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

GHS 2019 Home Tour Houses Provide A Feast And An Oasis May 10, 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.

The   Greenbrier   Historical   Society   continues   its   variety   of   homes   with   an   emphasis   on   collections   and styles as a part of the 2019 Home Tour on Saturday, June 8 from 10-4. Whether   you   call   the   style   “French   Colonial”,   “Southern   Plantation”   or   “Lousiana   Plantation”,   the   home owned   by   Steve   and   DeEtta   Hunter   is   one   of   a   kind.     The   origin   of   this   house   is   as   complicated   as   its   most famous   resident,   Dr.   William   P.   Rucker.      The   house   is   first   specifically   mentioned   when   the   land   was   sold to   Margaret   A.   Rucker   in   1877,   describing   it   as   “being   where   Dr.   Wm.   P.   Rucker   and   family   now   reside.”     They   may   have   been   renting   from   the   previous   owner,   Samuel   S.   Hoover.      Previous   deeds   suggest structures   but   there   is   no   further   identification.      The   house   was   originally   built   with   the   first   floor   more underground   than   today   and   the   genteel   living   quarters   on   the   second   floor;   there   was   no   stairway between the two.  Dr.   William   P.   Rucker   owned   slaves   and   yet   supported   the   Union.      He   feared   for   the   safety   of   his   family   in Summersville,   VA   (now   WV)   and   sent   his   wife,   Margaret,   four   sons,   and   two   freed   slaves   to   Marietta,   OH for   safety   during   the   Civil   War.      While   there,   Charlotte   Scott,   one   of   the   freed   slaves,   learned   of   the assassination   of   President   Lincoln.      She   immediately   brought   forth   $5,   her   life   savings,   to   start   a   fund   for   a monument   to   President   Lincoln   for   the   Emancipation   Proclamation.         Her   wish   was   finally   realized   when the   “Freedman’s   Memorial   Monument   to   Abraham   Lincoln”   was   installed   in   Lincoln   Square   on   Capitol   Hill in Washington, DC in 1876.  Dr.   Rucker   is   also   known   for   his   role   as   defense   attorney   in   the   trial   of Trout   “Edward”   Shue   for   the   murder of   his   wife,   Zona   Heaster.      This   murder   trial   involved   evidence   given   to   Zona’s   mother   by   Zona’s   spirit when she appeared to her mother and described how she had been killed by her husband.   Visitors will be able to see a photograph, in the upstairs hall, of the Rucker Family in front of their home. Steve   and   DeEtta   Hunter   have   filled   their   home   with   a   wide   variety   of   historic   items   from   the   Greenbrier Valley   area   in   order   to   preserve   them.      These   artifacts   will   provide   a   feast   for   the   eyes   of   visitors.   The Hunters are graciously providing some refreshments in the back yard. The   home   of   Aaron   and   Sparrow   Huffman   is   situated   in   a   beautiful   location   with   spacious   grounds.     Architect   William   Monafield   designed   it   for   Paul   and   Margaret   Summers   and   it   was   built   in   1952   as   their vacation   home.   Paul   enjoyed   playing   golf   at   the   Greenbrier   while   Margaret   painted   in   her   studio.      Nephew David   Summers   and   his   wife   Denice   purchased   the   home   in   1984   and   sold   it   to   the   present   owners   in 2018. The   Huffmans,   owners   of   The   General   Lewis   Inn   and   Stardust   Cafe   in   Lewisburg,   have   2   small   children and   envision   this   as   a   wonderful   country   retreat,   though   still   in   town.   They   especially   appreciate   the   large porches,    open    gourmet    kitchen,    spacious    library    and    living    room    with    wood    burning    fireplaces,    and appealing   vistas   from   the   bedrooms.   Visitors   will   appreciate   Sparrow’s   minimalist   approach   to   decorating and find that the home provides an oasis of calm and grace. 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   page   and   web   page .   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: Rucker tif:  The Rucker Family beside the house now owned by Steve and DeEtta Hunter. 636:  A porch for gracious living is part of the Huffman home on tour on Saturday, June 8, from 10-4. (Click on photos for larger view)