket-list item.

Unexpected finds

Fortunately, most of our cottage’s major systems were already updated, allowing us to focus on transitioning it from a rental unit to our little haven.

We have discovered the art of thrifting and giggle at some of what we’ve gotten for little or no money. Besides frequenting thrift stores, we have gathered items left on the curb by people selling their belongings, taken advantage of the May porch sale, and responded to Facebook posts about items from cottages being remodeled.

We’ve gained valuable intel from other residents about where to find the best deals. And it seems to be true that many items never leave Gretna; they just get passed on to a different cottage.

We’re told it takes about five years to get through the initial to-do list. However, we have also learned that work on a cottage is never quite done; it’s an ongoing, evolving process. We’re on track for that five-year plan and settling in for the long haul. Our short time here has convinced us to become full-time residents at some point.

I’ve also unexpectedly found an interest in Gretna’s history. While Ed has always been a history buff, I’ve only tolerated lessons of the past. Now, I eagerly want to soak in as much as I can about how our cottage and Gretna came to be.

As we’ve sifted through the far corners of the cottage, we’ve discovered vintage items remaining from previous renovations, including the “Smoker’s Cottage” sign. It’s a relic from former owners — not, as we initially believed, a reference to any vices. Apparently, in jest, the cottage across the street was also once known as the Drinker’s Cottage. We have touched base with the Smoker family and have plans to meet up and learn more about the evolution of the cottage.

Gretna lore tells us that the stair railing in the cottage was from a train car that Franklin D. Roosevelt once rode in. We also understand that Maria von Trapp’s granddaughter once stayed in the cottage while in town to perform at the Mount Gretna Tabernacle.

One of the many things we love about our cottage is its proximity to the Tabernacle, sitting just to the rear of the building. We often open the door to find ourselves eavesdropping on practices or pre-concert sound checks. And, of course, we have prime seats for listening to all the happenings there.

Unbeatable sense of community

Like many Gretna residents, our lives “in residence” revolve around our idyllic wraparound porch. As renters, we enjoyed chatting with passersby while relaxing there. That’s one of the reasons we wanted a cottage on a pedestrian-only street despite the two-block walk to the parking lot. Part of the magic of Gretna is the people we meet and the stories we hear.

We joke that it takes longer to get anywhere around Gretna. As we walk our dog or head out to a program, we often stop and chat with a new neighbor or peek around other cottages to see what others have done with their places.

Although we have honored the rentals for this summer, which has limited our time here, we have enjoyed getting to know others at Friday Happy Hours and even as new members of the Mount Gretna Community Marching Band. The hardest part is remembering which names go with which cottage.

It seems every person we meet here has a fascinating story. Their lives, passions, and stories of what brought them here interest me to no end. At Gretna, time seems to slow down enough to allow for listening to others and discovering many shared connections.

We recognize that nothing is perfect, and we don’t expect the Gretna community to be any different. But we feel fortunate to be part of the unique bond and shared pride of being a Gretna resident.

Our cottage didn’t just find us. It led us to a deeper connection with a place that has always been part of our story, which is now becoming the heart of our shared future.

Linda Brain Beck’s diverse career spans corporate and academic realms. She teaches communication courses for HACC, Lebanon Valley College’s MBA program, and Dale Carnegie. A seasoned speaker, she delivers keynotes and has given a TEDx presentation. With her husband, Ed, she co-manages a communications and leadership training company.