Cliff Manor Bed & Breakfast

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Cliff Manor has been a part of the Jefferson City cityscape since 1866. Local records show that construction on the Inn began in the summer of 1865 and was completed in just one year with much of the work being done by local German master artisans. The owner of the original structure was Judge Arnold Krekel, an abolitionist, and former legislator from St. Charles County, Missouri. The land to build Cliff Manor, which sits high atop a bluff overlooking the Missouri River, was purchased at auction, in July of 1865, on the steps of the Cole County Court House from Henrietta Bruns, widow of Mayor Bernard Bruns, a long time friend of the Judge and his family. An early map of Jefferson City drawn in 1869, which is on display at the entryway of Cliff Manor shows the Inn, the summer kitchen (which is still partially standing and will hopefully be restored over the next few years), and a stable, which is no longer standing. The picture to your right is the Inn as it presently looks, with the main entrance on the South side and the rear facing the southern banks of the Missouri River. A resident of St. Charles, Missouri, Judge Krekel decided to relocate to Jefferson City shortly after his appointment by Abraham Lincoln to the United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri in 1865. While in Jefferson City Judge Krekel was instrumental in the founding of Lincoln University, where it is said that he taught law to his students free, making him a great benefactor of the University. Aside from being a federal judge, Judge Krekel was also a successful businessperson in the local banking community. Before being appointed to the Federal Court, Arnold Krekel had a lengthy list of distinguished accomplishments. In 1865, he served as President of the Missouri Constitutional Convention and signed emancipation legislation for Missouri. In 1860, he was a Lincoln delegate to the Republican National Convention in Chicago. He was anti-slavery and pro-Union and a member of a group called the "Radical Unionists" who met at a downtown boarding house owned by Henrietta Bruns which is now where the US District Court and Post Office are located. There is much local lore about the old mansion and the tunnel that led from the basement to the river. It is not known what the purpose of this tunnel was used for but many speculate it was a safe harbor for freed slaves making their way to the river. Other believe it was for the Judge and his family in the event he had to leave Jefferson City quickly because of his political views at the time and his loyalty to the federal government. Some believe the Inn was once haunted, as your host has heard ghost stories from several previous tenants. We look forward to sharing them with you. 722 Cliff St. Jefferson City, MO 65101 (573) 635-4208 Email: cliffmanorjcmo@embarqmail.com Copyright

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