Alumni trio purchase Harrisonburglandmark

In 1888, Canadian businessman Joshua Wilton moved to Harrisonburg and was credited with bringing electricity to the town. More than 115 years later, three JMU alumni are creating a spark all their own with the house that bears Wilton's name.

Established as a bed and breakfast in 1988 by JMU alum Craig Moore and his wife, Roberta, the Joshua Wilton House is recognized as one of the south's premier inns and fine dining restaurants. In July 2004, Ann Marie Coe ('94, '95M), Mark Newsome ('92, '94M) and Sean Pugh ('94) bought the downtown landmark.

Going from employees to owners has been an exciting change for the trio. Making the decision to pursue a business relationship, however, took careful consideration because the group didn't want to jeopardize their friendships. Coe, who is married to Newsome and has known Pugh since 1992, says that communication was the key to addressing concerns head-on. "We talked a lot about how it could be really challenging to mix all that," Coe says. "Our main reservation was that we'd lose the friendship."

Communicating openly helped alleviate those fears, and it also resulted in an agreement to be working managers who are both visible and accessible. Patrons can find Newsome, an acclaimed chef, overseeing the restaurant and kitchen, and Coe and Pugh running the house. Coe also manages catering and marketing, while Pugh oversees accounting and the restaurant's extensive wine list.

Pugh says that customer feedback has been overwhelmingly supportive because guests recognize the commitment of the new owners. "They are so pleased we took it over," he says. "When it was sold, it was sold to people who know it and who care and had the investment already."

The trio credit JMU's Small Business Administration with helping them turn their commitment into a written business plan that enabled them to make the purchase. It's the most recent example of the bond that has existed between JMU and the Joshua Wilton House over the years. The property once served as a TKE fraternity house, as well as student apartments. Today the inn is a frequent home to JMU visitors and alumni. That connection to JMU is one that the owners don't take for granted. "If it weren't for JMU, there wouldn't be a Joshua Wilton House," says Newsome. 

www.joshuawilton.com

-- Liz Cerami Taylor ('92)