THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, November 30, 1995 TAG: 9511290355
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 14 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: SHIRLEY BRINKLEY, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Long : 184 lines
Imagine strolling the main thoroughfare in the old Town of Suffolk at dusk on Christmas Day, 1861.
The atmosphere is of good cheer, even though the War Between the States has begun and two regiments of Confederate soldiers can be seen encamped along the street.
Lanterns light the way as men and women in period dress greet visitors. They introduce the groups to earlier times and talk about the houses they live in. The residences, which are open to guests, are aglow with candlelight and decorated for the season with fresh greens, fruits and dried flowers.
This will be the scene from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, during ``Celebrating Main Street,'' the 19th annual Candlelight Tour, sponsored by the Suffolk-Nansemond Historical Society.
``We want to make Main Street as alive as we can,'' said Sue Woodward, vice president of the society. ``We hope people will come early to shop and dine and to see the best that Main Street has to offer. We want visitors to see it through our eyes.''
The tour will focus on six historic homes and four churches on Main Street. Tour guides will be on hand to discuss points of interest.
Featured will be the home of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Woodward, which has a history reaching to the early 19th century. Known as the Britt Home, the house was built about 1800, and bought by Benjamin Riddick in 1833.
``According to legend, the house was built in 1790, but so much is not known because of a Suffolk fire that destroyed all records,'' Woodward said.
Although the historic residence at 227 N. Main St. has been restored and expanded to meet the needs of a modern-day family, the Woodwards have been careful to retain their home's traditional charm.
``Benjamin Riddick was the mayor of Suffolk during the Civil War, and there is a ``Benjamin Riddick connection'' to all of the houses on the tour,'' said Woodward. ``History passed through the women of the family.''
Benjamin Riddick's daughter married a Britt, who bought the house in 1877, Woodward said. The Woodwards bought it from their descendants in 1979.
Woodward described her home with its side hall plan as a ``typical Main Street, Suffolk house from the 19th century.''
Through the years, the Woodwards have replaced any broken window panes with used glass from old houses.
``My house is always a `work in progress,' '' Woodward said, laughing. ``I sort of like change, but have never felt like I have it right yet. I always hope to improve my collection.''
A large room, which looks out on the usually busy Main Street, has functioned as a living room in the past, but now serves as the formal dining room. On the day of the tour, the table will be set for tea with heirloom china.
``It's more pleasant to have the living room in the back of the house,'' Woodward said. ``We use the dining room mostly in the middle of the day on Sunday when the traffic is not so bad.''
The dining room floor is composed of 20-foot-long heart-pine boards and the reeded arch and mantel are examples of federal architecture. Of special interest in the room is a rosewood square grand piano and matching stool dating from the mid-19th century and an old cradle that belonged to Tom Woodward's grandmother.
Numerous pieces of blue and white china uncovered in the yard over the past few years are on display, as well as a collection of silver baby cups and utensils from various generations.
The ground floor of a wing added to the home in the late 1830s now serves as a cozy den. Used originally as the Riddick family's dining room, the den features built-in cabinets with glass doors and a brick floor. When the Woodwards bought the house, the den's original brick flooring had been removed and wood had been placed over a dirt floor.
``When we removed the wood floor, we copied the brick pattern at Riddick's Folly,'' Woodward said.
A door from the den leads to a butler's pantry, which is used as a connector to the kitchen. In the early years, the door opened to a path that led to the kitchen housed in a separate building. In 1873, a porch was added to connect the kitchen with the main house, Woodward said.
Today, the separate building is gone and the family enjoys a large, eat-in kitchen that will feature various gingerbread decorations.
Other homes featured on the tour are as follows:
The Myrick House, 223 N. Main St., the home of Bobby and Joyce Trump.
The house was named for former resident Theodore Myrick, a great-grandson of Benjamin Riddick and Suffolk's commissioner of revenue for many years.
The unusual hall-parlor floor plan features a hall that is large enough to serve as a room. Both the first and second floors will be open to the public.
The Richard Seth Eley House, 251 N. Main St. Built in 1873, it is owned by descendants of the Riddick Family.
Built by a daughter of Benjamin Riddick and her husband, the French Second Empire-style home features marble mantels and ceilings with plaster medallions.
The van Valkenburgh House, 220 N. Main St., built in 1850.
In 1866, Benjamin Riddick's daughter and husband lived there until the Richard Seth Eley house was built. The home remained in their family until three years ago, when it was sold to the Suffolk Christian Church.
Although, the house is vacant, garden club members will be on hand from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday for demonstrations on making Christmas wreaths and garlands. Peanut products and dried hydrangea wreaths and others made of berries, cones and fresh greens, will be available for sale from 2 to 7 p.m.
Garden clubs throughout the city will provide Christmas wreaths for the doors of boarded-up Main Street houses marked for restoration.
The Edgar Grace House, 444 N. Main St., currently Young Properties.
It was built in 1933, on the site of the former Castle Inn, which was visited by Lafayette in the 1820s and burned in 1837. This former residence is an example of adaptive reuse and features Suffolk artwork and mementos from the Young Family's travels abroad.
Riddick's Folly, 510 N. Main St., open from 1 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Afternoon tea will be served from 4 to 5 p.m. at the 1837 Greek Revival home of Mills and Mary Taylor Riddick. Desserts prepared by members of the Suffolk Pilot Club will be available for sale. Costumed characters will greet visitors and tours of the house will be featured.
Robert Stiffler will be present from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday for a book-signing of ``Gardening in Southeastern Virginia and Northeastern North Carolina.'' The book is composed of gardening advice taken from 21 years of Stiffler's columns written for The Virginian-Pilot.
The ballroom of the Hotel Elliott, built in 1925.
Students of the Fine Arts Center will demonstrate their talents.
The Seaboard Railroad Station. Hot beverages and peanuts will be available for visitors. MEMO: The 19th annual Candlelight Tour. ``Celebrating Main Street,'' takes
place from 3 to 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The Suffolk-Nansemond
Historical Society sponsors the tour. Tickets are available at the homes
during tour or in advance at The Willows, 800 W. Washington St.; or by
calling Mrs. Charles H. Rose; 255-4663. For more information, call Mrs.
Thomas S. Brothers at 539-6312 or Mrs. J. Phil McPhail at 539-1131. ILLUSTRATION: Staff color photos by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
Melissa Odom sets the table for guests Janice Thomas and Jack
Brantley in front of a cozy fireplace in the dining room of the
Britt Home.
Alvia Winslow, left, and Mary Lawrence Harrell decorate the front
door of the van Valkenburgh Home on Main Street.
Melissa Odom sets a Christmas table, 1861-style, at the Britt Home.
Conversation and a bit of entertainment, 1861-style, at the Britt
Home; Melissa Odom plays for guests Jack Brantley and Janice
Thomas.
Graphics
ON THE COVER
Jack Brantley and Janice Thomas are decked out for an 1861 visit
to the Britt home, while hostess Melissa Odom looks on from the
front porch. The Britt home, built in 1800, is on the ``Celebrating
Main Street'' tour. Cover photo by staff photographer JOHN H.
SHEALLY II.
The Suffolk Nansemond Historical Society tour features six homes and
four churches.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Riddick's Folly, 510 N. Main St. - Greek Revival house and former
home of Mills and Mary Riddick where costumed characters will be in
attendance. Afternoon tea will be offered for a small fee. Sumptuous
desserts will be available for purchase.
On Saturday, harpist Melissa Walker, 14, will play musical
selections.
Robert Stiffler will be present from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday for a
book-signing of ``Gardening in Southeastern Virginia and
Northeastern North Carolina.'' The book is composed of gardening
advice taken from 21 years of Stiffler's columns written for The
Virginian-Pilot.
On Sunday, violinist Alexandra Dublis, 14, will play musical
selections.
Fine Arts Center at Suffolk Towers, formerly the Hotel Elliot,
will be open for visitors from 3 to 5 p.m. Students will demonstrate
their talents.
Cost of a block ticket, $10; single admission, $4. Tickets will
be available at each house on the day of the tour or in advance at
Riddick's Folly, The Willows, 800 W. Washington St., or by calling
ticket chairman Mrs. Charles H. Rose, 255-4663.
All proceeds will be used for the renovation of the Seaboard
Railroad Station, which was the victim of fire and is now in a
critical state.
by CNB