History at every turn

A collection of priceless history waited for the public to explore in each home along this year’s Christmas Tour, sponsored by the Eden Preservation Society.

Held Sunday afternoon in homes across the city, guests could wander through five homes to view their histories and, in many cases, historical artifacts presented throughout the home.

The home of Donald and Crystal Southern on Morgan Road was open to the public. Their house was built in 1917 by A.B. Land and restored over the past several years. There are nine fireplaces arranged throughout the home and a kitchen and den floor that was restored with wood from the old Eden bowling alley.

Crystal said they were aiming to meld the history of the home with the contemporary feel of a modern dwelling.

“We saved and reused all the old materials we could…and we restored the double windows and used the original floors in the house,” she said. “It’s a solid house that was well-built by J.B. Land. We preserved the old part and tried to keep much of it in its original state with some cosmetic improvements.”

Donald said they rebuilt 1,400 square feet of the home and completely redid the kitchen. He said they remodeled for about two years before they were able to move in.

Stopping by the Southern Home Sunday afternoon was Barbara Hill, whose husband Ronnie used to live in the home. She said it was the home he grew up in, and he would be surprised at how it looks now.

“It’s amazing what they’ve done with the home,” she said. “I think he (Ronnie) would be pleased with it. It’s beautiful.”

The Aiken Home on Riverside Drive was originally built 1918 to house the manager of Spray Woolen Mill and his family. It is currently listed in the Spray National Register Historic District. The home also served as a parsonage for St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in the 1930s until the Aiken family bought the home in 1974. Warwick Aiken lived in it during a time after 1955 when he was reverend of St. Luke’s.

Marianne Aiken said it was a pleasure to have so many people interested in the tour and making their way amongst the various homes on Sunday.

“We’ve done the home tour once before and it’s a lot of fun,” she said. “It’s just a big party to us because we get to see so many people. History means a lot to us and we’re glad that so many people in the community appreciate it.”

The Aiken Home has its share of historical artifacts, including one four-poster bed that belonged to Maria Polk Walker, an ancestor of Warwick and the sister of President James K. Polk.

The Burnette Home on Glovenia Street was the newest home on the entire tour, having been built in the 1940s. Besides opening up the kitchen and adding a front porch and some additional cosmetic changes, the home remains intact from its original presentation.

Lynda Burnette has filled the home with many antique pieces. She said, “I relate to roots and tradition is very important to me. I connect to the past through pieces of furniture I find at flea markets or auctions. While some people many not think so, I find many treasures in these antique items.”

Lauren Talley offered her 1920s home on Highland Drive as a stop on this year’s tour. She’s been living in her home for the past eight years, but has just started concentrating on her home intently for the past couple of years.

“I actually spent a lot of time undoing some of the renovations the past owner did on the home,” she said. “I restored almost all the floors, even though I still have a couple more to do.”

One of her most prized possessions is a sideboard from the late 1800s she restored.

“I bought it for $100 and restored the sideboard after finding some water damage; it was really my find of the year,” she said. “I like to go to thrift stores and some consignment shops to find antique pieces. My home is really a work in progress that I’m focused on right now.”

Also joining this year’s tour was J.R. Amburn, who owns a home on Prospect Street. It dates back to 1859, making it the oldest home on the tour. He said it’s authentic, but it does have some additions from a previous owner from the 1950s. The home had a unique flair on the tour with Christmas decorations all throughout the property, including an upside down Christmas tree and a tree with perpetual flow of snow.

The annual Christmas Tour is held to increase interest in the architectural and historical heritage of the city, according to a statement by the Eden Preservation Society. The group uses proceeds from this event to raise money for projects including Governor Morehead Park, the Eden Historical Museum and the restoration of the Superintendent’s House. For additional information, visit www.edenpreservation.org/.