Madeline Young: sharing success

Madeline met Kenn Young when they were both students at Cornell University around 1972 — she in the Cornell Nursery School and he in the School of Human Ecology, where Kenn was testing toy protocols and Madeline was one of the nursery schoolers who played with the toys.

Madeline grew up baking with her beloved grandmother.

“Grandma Mollie was an amazing home cook,” Madeline said. “She never used recipes and went by intuition. I enjoyed the freedom and creativity of cooking and baking with her and think of our time together years ago.”

After graduating from Ithaca College, instead of heading to the Culinary Institute of America as planned, Madeline followed another love: art. She headed to London to work in a prominent art gallery.

“This was the time of easily obtained six-month renewable work permits,” she said.

And then, it was on to Chicago for another urban art gallery gig. By the mid-’90s, Madeline had circled back to cooking and tried her hand at catering before launching her own much-sought-after baking and catering creations at Have Your Cake around 1997.

In the meantime, Kenn in 1994 bought a “fixer-upper” on Columbia Street on South Hill. He recognized the elegant, classic lines of the stately rundown property, while friends and family thought he was crazy.

Around that time, Kenn invited Madeline out for a drink at Simeon’s (thanks to their mutual friend, the delightful local salonist Julie Stone), and the rest is history. Madeline and Kenn became inseparable, and in 1999, they married and took up residence in the exquisite home Kenn had restored.

Kenn and Madeline transformed their lovely Columbia Street property into the Inn on Columbia Street, and by 1998, they were receiving guests. Fans of their B&B come back every year to savor the art (by Monica Franciscus, Michael Boyd, Barbara Page, Elke and Carl Scofield and Bill Benson) and sample Madeline’s delectable pastries. This talented, hard-working couple now own many attractive houses on South Hill.

“Yes, hosting a B&B and rental properties is 24/7, with long hours, but we have terrific guests and offer them space and privacy,” Madeline said. “We’ve lived and loved this lifestyle so many years; we have it down to a routine. Plus, we have great staff, who help with the housekeeping and handyman tasks. … Kenn likes to be very active. He is always working on something and can fix anything.”

Madeline skillfully handles all aspects of the kitchen and guest relations (for which guests share A+ ratings). The couple’s other rental properties give new meaning to “move-in ready.”

The only thing tenants have to bring is their toothbrush, Madeline said, because the staff outfit the kitchen and provide laundry, housekeeping, parking, Wi-Fi, electricity, snow removal and lawn care. They also provide all linens and towels, handmade artistic furnishings and local art.

“Our staff maintains the decks and porches, lawns and garden, down to the planters and deck furniture,” Madeline said. “Most of our rentals are to grad students and professionals, and despite a few hiccups, the business has been smooth. One tenant is in her seventh year, and we love when tenants tell us we spoil them.”

Local residents express admiration for the quality properties scattered throughout South Hill. They note the unexpected colors, the glorious and quirky gardens and the fastidious landscaping that set the bar high for the rest of the homeowners and landlords.

Somehow, over the years, Kenn and Madeline have also managed to share their wide-ranging abilities with others in need in the community.

“I remember volunteering with my brother Josh and then with my sister-in-law Amanda at Loaves and Fishes throughout the years,” Madeline said. “When [Loaves] had to suddenly ramp up from serving 250 meals in the dining room to 500 meals to go, I started helping out on a three-hour shift Monday through Friday.”

Madeline is part of a team with ordained Unitarian Universalist Minister and Director Christina Culver and Volunteer Coordinator Isiah Parker, who work to prepare 1,200 meals every week.

“I love working with these inspirational community leaders in their commercial kitchen space in the historic St. John’s Episcopal Church on Cayuga Street,” Madeline said. “There are maximum six volunteers for both the prep and clean-up shifts, all observing social distancing. I work alone in a room packing the entrée of the day, and then, in another space, utensils, drink, fruit and sweet are added, and all is served to go.”

Before the time of the coronavirus, Loaves and Fishes hosted much larger volunteer shifts, but to protect the workers, the shift teams are much smaller. Due to social isolation, all meals are packed in delightful containers and given out in the front of the church.

Kenn, who delivers meals as part of Tompkins County’s Mutual Aid project, and Madeline remark how grateful they are to have their good fortune and good health.

Meeting this attractive, understated couple, one has no idea how much depends upon them in their work and in their community service. Who knew when Kenn met Madeline in 1972 that they would someday share their lives with so many of us?