Published 12:00 am Friday, January 4, 2008
For the next two weekends you can see one of Salisbury’s historic homes decked out for the holiday season.
Holiday hours for the Josephus Hall House, 226 S. Jackson St., will be from 1-4 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16 and Dec. 22 and 23. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children.
There will be a candlelight tour on Christmas Eve, from 6-8 p.m. Admission is by donation.
The house looks great this year, said Lynda Errante, the co-chair of museum properties. “Everybody is saying it’s the best it’s been in years. It’s lush and classic and over the top.”
A reception was held Dec. 5 for Hall House volunteers, catered by Sandee Carrigan.
Frances Taylor was in charge of decorating the parlor. The music room was done by the Salisbury-Rowan Symphony Guild and features nutcrackers as well as a double sleigh that has been on display at Tryon Palace in the past, Errante said.
Also in the music room are three busts loaned by artist Robert Toth ó Wagner, Mozart and Beethhoven.
Chad and Hilda Morgan did the dining room. “Hundreds of filmy butterflies are climbing to the chandelier,” Errante said.
David Garling and Suzanne Walser Jones decorated the downstairs bedroom.
Textile Products employees, led by Linda Dukelow, did the downstairs and upstairs hall. Dr. Hall’s bedroom was done by Leslie Black.
The children’s bedroom was done by the Antique Doll Society and features 200 dolls as well as a lighted, decorated Christmas tree.
Nancy Clement and Lynda Errante decorated the back bedroom; Judy Isenhour and Ashley Sorrell decorated the home’s exterior.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the structure was built as a school in 1820. It became a residence in 1825 when businessman Maxwell Chambers and his half-sister Rebecca Troy purchased the house and made it their home.
Medical doctor and businessman Josephus Hall purchased the house in 1859 and it remained a home to three generations of the Hall family. Historic Salisbury Foundation purchased the house and furnishings from Hall’s great granddaughter.
For more information, call 704-636-0103.