The Daily Southerner, Tarboro, NC

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September 24, 2009

ANNUAL HOMES TOUR

Proceeds help fund projects, scholarship

KIMBERLY BELLAMY

Multiple homes, museums, and historical sites will be on display Saturday during the seventh annual Homes Tour sponsored by the Edgecombe County Garden Club.

The event gives people the opportunity to stroll through places with architectural designs, and accents that stand out amongst other structures in Tarboro from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

"We really try to choose those (sites) that haven't been on the tour before or that are so unique and beautiful that we get request for them again," said Karen Andrus, Homes Tour coordinator and Garden Club member.

The tickets are $20 each, and are on sale at the Chamber of Commerce, the Blount-Bridgers House and Edgecombe County Memorial Library.

The proceeds will benefit multiple projects in the area, including a scholarship at Edgecombe Community College.

“It returns back to the college a substantial scholarship. It also goes to the preservation of Coolmore Plantation, and the restoration of the grounds at the Blount-Bridgers House,” Andrus said.

The tour isn’t guided, but there will be docents at each location to greet people and offer insight on why that location is significant.

Each home will likely have a different story that makes the home unique or special to the owner.

The Savirna house at 2401 N. Main St. is owned by the third family of Clarks since it was built.

"It's been in the Clark family since the beginning when it was built in 1928," said Tiffany Clark, current owner.

Clark's husband Bill is related to the first and second inhabitants of the home.

For Brandon Bunn, he wasn't apart of the family that owned the home, but felt as though he was.

"I knew the family as a child, and maintained that friendship throughout the years," Bunn said.

"I've had the experience were the family has gotten the opportunity to share their experiences with me."

Bunn's home is called the Joinery-Hudson house located at 1516 Colony Drive.

There are 16 sites on tour this year, but some tend to reappear on the list each year.

“We also have several key historic sites,” Andrus said.

The Blount-Bridgers House, the Phillips Dependency, the Pender Museum, Coolmore Plantation and Calvary Episcopal Church are always sites that are encouraged for viewing.

Coolmore is one of the most notable sites on the tour being one of a kind in the state.

"That is one of the most exquisite sites in North Carolina. That is going to be up there because it's so important to our state," Andrus said.

There has been attendance from people across the state, and even outside of the state, such as South Carolina and Virginia.

The Garden Club advertises the event locally, and reaches out to Women’s Clubs and other Garden Clubs in the state to provoke interest.

Andrus thanked the home owners for allowing the public to view their homes.

The Homes Tour falls on the same day as the annual History Day.

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