Tour visitors enjoy NASA display

An old Tiger football helmet and football playbook were highlights of displays at the North Alexander School Saturday. The school was open for Spring Tour of Homes visitors, allowing old students and visitors alike to see the work already done and the work still needing to be done. Display cases were filled with Washington High School memorabilia and classwork. With noticeable improvements already made to the school, the North Alexander School Association (NASA) is continuing its effort to restore the old structure.

Spring Tour was a success’ with perfect weather, happy crowds

Homeowners Charles and Betsy Wagner welcome Spring Tour of Homes guests to their newly renovated Barksdale-Thomas-Wagner home on North Alexander Avenue Saturday. Local and out-of-town visitors enjoyed seeing the extensive restoration of the house and garden area that the Wagners have accomplished in just two years.

Homeowners Charles and Betsy Wagner welcome Spring Tour of Homes guests to their newly renovated Barksdale-Thomas-Wagner home on North Alexander Avenue Saturday. Local and out-of-town visitors enjoyed seeing the extensive restoration of the house and garden area that the Wagners have accomplished in just two years.
“In all our travels, we’ve not seen anything like this Tour of Homes,” said Phil and Kaki Jones of Denbeigh, Wales. “Friends invited us and we came two years ago, and it’s just gotten better.”

“I’d say the Spring Tour of Homes was a success,” said Carol Jackson. “We had guests from all over, we had perfect weather, and even if it was Easter weekend, the crowds were great and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves.”

This year’s annual Washington- Wilkes Spring Tour of Homes gave visitors a look at nine private homes and other historic places throughout the city beginning Friday evening, with a full day of touring Saturday.

Jackson recognized all the hard work done by everyone involved. “Thanks to all the homeowners and the volunteers, the drivers, the hostesses, the docents, for giving up their Saturday to take part in the Tour. We really appreciate it.”

The annual Spring Tour of Homes is sponsored by the Washington Woman’s Club, the Washington Kiwanis Club, and the Washington- Wilkes Chamber of Commerce with help from nearly 300 community volunteers of all ages.

Visitors took the weekend as an opportunity for shopping and dining in Washington. One woman, part of a group of six from Danielsville, won Saturday’s drawing for 500 Washington Dollars at the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, Jackson said. The Washington Dollars may be spent at Downtown businesses, she said, “but they already did a good bit of shopping in town.”

Both civic luncheons were popular, she said, and restaurants did good business all weekend.

The North Alexander School was popular with visitors, too. “They’re really drawn to the display of an old football helmet and a playbook,” Susan Abramson said. “We’ve had a steady stream of visitors all morning.”

At the Robert Toombs House Historic Site, the Toombs Family and friends welcomed visitors with a living history program on Saturday, while the “1860’s Civilian Society of Georgia” period dance group performed downstairs.

This year’s spring musical by the Washington Little Theater was well-attended. This year’s production, the musical, My Fair Lady, will again be performed this weekend at the Bolton Lunceford Playhouse on North Alexander Avenue, at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets are $10 each.

One visitor from Madison, which also holds a tour of homes, said that he preferred Washington’s chauffeured Spring Tour. “This is a class act,” he said. “You’re like a welloiled machine.”

"Welcome to the Norman home"

Over and over, Georgia belle Sylvia Lee Walker welcomed Spring Tour of Homes guests to the home of Gary and Suzanne Norman during Friday’s Candlelight Tour. She was just one of hundreds of docents and other volunteers who put in many foot-sore hours on duty during the Tour weekend. “It gets a little tiring, but it’s fun,” she said.

Washington-Wilkes Tourism Director

Ashley Barnett was on Channel 6 television Monday at 12:30 to promote the upcoming Annual Tour of Homes set for April 2-3. . . . There was also a nice advertisement about the tour in a relatively new magazine called Lakelife. The magazine is advertised as “Your guide to living in Georgia’s lake country.” It’s published by Mark Smith who used to be with the Athens Banner-Herald. It’s a beautiful publication.
ƒ
This year's Tour has some interesting features. At the invitation of Charlie and Betsy Wagner, to visit their house, which is the Colley-Barksdale-Thomas-Wagner House on North Alexander Avenue, I had a tour of the house and gardens Friday. They have done a fantastic job of restoration and decorating and I was so pleased to note that it looks just like it did during all those years I visited for piano lessons and various other things. The Wagners say they are “outdoor people” and there is much evidence of that in the gardens and other areas of the yard. All of

Miss Gene’s camellias, azaleas, oak hydrangeas, and other shrubbery has been pruned to perfection and they have added walkways and many other things. It’s all beautiful. Don’t miss it. . . . Of course, all the other houses on the tour are beautiful and interesting, too. This is just one that I got to visit personally. Be sure to read The News-Reporter accounts of the houses both in the regular weekly paper and in the upcoming Tour Supplement in next week’s paper. There is a “world of information” there.

Haygralin

Annual Spring Tour of Homes features nine homes April 2-3, 2010

The home of Ellon and Hoyle Penna – 408 South Alexander Avenue The annual Washington-Wilkes Spring Tour of Homes will be held this year on April 2-3, with a total of nine private homes and many other historic places and events available to visitors during the weekend.
FRIDAY, APRIL 2
Candlelight Tour
The Candlelight Tour on Friday night, April 2, will have four homes open for visitors from 6 until 9 p.m. Featured are the homes of Gary and Suzanne Norman at 406 South Alexander Avenue; Kurt Wolf, the Smith-Stratton Cottage at 311 East Liberty Street; the Saunders-Ludwig Loft on The Square; and Fortson Hill on Spring Street, home of Nancy Farris.
A special event of Friday evening will be the Champagne and Dessert Soiree to be held at the Regions Bank, 100 East Robert Toombs Avenue, from 6 to 9 p.m. Skeet Willingham, local historian, will be speaking on “The Legendary Lost Gold of the Confederacy.”
The design for the Regions Bank building is based on the Bank of the State of Georgia, Washington branch, erected in 1824 and demolished in 1904. The building was located approximately where the Wilkes County Courthouse now stands.
It was in this building that Jefferson Davis signed the final acts of the Confederate government and consulted officially with his cabinet and advisors for the last time. The present building was built in 1985.
Tickets for the Candlelight Tour will cost $25.00, and for the Soiree only, $10.00.
Also available for visitors as well as Washington-Wilkes people will be the Washington-Wilkes Little Theater production of the musical “My Fair Lady” at the Bolton Lunceford Playhouse on North Alexander Avenue. Performances will be at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday nights. Tickets are $10 each.
Tour headquarters on Friday will be at the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce, 29 West Square, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Headquarters on Saturday will be at the Washington-Wilkes Elementary School, 109 East Street, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
SATURDAY, APRIL 3
Day Tour
The Day Tour on Saturday will have five homes open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., as well as many other historical places. Open for visitors will be the Fortson-Denard Home on the Tignall Road, home of O.A. and Jerry Denard; the Colley-Barksdale Thomas home, 306 North Alexan- der Avenue, home of Charles and Betsy Wagner; the home of Mercer and India Harris, 206 West Robert Toombs Avenue; Haygralin, home of Louis and Carol Harris, 306 South Alexander Avenue; and Pembroke, home of William and Virginia Pope, 217 West Robert Toombs Avenue.
The old North Alexander Avenue School dating from 1897 will also be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. for visitors to observe the progress being made in the restoration of the old building.
There will be a drawing at 5 p.m. Saturday for 500 Washington Dollars in the Downtown area.
“My Fair Lady” will be presented at the Bolton Lunceford Playhouse at 8 p.m.
Courtesy Tour Cars will be provided for visitors on Saturday. Cars driven by members of the Kiwanis Club and others will pick-up visitors at the headquarters at the school and take them wherever they wish to go and will be available to take visitors back to the headquarters.
Tickets for the Day Tour are $30 each. Cost of tickets for the two-day Homes and Museums Package are $50.00.
Visitors may tour a single house by paying $5.00 at the door of the house chosen.
The Washington Woman’s Club will provide a luncheon at a cost of $10 each on Saturday. Reservations are suggested, but not required.
The First United Methodist Church will have lunch available from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. No reservation is needed.
Other historic places on the tour include the Jackson Chapel AME Church, Mary Willis Library (quilt display), Robert Toombs House, Callaway Plantation, and the Washington Historical Museum, as well as most of the Washington churches..
Tickets may be ordered from the Washington-Wilkes Tour of Homes, P.O. Box 1293, Washington 30673; by phone, 706-678-2013; or email: wwtourofhomes@gmail.com
All major credit cards are accepted.
Special prices are available for tour groups.
The News-Reporter will feature different houses on the tour in each of its publications from now until tour day. This week’s featured home is that of Ellon and Hoyle Penna, 408 South Alexander Avenue.
This home was designed in a simplified Second Empire style in 1884 by W.W. Thomas, one of the leading architects of the era. General Robert Toombs, Secretary of State of the Confederate States of America, commissioned the architect to build the house for his grandson, Toombs DuBose.
The February 8, 1884, edition of The Washington Gazette described the building as “entirely modern, with tasteful gables, bay windows, and finishings.” Sometimes early in the 20th Century, the building was enlarged with the attachment of a smaller clapboard-sided house that was moved onto the site on rolling logs.
The house contains a wide central hallway, 13 full-sized rooms, plus at least four anterooms, separating the larger rooms from each other. There are three bathrooms and an especially appealing kitchen. There is almost 5,000 square feet of enclosed space and three porches. The entire top floor of the house contains a high-ceilinged attic.
During the mid-20th Century, the house was in the Sims family and at one point one of the Sims sisters, Elizabeth Sims (Mrs. Raymond) Smith, operated a kindergarten in the house for Washington’s children.
The current owners are Ellon and Hoyle Penna who bought the house while living in Florida. They visited Washington-Wilkes in the late 1900s and subsequently bought this house and property in 2002.
They restored and in some cases remodeled the house to make it what it is today.
“As we have restored the character back into this old house,” Mrs. Penna said, “we hope that it will add more charm and magic to this already charming and special town of Washington.”

Many events planned for Spring Tour weekend

Downtown merchants, Washington restaurants, local food vendors, and musical actors are working hard to make sure Washington is hopping by Friday evening March 30, 2007, for the Spring Tour of Homes weekend.
Shops on The Square will be open on Friday evening, March 30, from 6 to 9 so guests in town for the Tour of Homes can enjoy shopping before the tour, said Washington- Wilkes Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Donna Hardy.
To provide a "Taste of Washington." Wilkes County specialty cooks, barbeque vendors, restaurants and cafes have been invited to fill the Court Street end of The Square.
For fans of the musical theater, the Washington Little Theater Company will be presenting the musical "Gypsy" directed by Sue Davidson on Friday and Saturday nights, March 30 and 31, at 8 p.m.; and again on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. Musical director Debbie McLeod will play Mama Rose, and Cynthia Aultman is the choreographer. Reservations are recommended for the performances and may be made by calling 706-678-9582.
Churches, museums, and historical sites will be open on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon.
A historic reenactment will bring wedding excitement to the Robert Toombs House State Historic Site. Set in April 1853, historic characters from the Toombs and Alexander families will entertain guests at the wedding celebration of Miss Mary Lou Toombs and William Felix Alexander from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.
At the Washington Historical Museum, visitors will be able to see displays of actual personal belongings used by George Washington's family, Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Pickens, and John C. Calhoun, along with the museum's wealth of other items, including a broad range of rural Southern pottery.
Callaway Plantation, the city's living history museum, will be open with guided tours throughout the weekend.

2009 Spring Tour of Homes sees good crowds in spite of economic strains

Welcoming guests at the Robert Toombs House, docent Jenny Lindsey presents a timeless image of 1859 Washington.Although the final attendance numbers are not complete, it appears that the annual Spring Tour of Homes was at least as well-attended as last year, despite the worsening economy.
"It was wonderful," said Louise Maynard. "We had a super crowd, at least as good as last year, which is very exciting, considering the economy."
The spring tour, which began Friday and continued Saturday and Sunday, brought visitors to some 19 tour homes and special events. "We had rave reviews from everybody who came. They said they really enjoyed it and wanted to come back."
Volunteers filled more than 400 positions in tour homes and other locations. "Everybody who worked gave 100 percent, and we are so grateful for their hard work all weekend," Maynard said. "This would not be possible without them."
The tour was sponsored by the Washington Woman's Club, the Washington Kiwanis Club, and the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce.
Story and photos by KIP BURKE Sabrina Dodgen welcomes Tour of Homes visitors to the Spring Street home of Deb Talley, which was the tour's Decorator Showcase house.More than 80 guests attended Friday night's Champagne & Dessert Soiree at the home of Mark and Emilie Waters. "We had a full house, and everyone seemed to have a marvelous time," Mark Waters said. "It was a very nice group of folks."
Due to weeks of effort by Sue Davidson,Gone With the Wind stars Mickey Kuhn and Patrick Curtis entertained a devoted crowd with their "Hollywood Revue" Friday night at the Washington Little Theater. The two actors also appeared at the Washington Historical Museum and Retro Cinema on Saturday. "Sue put in so much work to see this happen," Maynard said. "It was a wonderful addition to the weekend."
Visitors also flocked to the Washington Historical Museum to see a collection of original, hand-painted Gone With The Wind poster boards and other movie posters of the era, while at the Robert Toombs House, re-enactors in 1859 period costume welcomed guests to the home on the eve of Senator Toombs' departure for service in Washington, D.C.
On Sunday, the Tour moved to the country to visit the classic country homes of Danburg. "Our Sunday in the Country guests really enjoyed the antique cars, and our country flea market was a big hit, especially Bobby Heffner's yard plants at the Old Danburg School," Maynard said.
Throughout the weekend, visitors shopped and dined in Washington. Merchants said that traffic was good, and that shoppers were buying despite the economy. Especially popular was the tour's Decorator Showcase House, done by Deb Talley and Debbie Bennett. "They did a wonderful job pulling it together," Maynard said. "More than 50 people paid at the door just to see the showcase, and it was terrific having something different to bring people out."

Annual Spring Tour of Homes to begin Friday evening

Get all the details in the special supplement included in this issue.

2009
Weeks of efforts by homeowners, volunteers, and civic clubs of Washington-Wilkes will come to fruition this weekend with the return of the annual Spring Tour of Homes.

Beginning Friday and continuing Saturday and
Sunday, the spring tour includes 19 homes with special events scheduled each day in addition to the homes.
The tour is sponsored by the Washington Woman's Club, the Washington Kiwanis Club, and the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce.
For a list of homes and other featured attractions, a map of the area, plus more detailed information on homes, see the special News-Reporter Tour of Homes supplement included as part of this issue.
Tour headquarters will be at the Washington- Wilkes Chamber of Commerce on The Square on Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and in Danburg Sunday from 1-3 p.m. Headquarters on Saturday will be at the Washington-Wilkes Elementary School from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and courtesy tour cars driven by Washington Kiwanis Club volunteers will be available on Saturday only.
The Robert Toombs Historic Site will be open during the Spring Tour of Homes.The tour on Friday, April 3, will be a Bed and Breakfast Candlelight Tour from 6 to 9 p.m. Six of Washington's beautiful Bed and Breakfast accommodations will be featured.
Special events Friday will be the Champagne & Dessert Soiree at the home of Mark and Emilie Waters from 6-9 p.m.
A highlight of Friday night will be Gone With the Wind stars Mickey Kuhn and Patrick Curtis entertaining with their "Hollywood Revue" at 8 p.m. at the Washington Little Theater. The two actors will also be appearing at the Washington Historical Museum Saturday afternoon from 2-5 for autographs. The Retro Cinema will have their exhibit of GWTW memorabilia on display Friday and Saturday.
On Saturday, Washington Kiwanis Club members will chauffeur visitors to the six homes of the Day Tour from the headquarters at Washington-Wilkes Elementary School.
In addition to the Tour activities, at the Washington Historical Museum a collection of original, handpainted Gone With The Wind poster boards and other movie posters of the era, special-made at the Loew's Grand in Atlanta, are displayed.
At the Robert Toombs House, re-enactors in 1859 period costume will welcome guests through the home on the eve of Senator Toombs' departure for service in Washington, D.C.
Saturday evening, the renowned GWTW collector Herb Bridges will be autographing books at Retro Cinema, and there will be a cocktail party in his honor at 5:30 followed by his lecture on "The Atlanta Premier."
For Sunday, the Tour moves to the country to visit the classic country homes of Danburg. "Sunday in the Country" guests will also find an antique car show, and a country flea market with antiques, crafts, arts, collectibles, and yard plants at the Old Danburg School.
Throughout the weekend, visitors can shop and register for a drawing for some 500 Washington-Wilkes Dollars to be spent in local stores.

'Sunday in the Country' highlights this year's Spring Tour of Homes

The Washington-Wilkes Spring Tour of Homes is scheduled for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 3, 4, and 5, 2009. Eighteen homes are included with special events scheduled each day in addition to the homes.
Friday night features a tour of six of Washignton-Wilkes Bed and Breakfast homes and was featured in The News-Peporter on March 5.
Last week's feature was the Day Tour on Saturday, April 4.
Billed as "Sunday in the Country" - a tour of the Danburg community - is featured this week.
The Sunday tour includes six homes within walking distance of each other. Also included is a c.1790 restored house; a Classic Car show, and a Flea Market.
Homes on the tour and a brief description of each one are:
The Dowling House - at 6405 Danburg Road, is the home of Roderick and Vinnie Dowling. The house is known locally as the Anderson House because it was owned for many years by the John Anderson family, prominent landowners in the area. The Greek Revival house probably incorporates an earlier structure built in the 1790s. The structure underneath the right side of the house is hand-hewn, mortise and tenon, and pegged construction while the living room and bedroom on the left are made with material cut by a circular saw. This probably indicates that an early two-over-two house was added with a hall and a similar arrangement of rooms on the other side after the Civil War. There are four upstairs bedrooms. The third floor has one finished room at the top of the stairs. The addition of brackets and lattice-work to the entablature of the portico is evidence of the increasing influence of the Victorian era on the Greek Revival just after the Civil War.
The Currie House - at 180 Euel Saggus Road, is owned by Walter and Carole Currie. It was built in the late 1800s by Walter Lee Sutton, grandfather of Walter Currie, and has been in the family since that time. In the main section of the Victorian farmhouse, two rooms on each side open into a wide center hallway. In the mid-1990s, the house was renovated with an eye to providing comfort and conveniences but with respect for the historical era of the house. Most of the Victorian era furnishings are original to the house. The rose-hued dining room, centered with an oak table that easily seats 12, is hung with a variety of prints and paintings of camellias that once hung in homes of a number of family members, now deceased.
The Bonertz House - at 6464 Danburg Road is the home of Wayne and Irene Bonertz. It was built in 1897 as a stagecoach stop. The kitchen is the original detached kitchen which was moved from its location and attached to the house, probably when electricity became available. All of the flooring is original heart pine except for the kitchen. All of the plaster throughout the house is original to the house.
The Pat Bass House - at 269 Euel Saggus Road was built by Robert Heard. Marvin and Ethel Blackmon bought the property around 1927 and lived in the house until their deaths in 1963 and 1966. The house remained vacant for nearly 40 years. Pat Bass purchased the property in 2006 and has restored the house to its original state with very few changes to the layout. Windows have been replaced to heat and cool the house.
The Maynard House - at 233 Euel Saggus Road is owned by Louise and Ross Maynard. It was originally owned by Lizzie Heard. One of the chimneys and fireplaces has been dated between 1780-1790. The property was undergoing renovation in August 2006 when the Maynards purchased the property and completed the restoration. In April 2007, restoration was begun on an old house behind the main house. The house was dated at about 1760-1780 and was moved to this site in the late 1890s.The chimneys on each end were replaced by an elderly Wilkes County Master Craftsman and the interior was restored by Ross and Louise with rough sawn yellow pine. A barn on the premises houses Ross' "Model T" collection and will be available along with a display of several Model T's.
The Lindsey House - at 230 Euel Saggus Road is the home of Mike and Patricia Lindsey. It was built in 1922 in the popular Craftsman Home Style. Craftsman Homes began being built in the late 1800s for the middle class. Mike Lindsey's grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. J.M. Lindsey, bought the property in 1945 and lived in the house until their deaths. From 1974 until 2006, the property was owned by several individuals over the years at which time Mike and Patricia Lindsey bought it for their country home. The Lindseys have been remodeling and landscaping since their purchase of the property. Mike grew up in Danburg and Patricia in Washington.
During the Sunday in the Country Tour, the Memory Lane Cruisers and the Greensboro Car Club will be hosting a Classic Car Show featuring a Model T Museum.
A flea market featuring crafts, art, refreshments, and yard plants will be held in the Old Danburg School.
Headquarters for the Sunday tour is the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce on The Square in Downtown Washington. Tickets may be purchased at the headquarters. The tour begins at 1 p.m., and closes at 5 p.m.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Friday will be the Bed and Breakfast Candlelight Tour from 6 to 9 p.m. Homes on the tour will be Wisteria Hall, the Hurd House, Holly Court Inn, Sleighter House, Washington Plantation, and Southern Elegance.
The Day Tour on Saturday will feature the homes of Carlton and Margaret Norris, Steve and Rachel Arnold, John and Rita Horton, Buzzy and Jo Randall, Deb deShazo, and the Tupper-Barnett House.

Tour weekend to offer Gone With The Wind exhibits

As an added attraction to this year's (2009) Spring Tour of Homes, the weekend will be filled with special Gone With The Wind exhibits, lectures, sales, and book signings. Washington's Retro Cinema will be showing the movie all day Saturday and will feature several books from Gone With The Wind expert and well-known author, Herb Bridges. Bridges once owned what was considered the country's largest Gone With The Wind collection. Christie's auctioned it off several years ago in New York for some $350,000. Bridges has published over a dozen books on GWTW and will be on hand Saturday, April 4, to autograph any purchased book. Also featured at the site will be a GWTW memorabilia exhibit from a private collector. On Saturday evening, there will be a cocktail party honoring Bridges in the Retro's wine bar from 5:30-6:30 p.m., immediately followed by his lecture on "The Atlanta Premier." From March through May, the Washington Historical Museum will feature a most exciting premier showing of Bridges' newest collection of original artwork, hand-painted poster boards from the Loew's Grand Theater from the 1930s and 1940s. This collection includes many favorite movies and Hollywood movie stars, including some of the original poster boards used for the Atlanta Premier in 1939. "Come see these rare and beautiful movie displays and hear the story of how Mr. Bridges acquired this one-of-a-kind collection," urges curator Stephanie Macchia. Throughout the Tour weekend there will be several Gone With The Wind-related artwork exhibits, gift items for purchase, and memorabilia for sale. "This will truly be a special event weekend so make your advance purchases and mark the date on your calendars," Macchia said. Also featured during this year's tour will be two stars from the movie, Mickey Kuhn and Patrick Curtis, who both portrayed Beau Wilkes, one as an infant and one as a toddler. These men went on to star in dozens of other movies and to lead rich, full lives. The pair will be regaling an audience on Friday night with their "Hollywood Revue" at the Washington Little Theater's Bolton Lunceford Playhouse.There will be stories about the movie, Gone With The Wind, and stories of some of their fascinating and hilarious experiences involved in Hollywood during its heyday. There will be a $10 fee charged with half of all proceeds going to the restoration of the Washington Historical Museum. No advance tickets will be available with the box office offering firstcome, first-served seating. Throughout the weekend there will be opportunities for autographed pictures to be purchased and Kuhn and Curtis will also attend the Saturday night cocktail party. Featured on The Square will be the renowned artist Trevor Erick Hawkins. The public is invited to view some of Trevor's colorful and dramatic paintings, including several depicting Gone With The Wind scenes and stars.

Visitors brave rainy weather to visit Spring Tour of Homes and enjoy weekend's events

By KIP BURKE news editor

Spring Tour of Homes guests, like these at the Petersilie home on Water Street, enjoyed tour activities and other events despite the steady rain Saturday.Steady rain may have kept the crowds down, but hundreds of visitors still braved the weather this past weekend to visit Washington for the annual Spring Tour of Homes.
"We still had a total of 452 guests for the tour," said Tour of Homes treasurer Amy Johnston. "We're happy though, that despite the weather and gas prices, people still came, and they had a good time."
"We've had a steady stream of visitors all morning," said home owner Beth Petersilie Saturday, a line of dripping umbrellas lining the home's porch.
As always, more than 40 Washington Kiwanis Club members served as drivers for the Tour, and the lower-than-usual turnout allowed drivers to give personal curb-to-curb service to umbrella-toting visitors.
The weather only threatened the well-attended Candlelight Tour Friday night, and some 85 people attended the dessert soiree at Mark and Emilie Waters' home.
Restaurants and retailers saw some impact from the Tour Friday and to some degree Saturday in the rain. "We've opened our Christmas store this month for a spring clearance," said Henry Harris, "so Friday was good and we had a pretty good day Saturday, considering the rain."
Karen Carter rushed to open her new Restore Galore home restoration shop on The Square in time for the Tour. "We had a very successful day and a half," she said. "Lots of out-of-towners and local people were here, not just looking but making purchases. We were very pleased, in spite of the weather."
Nearly 200 visitors attended "A Celebration of Southern Culture" at the Robert Toombs House State Historic Site Saturday. Dressed in period costumes, the Robert Toombs House Performers represented members of the families who lived in the home - the Abbott, Webster, Quigley, Harris, Toombs and Colley families, said Marcia Campbell.
The historic North Alexander school was open for tours Saturday for visitors and alumni to see the ongoing restoration process and to reminisce with teachers and students.
Rain had no effect on one Tour weekend staple. A local production of "Fiddler on the Roof" was presented to sold-out crowds all weekend at the Bolton Lunceford Playhouse.
"Although we missed out on the day tour visitors because of the weather, the people who did come, came to tour," said Kiwanian Mark Waters. "And we had lots of good comments about the city and the homes. People love Washington."

Welcome tourists! Events, activities plentiful this weekend

Annual Spring Tour of Homes to begin Friday evening

Get all the details in the special supplement included in this issue.

2009
Weeks of efforts by homeowners, volunteers, and civic clubs of Washington-Wilkes will come to fruition this weekend with the return of the annual Spring Tour of Homes.

Beginning Friday and continuing Saturday and
Sunday, the spring tour includes 19 homes with special events scheduled each day in addition to the homes.
The tour is sponsored by the Washington Woman's Club, the Washington Kiwanis Club, and the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce.
For a list of homes and other featured attractions, a map of the area, plus more detailed information on homes, see the special News-Reporter Tour of Homes supplement included as part of this issue.
Tour headquarters will be at the Washington- Wilkes Chamber of Commerce on The Square on Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and in Danburg Sunday from 1-3 p.m. Headquarters on Saturday will be at the Washington-Wilkes Elementary School from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and courtesy tour cars driven by Washington Kiwanis Club volunteers will be available on Saturday only.
The Robert Toombs Historic Site will be open during the Spring Tour of Homes.The tour on Friday, April 3, will be a Bed and Breakfast Candlelight Tour from 6 to 9 p.m. Six of Washington's beautiful Bed and Breakfast accommodations will be featured.
Special events Friday will be the Champagne & Dessert Soiree at the home of Mark and Emilie Waters from 6-9 p.m.
A highlight of Friday night will be Gone With the Wind stars Mickey Kuhn and Patrick Curtis entertaining with their "Hollywood Revue" at 8 p.m. at the Washington Little Theater. The two actors will also be appearing at the Washington Historical Museum Saturday afternoon from 2-5 for autographs. The Retro Cinema will have their exhibit of GWTW memorabilia on display Friday and Saturday.
On Saturday, Washington Kiwanis Club members will chauffeur visitors to the six homes of the Day Tour from the headquarters at Washington-Wilkes Elementary School.
In addition to the Tour activities, at the Washington Historical Museum a collection of original, handpainted Gone With The Wind poster boards and other movie posters of the era, special-made at the Loew's Grand in Atlanta, are displayed.
At the Robert Toombs House, re-enactors in 1859 period costume will welcome guests through the home on the eve of Senator Toombs' departure for service in Washington, D.C.
Saturday evening, the renowned GWTW collector Herb Bridges will be autographing books at Retro Cinema, and there will be a cocktail party in his honor at 5:30 followed by his lecture on "The Atlanta Premier."
For Sunday, the Tour moves to the country to visit the classic country homes of Danburg. "Sunday in the Country" guests will also find an antique car show, and a country flea market with antiques, crafts, arts, collectibles, and yard plants at the Old Danburg School.
Throughout the weekend, visitors can shop and register for a drawing for some 500 Washington-Wilkes Dollars to be spent in local stores.

Three Downtown lofts to be featured on Spring Tour

The Simpson building on the corner of The Square and Spring Street houses one of three lofts which are included on the Candlelight Tour of Homes.The 2008 Washington-Wilkes Spring Tour of Homes is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5. The annual tour is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and the Woman's Club in partnership with the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce.
This year's tour will feature three lofts on The Square in Downtown Washington on the Candle light Tour Friday night; and four homes on the Day Tour on Saturday.
The lofts are Stephen Saunders and Linda Lurwig located over Pop- Lahr Possibilities on the corner of Spring Street; Renee Brown, over Master's Wildlife Services; and Deanne and Tim Crook and Dr. Doug Giles and Elyse Giles, over the old Main Street Paint, West Robert Toombs Avenue. Hours for this tour are 6-9 p.m.
Downtown shops on The Square will be open during regular working hours and from 6-9 p.m. Shops will be open for the Day Tour from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The Day Tour homes are Peacewood, B.J. and Bill deGolian on the Tignall Road (former Saunders home); Gail Boyd and Ted Bush, North Alexander Avenue; Pamela and Rod Eaton, 211 South Jefferson Street; Beth and Frank Petersilie, 207 Water Street (former home of Lairee and the late Wallace Rodgers.); and the Goose Pond Cottage at Tignall. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Mark and Emilie Waters will host the Dessert Soiree Friday evening at their home on East Robert Toombs Avenue.
Headquarters for the Candlelight Tour is at the Chamber of Commerce officeon The Square. Headquarters for the Day Tour will be the Washington Wilkes Elementary School on East Street off East Robert Toombs Avenue. Courtesy cars will provide transportation for visitors to the various homes and other sites.
Any home on the tour may be viewed individually by paying $10 at the door.
Churches, museums, and historical sites will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, April 6, from 1-5 p.m.
The cost for a combination Friday and Saturday tour package is $60.00 each. The cost for the Friday Candlelight Tour and Soiree is $35.00. Cost for the Day Tour on Saturday is $35.00 each.
The Woman's Club luncheon on Saturday is by reservation only and is $15.00 each.
Tickets will be available at tour headquarters and may be reserved in advance by mailing checks made payable to Spring Tour of Homes, P.O. Box 1293, Washington 30673; or by calling the Chamber of Commerce at 706-678-2013.
For more in formation on the Tour and for a ticket order form, go to the Tour website at www.wwtourofhomes. com
Thre downtown lofts
Three lofts in the Downtown area are included in the Candlelight Tour on Friday night, April 4. The picture above shows the Simpson building on the corner of The Square and Spring Street. Stephen Saunders and Linda Lurwig have purchased the building and made it into a stunning and accommodating apartment.
In the process of renovation, Mr. Saunders uncovered two large signs painted on the front of the building. One says "Izzy Always Busy," (and there's a story about that). The other simply says "BANK." A plaque in front of the building states "William Dearing, founder of the Georgia Railroad and Banking Co., had a three-story mercantile business on the site 1818-1825."
The building had burned in another big fireand this building was built by W.W. Simpson, or his family, with Edward Bonner, a black man, as the contractor.
Another loft just down the street on West Robert Toombs Avenue has been renovated and decorated by Deanne and Tim Crook and Elyse and Doug Giles. The building dates back to the 1880s and once housed the Washington Exchange Bank and was home for the Washington Gazette-Chronicle in 1896. It was probably built by Burl Greene who owned extensive property at that time.
The current owners have made it into an attractive town house and guest house.
The third loft is on the west side of The Square. The building is the T.C. Hogue building, now owned by Renae Brown. The original building burned in the Great Fire of 1895. The present building was built on the same site in that same year. Mr. Hogue, too, owned extensive property at the time.

Goose Pond Cottage features centuries-old heart pine SPRING TOUR SET APRIL 4-5

Goose Pond Cottage, built by Mr. and Mrs. John W. Boyd, is currently owned by William and Ginna Pope.Goose Pond The 2008 Washington-Wilkes Spring Tour of Homes is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5. The annual tour is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and the Woman's Club in partnership with the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. This year's tour will feature three lofts on The Square in Downtown Washington on the Candle light Tour Friday night; and four homes on the Day Tour on Saturday. The lofts are Stephen Saunders and Linda Lurwig located over Pop- Lahr Possibilities on the corner of Spring Street; Renee Brown, over Master's Wildlife Services; and Deanne and Tim Crook and Dr. Doug Giles and Elyse Giles, over the old Main Street Paint, West Robert Toombs Avenue. Hours for this tour are 6-9 p.m. Downtown shops on The Square will be open during regular working hours and from 6-9 p.m. Shops will be open for the Day Tour from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Day Tour homes are Peacewood, B.J. and Bill deGolian on the Tignall Road (former Saunders home); Gail Boyd and Ted Bush, North Alexander Avenue; Pamela and Rod Eaton, 211 South Jefferson Street; Beth and Frank Petersilie, 207 Water Street (former home of Lairee and the late Wallace Rodgers.); and the Goose Pond Cottage at Tignall. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mark and Emilie Waters will host the Dessert Soiree Friday evening at their home on East Robert Toombs Avenue. Headquarters for the Candlelight Tour is at the Chamber of Commerce officeon The Square. Headquarters for the Day Tour will be the Washington Wilkes Elementary School on East Street off East Robert Toombs Avenue. Courtesy cars will provide transportation for visitors to the various homes and other sites. Any home on the tour may be viewed individually by paying $10 at the door. Churches, museums, and historical sites will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, April 6, from 1-5 p.m. The cost for a combination Friday and Saturday tour package is $60.00 each. The cost for the Friday Candlelight Tour and Soiree is $35.00. Cost for the Day Tour on Saturday is $35.00 each. The Woman's Club luncheon on Saturday is by reservation only and is $15.00 each. Tickets will be available at tour headquarters and may be reserved in advance by mailing checks made payable to Spring Tour of Homes, P.O. Box 1293, Washington 30673; or by calling the Chamber of Commerce at 706-678-2013. For more in formation on the Tour and for a ticket order form, go to the Tour website at www.wwtourofhomes. com Goose Pond Cottage Independence Street Tignall Goose Pond Cottage, owned by William and Ginna Pope of Atlanta and Washington-Wilkes, was built by the late John W. and Christine Boyd on 80 beautiful acres of land and includes a lake. It is located in the area considered at one time to be "the golden buckle on the cotton belt." The home has fivebedrooms, four full baths, a den, formal living room and dining room, large family room, and kitchen. It has a large front porch, a brick-enclosed courtyard, a fountain enclosed by a brick and iron wall with iron gates on each side of the garden patio. The home features centuries old heart pine in the halls and wainscoting in the formal rooms. Heart pine floors extend throughout the house. The three-story house has a circular driveway, a regulation size tennis court, and the lake is stocked with a variety of fish. Several outbuildings add to the setting for the house.

Petersilie house 'restored, not just remodeled'

Currently under renovation, the Petersilie house is featured as a work in progress.The 2008 Washington-Wilkes Spring Tour of Homes is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5. The annual tour is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and the Woman's Club in partnership with the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce. This year's tour will feature three lofts on The Square in Downtown Washington on the Candle light Tour Friday night; and four homes on the Day Tour on Saturday. The lofts are Stephen Sanders and Linda Lurwig located over Pop-Lahr Possibilities on the corner of Spring Street; Renee Brown, over Master's Wildlife Services; and Roger and Vivian Walker next door to the Fitzpatrick Hotel. Hours for this tour are 6-9 p.m. Downtown shops on The Square will be open during regular working hours and from 6-9 p.m. Shops will be open for the Day Tour from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Day Tour homes are Peacewood, B.J. and Bill deGolian on the Tignall Road (former Saunders home); Gail Boyd and Ted Bush, North Alexander Avenue; Pamela and Rod Eaton, 211 South Jefferson Street; Beth and Frank Petersilie, 207 Water Street (former home of Lairiee and the late Wallace Rodgers.); and the John Boyd house at Tignall. Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Mark and Emilie Waters will host the Dessert Soiree Friday evening at their home on East Robert Toombs Avenue. Headquarters for the Candlelight Tour is at the Chamber of Commerce officeon The Square. Headquarters for the Day Tour will be the Washington Wilkes Elementary School on East Street off East Robert Toombs Avenue. Courtesy cars will provide transportation for visitors to the various homes and other sites. Any home on the tour may be viewed individually by paying $10 at the door. Churches, museums, and historical sites will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, April 6, from 1-5 p.m. The cost for a combination Friday and Saturday tour package is $60.00 each. The cost for the Friday Candlelight Tour and Soiree is $35.00. Cost for the Day Tour on Saturday is $35.00 each. The Woman's Club luncheon on Saturday is by reservation only and is $15.00 each. Tickets will be available at tour headquarters and may be reserved in advance by mailing checks made payable to Spring Tour of Homes, P.O. Box 1293, Washington 30673; or by calling the Chamber of Commerce at 706-678-2013. For more in formation on the Tour and for a ticket order form, go to the Tour website at www.wwtourofhomes. com The News-Reporter will feature one of the homes each week. Featured this week is the home of Beth and Frank Petersilie. 210 Water Street John William Samuel Lowe, a Wilkes County landowner who owned extensive property in the City of Washington, built this house in the late 1800s. The house reflectsstyles of Greek Revival architecture with a tall columned front porch. In its original state the wide hall featured a wide central staircase with a gallery midway which divided into a double stairway to enter the upstairs hall. Sliding doors opened from the downstairs hall into the parlors and into the dining room. The back hall circled under the staircase gallery and opened onto the back porch. The eight Federal style mantels, interior woodwork and wainscoting were also original to the house. There were five bedrooms with walk-in closets and four bathrooms. The arched doorway fanlights are repeated on the second story balcony door. Mr. and Mrs. Jamie Ellington lived in the house in the 1940s and were owners of Ellington's Jewelry Store which was located in the building now occupied by The Sandwich Shop on The Square in Downtown Washington. Wallace and Lairee Myers Rodgers moved into the house as newlyweds in 1953 and later bought the house. After the death of Mr. Rodgers in 2003, Mrs. Rodgers sold the property to Frank and Beth Petersilie of St. Augustine, Fla., in 2005, and they began restoration of the stately old house. The new owners have tried to keep the house as much within in the period in which it was built as possible. Bathrooms have been upgraded, using clawfoot bathtubs and white tile to resemble fixtures that were used when indoor plumbing began to be more readily available around the late 1880s and 1890s. The only room that does take a departure is the kitchen. Modern devices are concealed as much as possible and where they were exposed an attempt was made to purchase things that looked old. Granite countertops were chosen because of Wilkes County's close proximity to the granite industry. An original kitchen cabinet was stripped. All of the wood in the house, except for insides of closets, has been stripped with careful attention to detail. Most of the paint colors have been taken from original chips of plaster that showed what was used. When unavailable, colors were chosen that were used at that time. The back porch had to be removed, so a sunroom and patio were put in its place. The master bath vanities are made of old heart pine to resemble the furniture aspect of bathroom fixtures of the time. The medallions were taken from a mold of the original medallions in another house in Washington. Overhead light fixtures have been chosen for the appearance of having been gas lighting converted to electric, as would have been the natural course of evolution for improvements. When stripping the wood, it came to light that several fireplace mantels had been sold at some point. Contractor Mike Dyches designed and built the replaced mantels to reflectwhat would have been built at the time. The fireplaces were installed as wood burning, then later converted to coal. This fact was discovered during the stabilization process and lining installation, so the decision was made to keep the wood burning design. At some point through the years, the front round wood columns on the porch had been sold and replaced with brick set in a square. Although these original columns were located, the Petersilies felt it best to just veneer the existing brick. The grounds have been landscaped in keeping with the time period. As Beth Petersilie says, "The house has been restored, not just remodeled. There is a difference and I think it will show in the final analysis."

Peacewood offers assemblage of different periods SPRING TOUR SET APRIL 4-5

"Peacewood" is one of the homes to be featured on Washington's Spring Tour of Homes for 2008.The 2008 Washington-Wilkes Spring Tour of Homes is scheduled for Friday and Saturday, April 4 and 5. The annual tour is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club and the Woman's Club in partnership with the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce.
This year's tour will feature three lofts on The Square in Downtown Washington on the Candle light Tour Friday night; and fivehomes on the Day Tour on Saturday.
The lofts are Stephen Sanders and Linda Lurwig located over Pop-Lahr Possibilities on the corner of Spring Street; Renee Brown, over Master's Wildlife Services; and Roger and Vivian Ware next door to the Fitzpatrick Hotel. Hours for this tour are 6-9 p.m.
Downtown shops on The Square will be open during regular working hours and from 6-9 p.m. Shops will be open for the Day Tour from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.
The Day Tour homes are Peacewood, B.J. and Bill deGolian on the Tignall Road (former Saunders home); Gail Boyd, North Alexander Avenue; Pamela and Rod Eaton, 211 South Jefferson Street; Debra and David Denard, Tignall Road; and Beth and Frank Petersilie, 207 Water Street (former home of Lairiee and the late Wallace Rodgers.) Hours are 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Mark and Emilie Waters will host the Dessert Soiree Friday evening at their home on East Robert Toombs Avenue.
Headquarters for the Candlelight Tour is at the Chamber of Commerce officeon The Square. Headquarters for the Day Tour will be the Washington Wilkes Elementary School on East Street off East Robert Toombs Avenue. Courtesy cars will provide transportation for visitors to the various homes and other sites.
Any home on the tour may be viewed individually by paying $10 at the door.
Churches, museums, and historical sites will be open on Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Sunday, April 6, from 1-5 p.m.
The cost for a combination Friday and Saturday tour package is $60.00 each. The cost for the Friday Candlelight Tour and Soiree is $35.00. Cost for the Day Tour on Saturday is $35.00 each.
The Woman's Club luncheon on Saturday is by reservation only and is $15.00 each.
Tickets will be available at tour headquarters and may be reserved in advance by mailing checks made payable to Spring Tour of Homes, P.O. Box 1293, Washington 30673; or by calling the Chamber of Commerce at 706-678-2013.
The News-Reporter will feature one of the homes each week. This week's home is "Peacewood."
Peacewood Home of BJ and Bill deGolian
Tignall Road
This beautiful old plantation home is a significantand interesting example of a house assembled from different periods and made into a columned plantation seat in the 1840s and 1850s during the period of prosperity before the Civil War.
The older portion, which dates from the 1790s, faced west and was a typical plantation plainstyle building, providing interesting examples of early craftsmanship.
In 1833, the house was enlarged and rebuilt in the Greek revival style with a columned portico. In the late 1890s, a small structure was attached to the back of the house for use as a kitchen and utility area. The house as it now stands faces south and is fronted by a Doric colonnade. In addition, most of the original outbuildings of the plantation still stand.
The land on which the house stands was originally part of the land grant of 1150 acres made in 1784 to George Walton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. George Walton sold the land to Thomas Wingfieldof Virginia in 1786. In 1825 the property was sold to Archibald S. Wingfieldand later to Jesse Callaway who sold it in 1851 to Francis G. Wingfield.
When Captain W.G. Cade bought the property in 1874, he added a new kitchen to the house but left the outbuildings standing on the grounds. Later Captain Cade's son, Dr. E. Boykin Cade, lived here and gave the home the namePeacewood.
In 1954, Peacewood was bought by Agnes and Charles L. Saunders of Virginia. It stands on spacious grounds and is approached down long tree-lined driveway that winds around in front of the house. The assemblage of house, outbuildings, grounds and farmland thus preserves a sense of the original plantation setting.
The property has been under restoration since Bill and BJ deGolian purchased it from Charles Saunders Jr. in 2000. The last major phase of renovations, restoring the original columns and rebuilding the veranda, is ongoing.
Because of size and rooflineproblems, this structure has been rebuilt on its original foundation with a small addition, to make a slightly expanded kitchen, breakfast area, and sunroom. This portion represents the only "new" construction in the current restoration.
Peacewood has all new plumbing, electrical wiring, heating and airconditioning systems. The chimneys have been rebuilt from the rooflineup, and the roof has been refurbished. The integrity of the original floor plan, particularly the upper and lower central hallways, has been prese4rved.
Bathrooms and closets have been built in between the bedrooms to minimize the impact of the renovations on the simple design of the home, i.e., two rooms on each side of a great central hallway upstairs and down.
Throughout the house, the original plaster ceilings and walls have been repaired, where still intact. All nine of the fireplaces have been cleaned and the original brick hearths restored. The original pine mantels have been stripped, repaired, and painted. The window sashes have been repaired to working order, retaining the original glass panes, where they were not broken otherwise. The ceilings and walls at what was the back entrance of the 1790 home have been stripped to their original heart pine finish.
Peacewood has several appurtenant structures dating from Colonial days, including a smokehouse and kitchen building.

Spring Tour of Homes has new schedule; events include 'Taste of Washington' Fri.

The Washington-Wilkes Spring Tour of Homes 2007 will have a different schedule this year from years past.
Both the Day Tour and the Candlelight Tour will be held on Saturday. There will be no tours on Friday or Sunday.
The tours will be held on Saturday, March 31, with the Day Tour hours being 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.; and the Candlelight Tour, 6-9 p.m.
Five of the six scheduled homes for the Day Tour have been confirmed and one is pending.
Already scheduled are the homes of Dawn and Sam Moore on the Tignall Road; Vinnie and Rod Dowling (Anderson home) at Danburg; Virginia Lee King and Skeet Willingham on West Robert Toombs Avenue, Washington; Vivian and Roger Walker (Holly Ridge), Sandtown; and Carole and Walter Currie (Sutton home) at Danburg.
There will be four homes on the Candlelight Tour. The home of Allan and Sharlene Zima at 206 South Alexander Avenue, Washington (across the street from Laura and Dave Toiburen), is the only one already confirmed. The Zimas are newcomers to Washington-Wilkes and the house is a newcomer to the tour circuit.
Headquarters for the tour will be at the Washington-Wilkes Elementary School on East Street.
The Kiwanis Club will be driving courtesy cars to provide transportation to the various locations.
There is no Dessert Soiree this year. Shops on The Square will be open on Friday evening, March 30, to provide a "Taste of Washington."
The always-popular Woman's Club Seated Luncheon will be available for $10 each with reservations required. The First United Methodist Church will be open for buffet lunch.
The Washington Little Theater Company will be presenting the musical "Gypsy" on Friday and Saturday nights, March 30 and 31, at 8 p.m.; and again on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. Debbie McLeod will be the star of the musical which is directed by Sue Davidson. Musical direction will be by Mrs. McLeod, and Cynthia Aultman will be doing the choreography. Reservations are recommended for the performances and may be made by calling 706- 678-9582.
Churches, museums, and historical sites will be open on Friday and Saturday, and also on Sunday. Downtown shops will be open on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
Any tour home may be visited individually by paying $5 at the door.
Cost for the Day Tour (six homes) is $25; Candlelight Tour (four homes), $25; Day and Candlelight package, $45; and the Woman's Club Luncheon, $10. Theater tickets are $10 each; members may use their cards.
Tickets may be ordered by sending checks to Spring Tour of Homes, P.O. Box 661, Washington, GA 30673. Tickets will be mailed upon receipt of payment.
More information can be obtained by calling the

Spring Tour of Homes has new schedule; Dowling home in Danburg will be featured

The Dowling home in Danburg will be one of the homes featured on the 2007 Spring Tour of Homes sponsored by the Washington Kiwanis Club and the Washington Womans Club.The Washington-Wilkes Spring Tour of Homes 2007 will have a different schedule this year from years past.
Both the Day Tour and the Candlelight Tour will be held on Saturday. There will be no tours on Friday or Sunday.
The tours will be held on Saturday, March 31, with the Day Tour hours being 10 a.m. until 5 p.m.; and the Candlelight Tour, 6-9 p.m.
Five of the six scheduled homes for the Day Tour have been confirmed and one is still pending.
Already scheduled are the homes of Dawn and Sam Moore on the Tignall Road; Vinnie and Rod Dowling (Anderson home) at Danburg; Virginia Lee King and Skeet Willingham on West Robert Toombs Avenue, Washington; Vivian and Roger Walker (Holly Ridge), Sandtown; and Carole and Walter Currie (Sutton home) at Danburg.
There will be four homes on the Candlelight Tour. The home of Allan and Sharlene Zima at 206 South Alexander Avenue, Washington (across the street from Laura and Dave Toiburen), is the only one already confirmed. The Zimas are newcomers to Washington-Wilkes and the house is a newcomer to the tour circuit.
Headquarters for the tour will be at the Washington-Wilkes Elementary School on East Street.
The Kiwanis Club will be driving courtesy cars to provide transportation to the various locations.
There is no Dessert Soiree this year. Shops on The Square will be open on Friday evening, March 30, to provide a "Taste of Washington."
The always-popular Woman's Club Seated Luncheon will be available for $10 each with reservations required. The First United Methodist Church will be open for buffet lunch.
The Washington Little Theater Company will be presenting the musical "Gypsy" on Friday and Saturday nights, March 30 and 31, at 8 p.m.; and again on Sunday afternoon at 3 p.m. Debbie McLeod will be the star of the musical which is directed by Sue Davidson. Musical direction will be by Mrs. McLeod, and Cynthia Aultman will be doing the choreography. Reservations are recommended for the performances and may be made by calling 706- 678-9582.
Churches, museums, and historical sites will be open on Friday and Saturday, and also on Sunday. Downtown shops will be open on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m.
Any tour home may be visited individually by paying $5 at the door.
Cost for the Day Tour (six homes) is $25; Candlelight Tour (four homes), $25; Day and Candlelight package, $45; and the Woman's Club Luncheon, $10. Theater tickets are $10 each; members may use their cards.
Tickets may be ordered by sending checks to Spring Tour of Homes, P.O. Box 661, Washington, GA 30673. Tickets will be mailed upon receipt of payment.
More information can be obtained by calling the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce at 706-678- 2013.
The News-Reporter will feature one of the houses on the Tour each week until Tour Day. Featured this week is the home of Vinnie and Rod Dowling at Danburg.
THE DOWLING HOME
Danburg
The home of Vinnie and Roderick Dowling at Danburg is known locally as the Anderson House, owned for many years by the John Anderson family, prominent landowners in the area for many years.
The Greek Revival home probably incorporates an earlier structure built in the 1790s and may have been built by Dr. W.D. Quinn and remodeled before the Civil War.
There were buildings on the site of the home in the late 1790s and early 1800s. The structure underneath the right side of the house is hand-hewn, mortise and tenon, and pegged construction while the living room and bedroom on the left are made with material cut by a circular saw. This probably indicates that an early two-over-two house was added with a hall and a similar arrangement of rooms on the other side after the Civil War.
John Anderson, the owner at that time, built the house as it is now. The columns, made in Savannah, and the mirrors and cornices made in England for the house, were floated up the Savannah River from the port. The stairwell was put in and fine furniture and imported curtains were ordered from Chicago and New York.
From early photographs furnished by members of the Anderson family, it can be determined that the house was once painted gray and that all outside windows and doors under cover were stippled to look like fine woods. The back and front doors were painted to look like burl walnut.
The 24-35 foot banquet dining room of brick with slate roof, and the old stone kitchen were destroyed many years ago. They were separate buildings across the open breezeway from the back hall.
Mr. and Mrs. Richard Simms, who owned the house in the late 1970s and 1980s, built a welcoming porch and entry of lattice-work in keeping with the early Victorian aspects of the house.
An upstairs balustraded gallery which once ran across the back of the house is missing and a bathroom is approached by the double back doors.
There are four upstairs bedrooms. The third floor has one finished room at the top of the stairs. The roof supports are skinned trees laid on pegged hand-hewn supports and covered with shakes. A tin roof was also added.
The somewhat narrow front porch was squeezed in between the house and the very fine old holly trees. Fountains and concrete posts were added to the property in the early 1920 when the house had one of he first rural electric systems in Wilkes County. The lawns boasted a greenhouse, formal gardens, brick walkways, and a gazebo.
The addition of brackets and lattice work to the entablature of the house portico is evidence of the increasing influence of the Victorian on the Greek Revival just after the Civil War.