Mount Airy Restoration Foundation 2023 Christmas Holiday House Tour

 

The Mount Airy Restoration Foundation is pleased to announce plans for the 34th Christmas Holiday House Tour.  The Tour is held the first weekend in December; this year’s Tour is on Saturday December 2nd from 11 A.M. to 5 P.M. and Sunday, December 3rd from 1 P.M. to 5 P.M.  There are 8 locations on the Tour this year – each home unique in architecture, history and décor.  Two of the locations are outside of the immediate downtown area, and are absolutely worth the drive (10+ miles) and there will be plenty of time to see and enjoy each unique location. 

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The William Alfred Moore House- Located at 301 Moore Avenue, is typically the beginning point for most self-guided tours for the annual Christmas Holiday House Tour. The Moore House, built circa 1860, is the earliest known structure remaining in what is now downtown Mount Airy.  The house exhibits a combination of Victorian and Italianate stylistic features and on the interior, Greek Revival features. This property is utilized for small event rentals and community events typically.  For the Tour, this historic home is decorated with live and artificial greenery, accents of garland and bows, swags, and fruit.  Imagination and talent turn this home into a true showcase.  The 3 local garden clubs (Garden Gate Garden Club, Modern Gardeners Garden Club and Mountain View Garden Club) spend the week before the Tour decorating and getting the grounds in order. This year’s theme for decorating is ‘Moore Songs of Christmas” with each room decorated with inspiration from a Christmas Carol. Hot apple cider and ginger cookies are served during the Tour.  

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 The Gertrude Smith House, located at 708 North Main Street, is also adjacent to the historic downtown.  This home was featured in a recent issue of Our State magazine, resulting in even more visitors to the home and to Mount Airy.  If you saw the house last year, well it will seem totally redone this year. The staff at The Gertrude Smith House, while staying true to the wishes of benefactor Gertrude Smith, continue to inspire and entertain attendees with their decorating ideas.  This year the tree in the formal living room is beautiful in burgundy and gold and the library has complimentary green and gold accents.  The foyer has a tree for the first time, and this unique tree accents the staircase beautifully.  Even the kitchen is decorated with a small tree decorated with teacups.  Inspiration continues in the upstairs with guest rooms filled with nutcrakcers of every size and color. With so many rooms to decorate, it takes 2-3 weeks to prepare and decorate the home, and no room is decorated as it was the year before.  This historic property supports the Tour each year, but is decorated uniquely each year, so it is a must-see stop for the Tour.  

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The Edwards Franklin House, is a plantation house located at 4132 Haystack Rd. It was built in 1799 by Gideon Edwards and was later occupied by congressional representative Meshack Franklin, brother of North Carolina governor Jesse Franklin.  Each year this home is decorated with live greenery, fruit and candles – reflective of the era of the house and the occupants through the years. While this house is a short drive from downtown, the drive is picturesque and well worth the time to experience this property and admire the preservation of this slice of our community’s vibrant history.  Volunteers are on hand to provide the history of the home and discuss the handmade decorations.

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South Main Street – First Presbyterian Church is located at 326 S. Main Street.  The granite church that stands today was started in 1907 and completed in 1914.  The church undertook an extensive remodel and renovation of the sanctuary and former kitchen area during the Pandemic.  During this year’s Tour, the tall Chrismon tree will be on display, decorated with Chrismon ornaments -  hand made ornaments with Christian symbols on them. The sanctuary will be filled with poinsettas – an annual traditional where current congregants place poinsettas in memory or in honor of loved ones.  During the Tour members will be available to provide the history of the Chrismon ornaments and of the church.  Live piano or organ music will be played in the sanctuary during the tour.

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Siloam Road, Dobson – The Harbour Place located at 5126 Siloam Road, in Dobson is a treat to behold.  This short 10+ mile drive takes you through the picturesque White Plains and Siloam areas of Surry county.  The destination of The Harbour Place is breathtaking.  With an abundance of trees and a beautiful pond, the natural setting alone is spectacular. This location has turned old tobacco barns, old working barns, old doors, and even old tobacco sticks into works of art and perfect for usage as a wedding venue and other small gatherings.  Wade and Teresa Harbour have taken great care to save and restore as many family heirlooms as possible.  Everywhere you look is something old and lovingly restored and repurposed. This location is an asset to our community and this is a great time to visit. 

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Grace Street – The house at 109 Grace Street was one of the first homes built in the Historic Taylor Park District.  Taylor Park’s principal streets are Crescent Drive, Grace Street, Howard Street, Marion Street, Park Avenue (north and south), and the western end of Wrenn Avenue. The oldest well-substantiated date for a historic resource in Taylor Park is 1925-26 for Grace Moravian Church at 1401 N. Main.  The home at 109 Grace Street was built in 1947 by William E Merrit Jr.  This solid concrete block and steel structure features 4 bedrooms, a study, formal dining room and eat in kitchen.  All 4 bedrooms are en suite. The home is being saved, renovated and remodeled – there just aren’t enough words to describe the undertaking – by Tonda Phillips.  The home is still undergoing its restoration, and selected rooms will be staged in Christmas décor for the Tour.   Before and after photos, and some retrieved artifacts will be available to possibly give attendees an idea of the scope of this project.  The neighbors in the Historic Taylor Park District are grateful that this home is being saved.  It takes a village, but it takes someone with a vision to see that a home is worth saving, and this homeowner has the vision. 

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Greystone Lane  - The home of Margaret and Lowell Layman, at 154 Greystone Lane,  captures the feeling of both fine architecture and the feeling of Christmas.  This multi-gable condominium boasts large rooms big enough for family gatherings, yet smaller more intimate spaces as well.  The decorations are reflective of Margaret’s keen sense of traditional and fun décor. Margaret is an avid quilter, donating and participating in recent Mount Airy Quilts of Valor ceremonies. Holiday themed quilts will be on display, along with 3 decorated trees and collections of Hallmark Houses. Handmade seasonal wall hangings will be shown throughout the home.  Lowell handles the exterior decorating and enjoys the grandkids seeing a snowman, or Santa or whatever fun idea he has for the front and back yards.  This home truly displays how traditional and heirloom pieces can truly make Christmas special for generations within a family. 

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West Pine Street – The James A. Hadley house located at 400 West Pine Street in Mount Airy, NC was built from 1894 to 1900.  It is located within the Mount Airy Historic District.  The house is over 4500 square feet and has 5 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and 2 staircases.  It also features an abundance of stained-glass windows, marble columns, wainscoting, vintage light fixtures, stained glass transom windows, servants’ quarters, wrap around porch and was the first house to use local Mount Airy granite.  Most of the stained-glass windows are original. However, four windows were stolen in the 1980’s during the time the house was a boarding house.  Renowned  local stained glass artist Ed Atkins of Russell Stained Glass Studio crafted replacements.  The home retains many original features and is one of the finest examples of Queen Anne Style architecture in the United States.  

In September of 2023 Dr. Challie Minton and Mrs. Catherine Perkins-Minton purchased the home.  The Minton’s own and operate Surry Rural Health Center, Scenic Pharmacy, Scenic Urgent Care, Beulah Bison Farm and Beulah Bison Farm Bed and Breakfast.  Mrs. Minton grew up on the south end of downtown Mount Airy and remembers walking past the Hadley House as a child.  She always loved the house.  Dr. and Mrs. Minton have been collecting antiques for over 20 years and have an avid appreciation for history and architecture.  They have a collection of highly carved European antiques.  The Minton’s are currently renovating the home, but plan to maintain all original Victorian features.  Extensive renovations to the kitchen are underway.  Painting projects, driveway repairs, bathroom remodeling, rock wall repairs and a new laundry room are upcoming projects.  

The Minton’s previously hosted the Mount Airy Restoration Foundation Holiday House Tour nearly 15 years ago at their log home in the Beulah community.  They are excited to host once again at the Hadley House.  This iconic home is an architectural dream and gives guests a chance to step back into the grandeur of Victorian times.  

 

Advance tickets ($20) are available for purchase at the Chamber of Commerce, 200 North Main Street, during normal business hours.  Tour dates are Saturday, Dec. 2nd, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 3rd, 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.