March 4, 2009

Annual Spring Tour of Homes April 3, 4, 5 to include 19 homes, special events daily
The annual Washington-Wilkes Tour of Homes is fast approaching.

The tour will be held on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 3, 4, and 5, and is sponsored by the Washington Woman's Club, the Washington Kiwanis Club, and the Washington-Wilkes Chamber of Commerce.

The tour this year includes 19 homes with special events scheduled each day in addition to the homes.

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 on Sunday from 1 to 3 p.m. Headquarters on Saturday will be at the Washington-Wilkes Elementary School from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Courtesy Tour Cars will be available on Saturday only.

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 Fitzpatrick Hotel from 6 to 9 p.m. There will be special music at the Farmers Market on Friday from 6 to 9 p.m. and again on Saturday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Washington Little Theater Company will be performing and a special "Gone With the Wind" exhibit will be available at Retro Cinema Friday and Saturday.

Phil and Maggie Rothman had searched small Southern towns for the perfect place to give life to their dream of owning a historic bed and breakfast inn. After looking at several homes, they chose the 1830s classic Holly Court on South Alexander Avenue. They learned about the history of the house, and of the families who had lived in it over the years. They were impressed with the importance of the visit First Lady, Mrs. Jefferson Davis, paid to the house in the last days of the Confederacy. Holly Court Inn opened in 2005, just in time for the 2005 Tour of Homes. "This is home,"says Phil Rothman. "We love it here."

Lafayette Manor Inn was built in the mid-1820s as a single story, approximately 28x24' structure. . The land on which the house now stands had been owned in 1783 by George Walton, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The house has been extended several times and is now two stories high. Guillaume Slama and Sokunvathany Nuon-Slama purchesed the property in 2006. Both are from France and had been living in Atlanta for about eight years. Sokunvathany is originally from Cambodia. She is a trained chef. A combination of oriental and French decor has been used throughout the house.

Wisteria Hall, home of Jane and Jim Bundy, was built early in the Greek Revival period of the 1790s. From 1827 when the Randolph family of Virginia purchased the property, until 1880, the house was the residence of Miss Maria Randolph, a descendant of Pocahontas. Since the Bundys have owned the property, the beautiful old home has seen many weddings, receptions, and other social events in its magnificent interior.

Southern Elegance Bed and Breakfast was built in Free-Classic Queen Anne style with elements of Craftsman high style sometime before 1919. The house is distinguished by painted rounded columns on granite piers and has a fan decoration and double ell porch. This late Victorian home with columned porch is currently owned by Jeanne Davis-Blair who purchased it in June 2004. She has converted the house to an elaborate bed and breakfast facility which she has named Southern Elegance.

The Sleighter House was originally constructed around 1827 as a female seminary. The house as viewed today reflects several changes due to some degree of damaging fires in 1838 and 1857. The house was remodeled in 1895. The house is now the home of Bill and Laura Sleighter.

Washington Plantation Bed and Breakfast is owned by Tom and Barbara Chase who bought the property in 2004. The first recorded home on this site was in 1828 when Daniel Chandler, a young Washington lawyer, married Sarah G. Campbell, the daughter of Duncan G. Campbell. The Chases have developed the beautiful old house into an elaborate Bed and Breakfast facility which is comfortable and inviting.