Patrick and Christine Campbell hail from Southeast DC, where they grew up steeped in the stories of their great-grandfather, Wesley Plater. Plater, a sharecropper turned homeowner in Maryland, imparted invaluable business wisdom to his descendants. Among his pearls of wisdom was a simple yet profound piece of advice: "Real estate is a long game. Hold on to property versus selling it, especially if they're in places not favorable to Black Americans."
Investing in Legacy
The Campbell siblings' purchase of the Keystone Inn demonstrates how they are actively investing in their family legacy through real estate. Inspired by their great-grandfather Wesley Plater's timeless advice, "hold on to property," they carried on his vision of building intergenerational wealth.
By following Plater's counsel and acquiring the historic bed and breakfast, the siblings ensured that his wisdom would persist in tangible and impactful ways. Their ownership of the Keystone Inn not only pays financial dividends but serves symbolic dividends.
It reinforces the resilience of their ancestors who faced racial barriers when accumulating assets. It also inspires the next generation by illustrating what can be achieved by esteeming property as a long-term store of value.
In becoming the sole Black proprietors of a bed and breakfast in Gettysburg, the Campbells have solidified their stake in both the local community and tourism industry. They have honored their family's legacy of entrepreneurship, stewarding an iconic small business and adding new chapters to its rich narrative.
Furthermore, they have opened doors of representation and opportunity for others, removing one more vestige of the area's history of exclusion.
By following Plater's principle, the siblings have planted seeds whose fruits will be reaped for years to come. Their legacy investment in the Keystone Inn pays it forward.
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Managing Heritage
In purchasing and managing the Keystone Inn, the Campbell siblings demonstrate a dedication to honoring their family's heritage through real estate.
Not only did they heed their great-grandfather's advice to invest in property, but they took the additional step of personally overseeing operations at the acquired inn.
By splitting day-to-day responsibilities with the innkeepers they hired, the siblings ensure their family's touchpoint in the storied location. In this sense, ownership of the inn serves as both a financial asset and a vessel for safeguarding their ancestry.
Through community events like the upcoming murder mystery weekend, the siblings enrich the guest experience while also sharing their backgrounds.
Drawing connections between the inn's scenic setting and the courageous contributions of African Americans only enhances the legacy they now shepherd. Whether cooking family recipes in the kitchen or relating personal anecdotes handed down over generations, the Campbells breathe life into the property’s history.
Of course, management duties like marketing, planning, and problem-solving translate into valuable skills the siblings accrue as well. But more importantly, stewardship of such a prominent small business edifies their family name and empowers the next generation.
By illuminating the perseverance of their forebears through ownership of the Keystone Inn, the Campbells not only tangibly memorialize their lineage, but they foster self-sufficiency and communal bonds, just as their grandfather and great-grandfather did before them.
Their preservation of both heritage and haven for all will endure for years to come.
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Home as a Hub
For the Campbell family, the notion of "home" extends far beyond the four walls of a house. They understand the power of home as a community hub, a place of refuge and belonging, thanks to the example set by their grandmother Flossie.
Her warm and inviting rowhome provided the gathering space where memories were made and family bonds were strengthened over meals like the legendary Thanksgiving feasts. For Flossie and her descendants, the concept of home incorporated welcoming all and fostering togetherness.
This encompassing view of the home as heart and hearth has influenced the way Patrick, Christine, and Stephen approach their latest endeavor with the Keystone Inn.
Just as Flossie's house brought people together across generations, the siblings aim to run the inn as a place that celebrates people from all walks of life.
Their goal of sharing their family's story with guests and creating a welcoming environment mirrors Flossie's ability to foster connection through hospitality.
Rather than simply operating the inn as a business venture focused on profit, the Campbells infuse it with the soul of "home"—a place where all feel at ease. Like the cozy refuge their grandmother sustained, the inn has become a new gathering spot for both family and community.
By managing it with Flossie's example of warmth and inclusivity in mind, the siblings ensure her legacy of "home" lives on in all its dimensions—as a refuge, people's heart, and center of lives in more ways than one.
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Navigating History
Flossie and her husband Leroy made a significant investment in their future when they purchased their DC home for a mere $4,000 in 1927, a time when segregation was rampant. Later, they expanded their holdings by acquiring another property near former Black homeowners, a testament to their foresight and resilience in navigating challenging times.
Building Wealth, Building Communities
The Campbell siblings demonstrate enviable devotion to both honoring their lineage and bettering their community through their preservation of family properties.
By maintaining ownership of the homes their grandmother and other elders once held, they allow the wealth generated to remain within their community.
The spectacular rise in the value of Christine's Walter Street home to nearly $1 million underscores the astuteness of their great-grandfather's guidance to invest in real estate for the long term.
Rather than selling during periods of dramatic appreciation, the siblings choose to build upon the foundation laid by previous generations. In so doing, they fortify assets that will support future Campbells.
Their refusal to relinquish heirlooms despite tempting offers reinforces the very networks of support their elders cultivated. By retaining footholds where their roots have taken hold for decades, the siblings simultaneously construct intergenerational prosperity and tight-knit neighborhoods.
The Campbell mission demonstrates that wealth creation and caring for the community need not be mutually exclusive.
Their commitment to both epitomizes how Black prosperity and Black spaces are symbiotically strengthened when histories are preserved in place. It also embodies how change can be effected from within through cooperation instead of displacement.
Looking Forward
While honoring their past, the Campbell family remains focused on the future. Their recent acquisition of a corner market near one of their family homes demonstrates their strategic approach to investment and community development. With each decision, they reinforce the enduring relevance of their great-grandfather's wisdom and pave the way for future generations to thrive.
Conclusion
In the Campbell family's journey, the wisdom passed down through generations serves as both a compass and a guiding light.
Through prudent investment, steadfast dedication, and a commitment to community, they not only honor their ancestors but also carve out a bright future for themselves and those who will come after them.
As they continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape of real estate and entrepreneurship, one thing remains clear: the legacy of Wesley Plater lives on in the hearts and minds of his descendants, shaping their decisions and enriching their lives for generations to come.
Source: DC family cashes in on great-grandfather’s real estate advice | WTop News
