For the past five years, the historic Craik-Patton House's doors have been closed to visitors more than they've been open. Recurring water problems created an ongoing need for costly, behind-the-scenes repairs.
For the past five years, the historic Craik-Patton House's doors have been closed to visitors more than they've been open. Recurring water problems created an ongoing need for costly, behind-the-scenes repairs.
Rusted sections of its metal roof allowed water to rot the wood underneath. The roof was replaced. Water repeatedly found its way into the basement. French drains were installed. The wooden floors were replaced. It came in again along an electrical conduit. The floors were replaced again.
"Every time we thought we'd fixed something, we'd notice a water problem and have to close again," said Alex Franklin, Craik-Patton House director. "One by one, we found all the problems and we're finally all set to open for good."
The repairs were funded by Craik-Patton Foundation and Craik-Patton Inc. with matching grants from the state Division of Culture and History, said Berry Hutchinson, Craik-Patton Inc. president. "When the current board took over, we got a shell of a building," she said. The city of Charleston, Kanawha County Commission and private donors and foundations also chipped in for structural repairs to gutters, foundation beams and the roof.
The house at 1506 Kanawha Boulevard East will be all decked out for the holidays for a special open house this weekend , Franklin said. Open house hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Professional florists, designers and members of Summit Garden Club are coordinating the decorations, which will feature natural pine, greenery and fruit, similar to the Williamsburg style of decorating, said Jeanne Grubb, president of the Friends of Craik-Patton. An antique teddy bear collection and a dollhouse will be on display in the meeting rooms downstairs.
"We want people to see what we've done," Franklin said. "It's like a debutante party."
John Smallridge, whose family sold the Craik-Patton house for $1 in 1970 to the Colonial Dames, is underwriting the event. Admission is free.
The Smallridge family owned the Lee Street property on which the house originally stood as part of the Wholesome Bakery production facility. Smallridge recalled visiting it as a teenager before his parents decided to donate it to the Colonial Dames.
"We felt compelled to underwrite the event. The house is an important part of Charleston history," he said. "I wanted to make sure we continue to help care for a place that was part of my years growing up."
Guests may wander through the upstairs and get a first glimpse at new acquisitions and loans tucked in between the decorations. The subterranean, brick-floored kitchen will be open for the first time in years, giving visitors a chance to imagine the labor it took to provide a holiday meal without electricity or appliances, then carry the food outside, up the stairs and into the dining room.
In the downstairs meeting areas, Sue McKinney of Bridgeport will set up a display of antique teddy bears, most dating before World War I. She'll set up vignettes of bears on vintage sleds and carriages. McKinney has collected for more than 20 years and will display German Steiff bears, as well as American Ideal Company teddy bears.
Buffy Wallace of Charleston will also display her dollhouse in the reception area.
For the past five years, the historic Craik-Patton House's doors have been closed to visitors more than they've been open. Recurring water problems created an ongoing need for costly, behind-the-scenes repairs.
Rusted sections of its metal roof allowed water to rot the wood underneath. The roof was replaced. Water repeatedly found its way into the basement. French drains were installed. The wooden floors were replaced. It came in again along an electrical conduit. The floors were replaced again.
"Every time we thought we'd fixed something, we'd notice a water problem and have to close again," said Alex Franklin, Craik-Patton House director. "One by one, we found all the problems and we're finally all set to open for good."
The repairs were funded by Craik-Patton Foundation and Craik-Patton Inc. with matching grants from the state Division of Culture and History, said Berry Hutchinson, Craik-Patton Inc. president. "When the current board took over, we got a shell of a building," she said. The city of Charleston, Kanawha County Commission and private donors and foundations also chipped in for structural repairs to gutters, foundation beams and the roof.
The house at 1506 Kanawha Boulevard East will be all decked out for the holidays for a special open house this weekend , Franklin said. Open house hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday.
Professional florists, designers and members of Summit Garden Club are coordinating the decorations, which will feature natural pine, greenery and fruit, similar to the Williamsburg style of decorating, said Jeanne Grubb, president of the Friends of Craik-Patton. An antique teddy bear collection and a dollhouse will be on display in the meeting rooms downstairs.
"We want people to see what we've done," Franklin said. "It's like a debutante party."
John Smallridge, whose family sold the Craik-Patton house for $1 in 1970 to the Colonial Dames, is underwriting the event. Admission is free.
The Smallridge family owned the Lee Street property on which the house originally stood as part of the Wholesome Bakery production facility. Smallridge recalled visiting it as a teenager before his parents decided to donate it to the Colonial Dames.
"We felt compelled to underwrite the event. The house is an important part of Charleston history," he said. "I wanted to make sure we continue to help care for a place that was part of my years growing up."
Guests may wander through the upstairs and get a first glimpse at new acquisitions and loans tucked in between the decorations. The subterranean, brick-floored kitchen will be open for the first time in years, giving visitors a chance to imagine the labor it took to provide a holiday meal without electricity or appliances, then carry the food outside, up the stairs and into the dining room.
In the downstairs meeting areas, Sue McKinney of Bridgeport will set up a display of antique teddy bears, most dating before World War I. She'll set up vignettes of bears on vintage sleds and carriages. McKinney has collected for more than 20 years and will display German Steiff bears, as well as American Ideal Company teddy bears.
Buffy Wallace of Charleston will also display her dollhouse in the reception area.
"In addition to the exhibit, a big attraction will be new items in the collection," Franklin said. "I truly think it looks noticeably different."
Just inside the front door of the Greek Revival home hangs a survey map dated 1829 of land owned by James Craik. Franklin found the map in an archived folder in his office.
A burnished bronze antique French chandelier featuring griffins hangs in the central living room. It was acquired in Atlanta by the board four years ago. In a library dominated by a reproduction Washington desk, sits a mahogany tea table and English porcelain tea set that reflects the period. Tea was back in vogue, years after the hated British Tea Act had been repealed.
The Washington desk is a reproduction of a desk originally owned by President George Washington. Craik's grandfather was a close friend with Washington, who willed him the desk. It stayed in the Craik family until historic preservationists returned it to Mount Vernon.
In the dining room sits a massive cherry sideboard, originally housed in Holly Grove, Daniel Ruffner's brick home that sits beside the Governor's Mansion on Kanawha Boulevard. Ruffner purchased the sideboard in 1823 for $180.
A piano in the central living area came from an estate in Montgomery. The Recamier sofas in the same room are original Craik family pieces, purchased in 1824. Their Grecian style reflect the home's Greek Revival look, which was popular in New World architecture in the 1820s and 1830s, Franklin said.
"It was still a new country and a new republic," he said. "They were looking to Greek and Roman influences for the new republic."
On the grounds, a newly constructed Carriage House provides office and meeting space, as well as handicapped-accessible area for visitors who can't access the main house. A newly restored well house borders the back formal gardens. The well house was originally part of the Brown family estate.
The well house was moved to the site in the 1970s, at the same time the Craik-Patton house was moved from its second location, on Lee Street. The house was built on Dunbar Street, near the current site of Charleston Catholic High School.
Donated items predating 1844 and monetary gifts are welcome additions to the house, Franklin said.
The open house is the last chance to see Craik-Patton this winter. After Sunday, the house closes again until April 15, when it opens for the spring and summer season.
Reach Julie Robinson at 348-1230 or jul...@wvgazette.com.
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