Family History
Willough Bed & Breakfast was built in 1882 as the family home of George Washington Wood. George was the son of iron and steel industrialist John “Squire” Wood, an important member of the community as the first burgess of Conshohocken in 1850, a Justice of the Peace, and a member of U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania’s 5th congressional district from 1859-1861.
George lived in his family home and worked at his father’s business, the Conshohocken Iron Works, until he passed away in 1898. His wife Laura Wood and daughter Laura Alene Wood lived in the home for the remainder of their lives.
A Legacy of Caring Owners
In 1933, the home was sold to Dr. Richard Lebowski who used it as both a private residence and a doctor’s office. The home was next in the possession of Edmund Opielski, beginning in 1977. A lifelong resident of Conshohocken and WWII veteran, Edmund lived in the home and worked diligently on restorations until his death in 2015.
Passing Down History
As a little girl growing up in Conshohocken, Carol Rutkowski would walk by the George Washington Wood home every day on her way to school. When the property was available in 2016, Carol and her husband Joe purchased the historic home to fulfill her lifelong dream to restore it to its original elegance and welcome visitors from around the world. Their vision became a unique Conshohocken hotel alternative.
In 2020 we lost Carol. We continue to run GWW B&B in her memory.
The George Washington Wood Bed & Breakfast was closed in 2020, due to COVID, and a difficult decision was eventually made to sell the property. In October 2025, long time hospitality professional, MJ Paschall acquired this fully renovated property and proudly pursues the tradition started by Carol Rutkowski of welcoming travelers and creating curated and memorable experiences. The “Conshy” Community, originally rooted in industry and repurposed to create great places to Eat, Love and Stay! Look for exciting partnerships and unique experiences at Willough Bed+Breakfast.
