“It is a great honor to be distinguished as a “Spirit of Somerset” Award Winner for Cultural and Heritage Preservation, and we are excited that The Bernards Inn is being recognized for its longtime contributions to the community,” said Harold Imperatore, proprietor of the Bernards Inn that began welcoming guests in 1907.

“We have always believed that the Inn is the ‘heart and soul’ of the area and it is gratifying for local leaders to acknowledge it as a ‘Grande Dame’ of the Somerset Hills,” Imperatore said.

The inn has served as a focal point for the Somerset County community and visitors for more than a century.

“A great deal of local history has taken place within its walls, as the inn has been the site of countless community, cultural and social celebrations as well as business and civic gatherings,” Imperatore said.

When the inn was restored to its original grandeur in 2007, Imperatore said they were careful to protect the building’s architectural integrity.

“The interior was redesigned to reflect the character of the estates on Bernardsville Mountain and our goal was to capture the elegance of a bygone era while bringing comfort and a welcoming atmosphere to all who visited us,” he said. Download Article