Tour of Homes Preview: Staniforth House

The Friends of the Library annual Christmas Tour of Homes is Sunday, December 4, 2 - 5 pm. Admission is $15 for one ticket or $25 for two tickets. Tickets may be purchased at the Armstrong Library, Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, or at any of the homes the day of the event. You can tour four beautiful homes in any order and have refreshments at Stratton Chapel. This is final preview of one of the homes. The first two homes were previewed last week, and the third was previewed earlier this week. Later this week, we'll preview Stratton Chapel, where the Refreshment Center will be.

Staniforth House
315 North Rankin Street
Home of Kirk Bondurant & Bruce Zabov

Built in 1852, the Staniforth House is a classic Greek revival brick cottage. Thomas Staniforth, its builder, was a Natchez contractor/builder who lavished extra attention on what was a comparatively modest house for the time and neighborhood, probably because it served to advertise his business. Original casings highlight the large windows across the front, and fireplaces grace several rooms.

Large antique salvaged windows have been added to the kitchen, providing a lovely view across the back gallery and walled garden toward Holy Family Church. Other particularly attractive touches are the decorative painted paneling restored in the dining room and the faux stone walls in the entrance hall. Beautiful cypress cabinets complete the kitchen. The modern and handsomely upgraded baths make this home truly comfortable.

Many Natchezians will remember a previous owner repainting the bricks. An article in the Natchez Democrat in 2001 indicated that he had found photographs in Dr. Thomas Gandy’s collection including one taken by Marshall Gurney in April 1865, showing the front and northwest sides of the house. The walls were brick with a white cornice along the side.

The people staffing the house on the day of the tour include some of the people who did the actual restoration work on the house.

The Staniforth house is the home of Kirk Bondurant and Bruce Zabov. They have restored it carefully. Furnishings include antiques as well as interesting artifacts and memorabilia from years of living in Key West and Costa Rica.

Tour of Homes Preview: Maples House

The Friends of the Library annual Christmas Tour of Homes is Sunday, December 4, 2 - 5 pm. Admission is $15 for one ticket or $25 for two tickets. Tickets may be purchased at the Armstrong Library, Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, or at any of the homes the day of the event. You can tour four beautiful homes in any order and have refreshments at Stratton Chapel. This is the third preview of one of the homes. The first two homes were previewed last week, and the fourth will be previewed later this week.

Maples House
506 Orleans Street
Home of Lisa & Ken Maples

This property has links to several families with long histories in Natchez, including the Pattersons, Reeds, and Brandons. In 1882, James William Henry Patterson and his wife Sarah Love Reed bought the property on Orleans Street from Rachael O’Conley. He borrowed money on the property in July 1885 to build the house. James was owner of Chamberlain & Patterson Dry Goods Company on Main Street with his partner James Chamberlain.

Ken and Lisa Maples acquired the house in 2008. They have updated the swimming pool and added a spa and landscaping to the backyard. They recently restored the front porch to its original period style and are in the process of adding an outdoor kitchen and living space to the rear of the house.

Tour of Homes Preview: Doyle House

The Friends of the Library annual Christmas Tour of Homes is Sunday, December 4, 2 - 5 pm. Admission is $15 for one ticket or $25 for two tickets. Tickets may be purchased at the Armstrong Library, Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, or at any of the homes the day of the event. You can tour four beautiful homes in any order and have refreshments at Stratton Chapel. This is the second preview of one of the homes. The first home was previewed earlier this week, and the last two will be previewed next week.

Doyle House
704 State Street
Home of Chesney & Marc Doyle

One of three, almost identical, two story houses built by J Foggo Dixon in 1880, 704 retains its original front porch and Victorian gingerbread. In 2007, Marc and Chesney Blankenstein Doyle undertook a complete renovation. In Spring 2011, they finally moved in with their twins.

Keeping the original footprint of the house, the Doyles created a three bedroom/three bath home with all modern amenities. Seven roofs were removed to install new architectural shingle. Central air and heat were added for the first time.

The family has been in the home since 1939. Her mother (Kathie Boatner) lived there until she married Rawdon Blankenstein in 1957. Their four children knew 704 as “Gram and Biggie’s house.” Their grandmother and great aunt had always run a tight ship, evidenced by the typewritten “Privileges and Rules of this Playroom” from 1942 that Gram created for Kathie and her playmates, including “P.S. When grown-ups want to use the front gallery please vacate!”

Wednesday was Gram and Biggie Day. Sliding down the banisters was allowed with adult assistance. Wooden blocks tied to socked feet with string were ice skates for sliding across the wool rugs. Gram even convinced the children that wire brushing the mildew off patio bricks was fun!

The dining table, a favorite gathering spot, was on the steamboat Springer when it sank near Rodney. The table was rescued and sold to Chesney’s greatgrandfather, Alfred Vidal Davis of Tacony Plantation in Vidalia.

Tour hostesses include Kathie Boatner Blankenstein’s childhood friends, all of whom were subject to the 1942 Rules.

Tour of Homes Preview: Callon House

The Friends of the Library annual Christmas Tour of Homes is Sunday, December 4, 2 - 5 pm. Admission is $15 for one ticket or $25 for two tickets. Tickets may be purchased at the Armstrong Library, Natchez Pilgrimage Tours, or at any of the homes the day of the event. You can tour four beautiful homes in any order and have refreshments at Stratton Chapel. This is a preview of one of the homes. Others homes will be previewed in later posts.

Callon House
400 South Pearl Street
Home of Katherine & Lindsey Callon

This Greek Revival cottage was built for Thomas and Elizabeth Mackin. The construction and cost are documented in an 1852 lawsuit. A deposition filed by the Mackins states they built a "Dwelling House" valued at $3,000 and "Fencing & Out Houses" valued at $1,000, after buying the property at a sheriff's sale in 1841. Andrew Brown Sawmill Papers record sales of building materials, including a large amount of interior plastering lath, indicating that the house was completed in 1843.

The 1850 census shows both Thomas and Elizabeth were born in Ireland. The quality of Mackin's house indicates that he was probably a levee contractor who boarded his levee workers on the property. Levee building was a common profession for Irish immigrants in river towns.

In 1858, the Mackin’s sold their residence to Ansel H Kendrick for $3,200 who sold to Cade L Holden in 1877, and it remained in the family until 1901. It was last the property of Eulalie Holden Reed and husband Richard F Reed, who published the pamphlet, The Natchez country; from the settlement by the French to the admission of Mississippi as a state.

The house sold frequently until Lindsey and Katherine Callon bought the house in 2009 and created the attractive historic cottage. Its restrained Grecian simplicity features a simple portico sheltering the doorway set within sidelights and transom. Well detailed dormers light the upper half story. An original two room dependency was later relocated to the rear of Pleasant Hill.

Why should you be a Friend (of the Library, that is!)?

What do the Friends of the Library do? Well, for one thing, they raise money for the Library! Each year the Friends of the Library hosts an Annual Christmas Tour of Homes. Homes on this tour are not open to the public during Pilgrimage. These are private homes, whose owners agree to decorate for Christmas (early) and open their doors to the public for one reason only – they recognize the importance of the Library. They are Library users and are happy to help in a way that benefits the Library! This year’s Tour information may be found here on the Library's website.

The goal for this year is to raise enough funding to get the (much needed) exterior repairs – let’s just say, SHUTTERS – and painting of the Library completed. In addition, the Friends of the Library also pay for our subscription to Ancestry Library Edition, a much-used database genealogy advocates just love! They also help provide funding for programs, such as our Summer Library Program for Children, Teens, and Adults. They help with book purchases, as well as lots of other extras!

The Friends is a wonderful support group, without whom we would not be able to provide many of the services people just take for granted. So, if you are NOT a Friend, please be a Friend (of the Library)! And join us for this year’s Library Tour of Homes, Sunday, December 4, from 2-5 pm. And, if you ARE a Friend, thanks!

It's Thanksgiving! (almost)

When the Pilgrims
first gathered to share
with their Indian friends
in the mild autumn air,
they lifted their voices
in jubilant praise
for the bread on the table,
the berries and maize,
for field and for forest,
for turkey and deer,
for the bountiful crops
they were blessed with that year.
They were thankful for these
as they feasted away,
and as they were thankful,
we're thankful today
-Jack Prelutsky, Children's Poet Laureate

Ho-Ho-Ho MERRY ...um, Thanksgiving?? Wait, that can't be right! That's for Christmas! I always seem to be one step ahead!

We all know that Thanksgiving is about giving back, spending time with family and friends, food, and overall just giving thanks for the many things that we have been blessed with! But, how do we explain things like this to litte children in a way that they will remember - in a fun, simple way that lets them know that there is a reason that we stuff them like little pigs in a blanket, and all the family gathers together when it's not even anyone's birthday, on that one special day? How do you simplify the meaning of "Turkey Day"? Here is a list of books to help you bring the magic of Thanksgiving to life while teaching young minds and entertaining a crowd of rowdy little ones on that big day.

Books for learning about Thanksgiving
(click on the link to go to our online catalog and reserve the book)

It's Thanksgiving! by Jack Prelutsky, Children's Poet Laureate

Thanksgiving by Brenda Haugen

Pilgrims in America by Melinda Lilly

Why We Have Thanksgiving by Margaret Hillert

There are also a lot of books about Thanksgiving for pure entertainment! Books for those times when you volunteer to help out at your child's, grandchild's, or niece's/nephew's school, or when the church is having a children's program. Enjoy these titles.

Books for enjoying Thanksgiving
(click on the link to go to our online catalog and reserve the book)

One Is a Feast for Mouse: A Thanksgiving Tale by Judy Cox

I Am The Turkey by Michele Sobel Spirn

Turkey Trouble by Wendi Silvano

One Tough Turkey: A Thanksgiving Tale by Steven Kroll

Happy Thanksgiving by Margaret McNamara

All of these (plus many more) are great books for the upcoming holiday and great books for teaching or entertaining a younger crowd! And they're all in the Library for you to enjoy with your children for free. Enjoy!

Get into the Spirit of the Holidays

Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is right around the corner, and if you blink too fast, Christmas will soon be knocking at the door. I am always just slightly behind in my quest to create that "perfect" holiday celebration so this year I'm starting early. Here is a list of books and websites to help you create your own perfect holiday season for you and your family.

A few good books to put you in the turkey mood:

A Ghost at the Table by Suzanne Berne

A Fatal Feast: A Murder She Wrote Mystery by Donald Bain

Undead and Unfinished by Mary Jane Davidson

A Catered Thanksgiving by Iris Crawford

New Books for Christmas have just arrived:

The Christmas Wedding by James Patterson

A Christmas Homecoming by Anne Perry

The Snow Angel by Thomas Kinkade

Lost December by Richard Paul Evans

What do you do when the kids are under your feet, the turkey is half stuffed, and your family is about to ring the doorbell? Check out these helpful websites:

• www.holidays.kaboose.com - A great site for whole family fun. Activities and games for kids as well as tips and recipes for the cook in the kitchen.
• www.vickiblackwell.com - A terrific site for teachers, homeschoolers, librarians, and parents looking for lesson plans, stories, and activities.

If you're looking for holiday decorating guides and cooking tips, try these web sites:

• www.wholefoodsmarket.com Whole Foods Market has some great ideas for food.
• www.butterball.com  The Butterball turkey people have recipies, cooking ideas, tips, and how tos, including video instructions.
• www.foodnetwork.com  The Food Network is a favorite of foodies everywhere.
• www.bbqu.net - The Barbeque University is for the die hard grillers out there!
• ww.eatturkey.com - National Turkey Federation provides valuable information about poultry and instructions for deep frying your bird.

So there you have it, all types of ways to get you into the upcoming holiday season!