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A taste for history The McCall House circa 1900. Seated in chair is Mary Elizabeth "Lizzie" McCall and seated to the right on the steps is step-daughter Lydia McCall, who moved in when 4 years old and lived here for 88 years. Tuesday Oct 25, 2016 at 8:22 PM Oct 25, 2016 at 8:23 PM By John Darling For the Tidings The McCall House, a beautiful Italianate bed-and-breakfast mansion on Oak Street just off Lithia Way, has published an elegant hardback book of its most popular recipes, highlighted by chef Saudia Sharkey’s yummy Shakshuka, an Israeli poached egg dish on sourdough baguette with garlic and diced tomatoes. The 136-year old home, built by Civil War hero Capt. John McCall and his wife, Mary, serves thousands of guests a year, including many locals who come for a “stay-cation,” and to enjoy the delicious meals, says innkeeper Amanda Butler. “We serve 20 to 25 people a day,” Sharkey notes. “The cookbook has recipes that are based on serving brunch or special occasions with more than a few people,” but, of course, they can be sized down. The 77-page, richly illustrated book, designed by Kerry Ferris and photographed by Cornelius Matteo, offers such savory breakfasts as Anaheim Chili Souffle, Buckwheat Crepes, Farmers Market Vegetable Saute with Chimichurri Sauce, Mediterranean Souffle with Quinoa Tabbouleh and Spinach-Yogurt Dip, Portobello Wellington and many more. The Inn serves afternoon treats and cookies, so you’ll find recipes for Almond-Cinnamon cookies, Chocolate Biscotti, Chocolate-Dipped Coconut Macaroons, Glazed Lemon Cookies and more. Breakfast at the McCall House is often in three or four courses, and this is reflected in the cookbook, which “pairs” each course, taste-wise to the next, says Sharkey. It’s hard not to look at the elegant dining room and realize that meals were taken there by legendary Civil War Gen. William Tecumseh Sherman, a friend and battlefield comrade of McCall, and by three-time Democratic presidential nominee William Jennings Bryan. The house was built on a knoll, says Butler, and was among the earliest homes in the neighborhood, so it could be seen from the newly-completed railroad and, hoped McCall, would help bring new settlers and businesses to town. McCall struck it rich in the Jacksonville gold rush in 1852, moving into Ashland, she says, when it was just a store and a few houses. He became a prominent citizen, starting Ashland Mills, Ashland library and the local Bank of America. He served as mayor of Ashland and represented the region in the state legislature. He bought the Daily Tidings newspaper soon after its launch in 1876. The “ever patriotic” McCall married Mary Elizabeth “Lizzie” Anderson on July 4 on the nation’s centennial, 1876. They raised four children and often offered the house for town meetings and social events. The home was restored by owner Phyllis Courtney, a Shakespearean actor, who began the project in 1980. It opened as a B&B the next year and Butler thinks it was the first B&B in town, as well as operating in the oldest structure among B&Bs. The restoration was continued by Millis M. McLaughlin and her family, who bought it in 2001. The book will be launched at 3 p.m. Saturday with a book signing on site at 153 Oak St. More information is at mccallhouse.com/dining/cookbook. John Darling is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected].