The Inn

—About Our Historic Bed and Breakfast

An 1895 Georgian Legacy

The story of the Lafayette Inn begins on College Hill in 1895. Originally commissioned as an investment property by Elizabeth Wagner Leary, the mansion was built on land that was once part of the Wagner farm—a property held by one of the families that settled Easton in the mid-1700s. Constructed as a Georgian mansion, the building stands as a testament to the late-19th-century boom of the College Hill neighborhood.

A Growing Thoroughfare

As Easton expanded, Cattell Street evolved from a winding country road into the primary thoroughfare connecting northern regions to downtown Easton. By 1885, the street had been widened, and in 1890, it became the route for the city’s first trolley line. In this era of growth, George Elder, the superintendent of the Ingersoll Rand Co., became the first known tenant and eventually the owner of the property at 510 Cattell Street. Around 1917, the Elder family renovated and enlarged the residence, maintaining ownership for two decades.

Era of Transition

The economic impact of the 1929 Depression brought significant changes to the mansion, leading it to be divided into smaller apartments. In 1937, the property was sold at a Sheriff’s sale and changed hands several times over the following twenty years. In 1958, the house entered a new chapter when it was purchased by the Sigma Chapter of Pi Lambda Phi, serving as a Lafayette College fraternity house for over two decades. After the fraternity disbanded in 1982, the building sat vacant, awaiting its next transformation.

The Restoration of a Neighborhood Landmark

In early 1986, a group of investors recognized the architectural potential and proportions of the abandoned mansion. They undertook an extensive renovation to preserve the historic character of the building while converting it into a fifteen-room inn. Opening its doors on December 19, 1986, the property has since evolved into the seventeen-room hotel that stands today. Now under the stewardship of Lafayette College, the Inn continues to serve as a bridge between Easton’s past and the life of the campus community.