Contact:  Margaret Hambrick  /  Nora Venezky  304-646-2439          304-645-3398

NEWS RELEASE May 6, 2019

Founded    in    1963,    the    Greenbrier    Historical    Society    is    dedicated    to    community    enrichment    through education   and   preservation   of   the   history   and   culture   of   the   Greenbrier   Valley.   The   Greenbrier   Historical Society   is   a   regional   organization   that   serves   the   West   Virginia   counties   of   Greenbrier,   Monroe,   Summers, and Pocahontas.

GHS 2019 Home Tour Includes Former Rectory And Home For Faculty The   Greenbrier   Historical   Society   continues   its   variety   of   homes,   styles   and   collections   with   a   home   for Catholic   Clergy   and   one   that   once   served   as   a   home   for   faculty   at   the   Greenbrier   College   as   a   part   of   the 2019 Home Tour on Saturday, June 8 from 10-4.   Now   owned   by   Paul   and   Mary   Lindquist,   the   Hunter   House   was   built   in   the   early   1900s   by   the   banker Henry   Frazier   Hunter   (1871-1926).      One   of   the   few   large   arts   and   crafts   houses   in   Lewisburg,   it   was   also one of the first homes with electricity. Henry   and   his   wife,   Mary   Theresa   Stratton   (1872-1946),   had   two   children.      Mary   Theresa   lived   in   the house   for   the   rest   of   her   life,   twenty   years   after   the   death   of   her   husband.     After   1946,   their   son   James   S. Hunter   and   family   moved   into   the   house.   The   Hunter   family   sold   the   house   to   Greenbrier   College   in   1963 when   Mary   Montgomery   Lindquist’s   father   was   president   of   the   College.      It   was   used   for   faculty   housing until the College closed in 1972. In   1973,   the   State   of   West   Virginia   bought   all   the   College   property   and   established   different   outreaches mainly   concerning   mental   health.   Mary’s   brother,   John,   and   family   lived   in   the   house   briefly   when   John was   involved   in   the   Center   on   the   main   campus   thus   establishing   a   double   family   connection   to   the property.   The   Hunter   House   eventually   became   a   halfway   house   until   it   was   closed   and   services   were   moved   north of   Lewisburg.   After   standing   vacant   for   almost   6   years,   the   beautiful   lines   of   the   house,   the   secluded acreage   in   town,   and   the   double   family   connection   became   too   inviting   for   Mary   and   Paul   Lindquist.      They purchased   the   house   and   began   a   meticulous   restoration.      Visitors   will   enjoy   the   results   of   their   work   in collaboration with contractor Clifford Gillilan of Valcon. The   house   is   not   furnished   but   will   contain   a   unique   exhibit   of   G.   N.   Fulton   pottery   from   the   collections   of Ann   Bell   and   Karen   Lee   McClung.      The   pottery   will   complement   the   tile   fireplace   surrounds   made   by   the Wheatley Company in Cincinnati in 1906. G.   N.   Fulton   came   to   Allegheny   County,   Virginia,   in   1867   after   working   elsewhere   and   established   a thriving    stoneware    business.        He    produced    a    variety    of    jars,    jugs,    pitchers,    miniatures    and    even tombstones.  His highly collectible works are most often signed or decorated or both. Relatively   new   residents   to   the   Lewisburg   area,   John   Patterson   and   Brian   Daugherty   have   made   their home   on   Washington   Street   in   what   once   may   have   been   a   Catholic   Rectory.         Built   circa   1850,   this central   passage   “I”   house   has   less   interior   decoration   than   most   of   the   period,   perhaps   reflecting   an   early purpose.      The   lot   on   which   this   house   stands   was   first   owned   by   Hugh   McLaughlin   and   sold   at   auction   by his heirs to John Mays, Jr. in 1841.  Father   John   Walters   was   the   first   priest   to   visit   the   region   on   a   regular   basis   and   established   a   parish, “Immaculate   Conception”,   in   1853.      An   old   red   brick   Methodist   Church   on   the   corner   of   Washington   and Church Streets was sold to the parish in 1867 for $2000.  Today,   this   Washington   Street   home   is   anything   but   plain   as   the   owners   have   decorated   it   with   furniture and   art   from   distinct   genres   including   Western,   Modern,   Asian   and   Russian.       Visitors   will   also   enjoy   the vintage gas stove, still very much in use in the kitchen. In   addition   to   the   traditional   tour   of   homes   on   Saturday,   June   8,   a   Garden   Party   will   be   held   at   the   home   of Dr.   Kyle   and   Ann   Fort   on   Friday,   June   7,   beginning   at   6   and   “Graveyard   Townsfolk”   will   tell   their   dramatic stories   in   the   Old   Stone   and   Pointer   Cemeteries   on   Sunday,   June   9   at   1:30   and   2:15   p.m.      Learn   how   to clean   and   preserve   grave   stones   and   enjoy   dessert   provided   by   the   Greenbrier   in   Old   Stone   Fellowship Hall.   For   more   information   and   tickets,   visit   the   Greenbrier   Historical   Society/North   House   Museum   or   their FaceBook    and   website   pages   Tickets   can   purchased   in   person   or   on-line.     Tickets   are   also   available   at   the Greenbrier   Convention   and   Visitors   Bureau.      Tickets   for   the   Garden   Party   and   the   “Graveyard   Townsfolk” presentations are limited so contact them soon. PHOTO CAPTIONS: 001:     This   post   card   of   the   Greenbrier   College   for   Women   and   Carnegie   Hall   also   shows   the   Hunter   House perched   on   the   hill   in   the   upper   left   area.      Note   Old   Stone   Church   in   the   foreground   and   Mt.   Tabor   on   the bottom left. 090:  The Patterson/Daugherty home may once have been a Catholic Rectory.