West End home tour will celebrate the community's history

Staff

Published Sunday, November 21, 2004

Suffolk News-Herald

On Saturday, Nov. 27, West End residents will be able to step back into the history of their neighborhood. They'll take a walk back in the past through some of the older houses of the area and step into a magical land of holiday wonder, ready to usher in the Christmas spirit.

The festivities of the West End tour will begin with a four-home visit of some of the area's most well-known residences. Things will start at 4 p.m. with a visit to the Smith Home at 645 West Washington Street, a restored 19th century house. They'll continue to the Niemmo Home at 101 Brewer Street. Built in 1920, the large house is a Queen Anne Victorian.

One of Suffolk's most popular landmarks, the Darden Mansion on Broad Street, is the third stop of the event. Also known as the Sheffield Mansion or the Boyette Mansion, the home has been restored to its original lavishness over the past few years, filled with stained glass windows, mahogany columns, parquet flooring and a total of 26 rooms.

After witnessing so much historical beauty, participants will get a new chance to themselves own a new piece of history. The final home on the tour, located next to the Darden residence, is in need of restoration.

"Tours start at the door of each home, and there will be an interpreter there to tell the history of the house," said Angela Koncz, president of the Women's Foundation, which is sponsoring the event, with proceeds going to the local Habitat for Humanity Foundation, as well as the Genieve Shelter for Abused Women. "We hope that (the last home) is sold to a nice family.

"The various streets are coming back to life," Koncz said. "There's a lot of new families moving into what they think will be a lovely tree-lined street, only to find they might be next door to rental property that landlords haven't kept up to par. But it's on a strong comeback, and we can see all the revitalization going on."

After the tour, locals can head to the green spot at the corner of Wellons and West Washington Streets. The Governor's School of the Arts will send groups of carolers, the Sons of the Confederates will perform medical re-enactments, the Peanut City Cloggers will perform, among a multitude of other activities. From 6 to 8 p.m., Santa Claus himself will make an early visit to Suffolk, and the West End Civic League will light a 24-foot tree, with Downtown Coordinator Elizabeth McCoury placing the star on top.

The $15 tickets can be purchased at the Prentis House, Heirlooms of Tomorrow, Bennett's Creek Pharmacy, Sun Trust Bank or Suffolk First Bank.

For more information, contact Koncz at 553-8681.

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