THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, December 1, 1994 TAG: 9412010670
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: COVER STORY
SOURCE: BY SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Long : 111 lines
AT THE BEGINNING of the Christmas season, history will repeat itself in the Riverview section of Suffolk.
A horse and buggy will once again clip-clop up to 305 Western Ave., carrying visitors to a large, white Victorian home resplendent with holiday decorations.
The present owners, Jerry and Beth Canaday, will open their doors to guests on the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society's 18th annual Candlelight Tour, from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Robin Welch will be on hand to offer carriage rides from 3 to 6:30 p.m. for visits to four Riverview homes decorated for the holiday season.
More than a century ago, when Benjamin Dumville arrived from New York to become Suffolk's postmaster, he acquired land and built his farmhouse on the highest known point of ground in the old town.
The family's horse and buggy, the only mode of transportation in that day, traveled from Church Street up a dirt road that stopped at the Dumville doorstep.
When J.M. Butler and Richard Brewer, owners of the Riverview Land and Investment Co., bought the property for development in 1920, Dumville Lane became Western Avenue and now extends for several blocks through the Riverview section.
``The house is believed to have been built in 1878,'' Beth Canaday said. ``The original windows are of leaded glass, and the wraparound porch was screened at one time.''
The ninth family to live in the house, the Canadays have made some renovations since buying it in 1985. The woodwork and oak floors in the downstairs rooms are original, however.
The back porch has been enclosed and is now a mud room. Beyond the former ``back room,'' now the family den, is a new outdoor deck. The railing matches the original gingerbread trim on the front porch. The unusual deck flooring is composed of sawdust and recycled plastic, gallon milk containers. Resembling concrete planks, the floor will require no maintenance, Jerry Canaday said.
When the Canadays moved into the house, they decided to paint the grasscloth wallpaper in the den.
``The grasscloth kept soaking up the paint,'' Beth Canaday said, laughing. ``It took 10 gallons of paint to cover the walls.''
The Canadays have known several former owners and have interesting stories to tell about the house. The unusual living room windows, which extend from ceiling to floor, were raised and used as doorways to the porch by children, Canaday said.
Beth Canaday's favorite color is blue, and it is dominant in various shades throughout the house. There are pale blue swags and blue floral wallpaper in the living room. Oriental rugs in delicate, pastel colors protect the polished floors.
Cabinets in the modern kitchen are white, and the window treatments feature a floral fabric with cheerful splashes of blue, yellow and white. A faux cabinet disguises a chimney that once rose above a wood stove.
``A friend was remarking about our cabinet space, opened the cabinet door, and was so surprised to see a blank wall,'' Jerry Canaday said, laughing.
The master bedroom, as well as both bedrooms of the Canaday children, have a blue and white motif. Eight-year-old Jay's bedroom is decorated in a masculine dark-blue and white striped wallpaper with a border of red and white baseball players at bat.
Five-year-old Leigh Anne's bedroom, however, is a contrast - adorned in a pale blue and white striped wallpaper, a white iron bed and white wicker furniture.
The upstairs bathroom still boasts its original footed bathtub and basin. An airy rose and white wallcovering brightens the room.
Only the dining room decor has remained unchanged. Rose-colored window swags accent the black background of the wallpaper featuring tiny white baskets of rose sprays.
``We liked the dining room so much,'' Beth Canaday said, ``that we didn't want to change it.'' MEMO: Cost of the tour is $10 for a block ticket; $4 for single house
admission. Advance tickets are available at Riddick's Folly and The
Willows on West Washington Street or at each home on the day of the
tour. Carriage rides and hot cider will be offered at the Birdsong
Carriage House, 805 Riverview Drive, for $2.50. ILLUSTRATION: Staff photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Beth and Jerry Canady will open the doors of their home to guests on
the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society's 18th annual Candlelight
Tour this weekend.
The dining room walls of the Canaday house are decorated with tiny
white baskets of rose sprays on a black background. The room has
remained unchanged during the renovation.
Hand-carved Santas give a holiday touch to the mantle.
The home of Beth and Jerry Canaday is at 305 Western Ave. It is
believed to have been built in 1878, Beth Canaday said.
Georgellen Monette will be dressed as Anna Mary Riddick at Riddick's
Folly, one of the stops on the Candlelight Tour.
Graphic
ON THE COVER
Photographs on the cover were taken by staff photographer John H.
Sheally II.
by CNB