Renovations clean up Women’s Club in time for Mother’s Day tea
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COLUMBIANA --Alfred Farrand, founder of Canterbury Teas, is benefiting from the renovations being completed this month at the Columbiana Women's Club.
The house is located at 121 N. Main St. where Marchese & Co. has replaced the bathroom. Another contractor replaced the drywall throughout the stairway and main dining and socializing rooms.
Farrand mentioned that the renovations made to the bathroom will meet the guidelines required by the American Disabilities Act. The interior also received a new paint job.
"The club itself has been going for quite a number of years and it was time basically for a refreshment," said Farrand.
The renovations began around February and will be completed just in time for Mother's Day High Tea.
Canterbury Teas catering service carries a sense of Farrand's English heritage.
Farrand immigrated from England to Canada, but after meeting his wife Farrand left Vancouver to allow her to be closer to her family and friends in the United States.
"I had to think of something so I had to look back at my own culture and both my mom and me, we used to go to tea rooms" said Farrand.
Farrand recalled his mother reading tea leaves. Farrand said the neighbors would come and speak with his mother, asking her to use her gifts.
Farrand recalled discussing what he would do for work with his wife. Farrand was not intrigued by the idea of working as a greeter at Walmart.
Farrands' wife was not sure what to do with a tea room.
"We were renting it because we were landlords, "lets renovate that house into a tea room" and my wife said, "I don't know anything about that" I said "Well, I'll show you" and that's basically how it started," said Farrand.
Farrand has enjoyed catering both afternoon tea and high tea events through the years. Ferrand enjoys the international history of tea and gives a presentation at each event he caters. "Tea has got a gigantic history throughout the world even in America," said Farrand.
Farrand explained that during colonial times tea was very popular. It was not until the Civil War that America became a "coffee country."
Farrand said soldiers would be given extra strong coffee to keep them awake and fight longer.
"When they went back home after the war and it ended up being a coffee drinking country," Farrand said.
He is looking forward to doing events on a monthly basis since he is retired and is thankful that the house is being kept by the city.
"It comes as an experience, that's really what a tea is, it's an experience. There will be no loud music, there will be no televisions, it's all about conversation, being with somebody you want to be with and having the art of conversation with wonderful food and teas from all over the world," Farrand said.