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| 1785 Harbert Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee. |
The Devoted Classicist has been a volunteer committee member for a historic district in Memphis, Tennessee, that holds a Home & Garden Tour each year as a fund-raiser for its many worthwhile activities. In fact, this is the 35th year for the annual tour which often draws a couple of thousand visitors each second Sunday in September. The tour is the most organized, well-run, all-volunteer function that one could imagine, and it has been a pleasure to work with this group for several years in a row, now. Along with truly exceptional neighborhood historian Marsha Hayes, I write the guidebook. There are usually a half dozen homes on the tour, representative of the mostly early twentieth century houses that make up the wonderfully liveable neighborhood, and this year is no exception. None of the six houses have ever been on the tour before, and the construction dates range from 1910 to 1925.
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| 1743 Harbert Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee. |
A special selection of books that would be of interest to residents and visitors to the Central Gardens Historic Conservation District are available for purchase through The Devoted Classicist Library . Many of the books would be of interest to early 20th century historic districts, in general, and owners of Arts & Crafts, Craftsman, European Eclectic, and Colonial Revival houses as well.
Beautiful. Best wishes for the tour. Is Central Gardens home to Devoted Classicist world HQ?
ReplyDeleteTerry, when I was planning my move from Manhattan, I was hoping to make my home in Central Gardens. I had made an offer on a house that was somewhat a miniature chateau, with the potential to be absolutely charming. I came to an agreement on the price with the owner, a professional fundraiser for one of the national political parties. But the deal breaker was that he wanted to close on the sale but occupy the Guest House for an undetermined length of time. When another house came on the market in another neighborhood, not as architecturally significant but on an incredible site, I bought that instead. Coincidently I have since become friends with several homeowners on that block, surely one of the most special in town.
ReplyDeleteWhat is that near the edge of the eaves of the second house? Not a snow guard, right?
ReplyDeleteBradley, it is a built-in gutter. It is a relatively unusual feature to see these days; many have been covered over by subsequent reroofings.
ReplyDeleteLove the first house! Is it a new house built to look old?
ReplyDeleteOops - just read the content and realized my previous question was answered. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteHelen, I should have had the 1911 construction date in the caption for the first house and 1923 for the second. The design of the first house has been compared to the Massachusetts Pavilion at the 1893 Chicago World's Columbian Exposition which in turn was modeled after the 1737 Hancock house (torn down in 1863 to make room for a new wing of the State House).
ReplyDeleteThe first house doesn't have a widow's walk?
ReplyDeleteC., there was a balustrade on the roof, if not a true widow's walk, that I can remember. The new owners have just recently completed an extensive renovation, so the replacement might still be to come.
ReplyDeleteJohn --
ReplyDeleteAppreciate the virtual sneak peek. Looks like quite a nice mix. Hope you have a wonderful event with beautiful weather this year.
Courtney, thanks to good weather and great houses, over 1,000 tickets were sold. So the tour was a success. And plans are already underway to plan next year's tour, featuring the best of the neighborhood's older houses.
ReplyDeleteThank you for the link to James Roper's article and for the additional photos of the homes. Wish I could have attended.
ReplyDeleteJeanne, I appreciate your comments. It was great weather and the strong architectural significance contributed to a very successful tour.
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