news
All homes will be adorned with magnolia
hostesses who ooze our own southern culture while dreams of yesteryear are frozen in the unique and unusual architecture of historic Holly Springs, called "an antebellum encyclopedia" by the New York Times.
Traveling back in time will be a treat for the privileged that discover this great assemblage of homes, not always open to the public.
Christmas cantatas will be performed each day at 2pm in one of Holly Springs' historic pre-Civil War churches, complete with antique Pilcher organs.
Homes included this year: Finley Place- Built in 1856, this Greek Revival style house was unique of this period in that it is of clapboard, not brick. Now owned by the Audubon Society is elegantly decorated with fresh magnolia leaves and is the only home in town painted on canvas by famed painter, and Holly Springs native, Kate Freeman Clark.
Gwydir- (Pronounced Gee-dir) Southern porches grace this Plantation home.
Built in 1910 by the Gholson family is on the tour for the first time and conveniently located next to the Yellow Fever Martyr Museum.
Tuckahoe- Was a twin to "East End" which was a plantation home built in 1892. The homes were owned by double brothers-in-law-- William Crump and John Hull, respectively. Constructed on land which was the largest artillery
camp during Grant's occupancy, its front entrance is graced by the original
door filled with transom windows.
Linden Hill-This Greek Revival style home was built in 1841 to face west to a street that was never built. Situated high on a hill just east of downtown Holly Springs, the main wing was added in 1850 to face south when Van Dorn
Avenue was built.
Herndon- The very first brick two story house in Marshall County built in 1845. This Federal style with elements of Greek Revival features unique brickwork. The original detached kitchen still stands with large exposed beam work.
Whittens- Was a 'log' home built in 1844. A previous owner put down an ale bottle front walk that remains, but is covered by concrete. It can be seen by stepping off the left side of the sidewalk as you approach the home.
Visitors will delight to see the LGD train collection located in the vast basement.
Also included on the tour is the Marshall County Historical Museum. The museum, constructed in 1903, is one of the most interesting and unusual destinations the city has to offer.
Like many sites concerned with Southern history, the museum devotes the first few exhibitions of its tour to artifacts from the Civil War era. As guests proceed to the upper floors, however, the true quirkiness of the
place begins to come into focus. From wall to wall, there is truly a little bit of everything: soldier uniforms since the war of 1812, guns, flags, quilts, dresses, Elvis records, old advertisements, antique books and
bottles, dollhouses, sports memorabilia, and promotional materials from past presidential campaigns. The playful randomness of it all, coupled with the fact that everything on display was donated by local residents, has led many visitors to suggest that the place is more like an eccentric grandmother's attic than a museum!
Additional information can be found at www.visithollysprings.com or by calling the Holly Springs Tourism Bureau at 888-687-4765.