Homeowners open their 18th-century house & its storied past

When Patrick and Ann Rodgers purchased their historic home in 2014, it was half the size it is today. Several years later they doubled it in a day by buying the adjacent house – a structure that was attached to their house but was being used as a separate dwelling. Both houses have storied pasts, and both are open for this year’s Holiday House Tour sponsored by Preservation of Historic Winchester (PHW) on Sunday, Dec. 8 from noon to 4 p.m.

522 South Loudoun Street

The Dr. Cornelius Baldwin House, a timber-frame, Federal-style home, was built circa 1784 and was the first of the two homes Patrick and Ann purchased. Dr. Baldwin was a surgeon in the Revolutionary War and was the physician to Lord Fairfax. Many of Baldwin’s children and grandchildren also made names for themselves in the fields of medicine and education. Perhaps best remembered is granddaughter Mary Julia Baldwin, the founder of Mary Baldwin College.

“I’ve always liked old houses,” says Patrick.

But when Patrick and Ann first looked at photos of the listing online, they weren’t impressed. They recall that the photos “didn’t really do the house justice.” Their realtor, John Schroth, suggested they take a look anyway, so they followed his lead. Unfortunately, when they toured the property, the power was off and they had to walk around with their cell phone flashlights to see the interior. Still, they saw enough to know that very night they wanted the house.

Patrick and Ann credit the previous owners for the effort and research that went into the restoration. “It was in great shape,” says Patrick.

That transformation didn’t happen until 1977 when the then-dilapidated house was restored by Tom and Katie Rockwood – a project made possible by PHW’s Jennings Revolving Fund. This was the second property acquired by PHW. (The first was the Simon Lauck House in 1974.) Before the Rockwoods’ restoration of the property, the house had undergone many changes including creating a facade that bore little resemblance to the original.

“It’s been an inn. It’s been a house. It’s been apartments,” says Patrick. “It was derelict. It even had some kind of a car shop in the basement.”

Fortunately, many of the interior details were still intact, including pine flooring, chair rails, cornices, molding and much original hardware.

524 South Loudoun Street

In 2021 Patrick and Ann purchased the neighboring house. The adjoining properties needed to be reconnected by interior doorways.

“Tommy Beavers (Beavers Carpentry) led the project to join the properties into the single residence seen today,” says Ann.

Built circa 1800 by Isaac Wilkes, 524 South Loudoun Street began as a three-bay log house with a typical two-room floor plan. It was clad in German wood weatherboard siding and expanded by rear additions. In the mid-1800s, 522 and 524 were used as a tavern and called “The Valley Hotel.”

Like many old Virginia homes, along with the rich architectural history comes a cultural history that is fascinating but not always pleasant. Records indicate that before the Civil War the property was owned by a slave trader who bought and shipped enslaved people to southern plantation owners. According to Frederic Morton’s book “The Story of Winchester in Virginia,” published in 1925:

“At the corner of Main (now Loudoun) and Monmouth Elijah Walker had a wagon stand, his sign being a wagon and four horses. … Later landlords here were Benjamin Richards and William Harr. The place was otherwise known as the ‘Negro Trader’s Jail,’ and it seems to be referred to in an advertisement of 1856 which says that a hotel and negro jail are for sale in the south end of the city, the former containing fifteen rooms and having been in use twenty years. The notice adds that there is a ‘large and safe brick enclosure with the necessary arrangements for the safe keeping of slaves. It would consequently be a desirable property for a person dealing in slaves.’”

“It’s part of the story,” says Patrick. “It’s not our favorite part of the story, but it’s part of the story. It’s part of history and it’s good to talk about it,” says Patrick.

“Not talking about it would be disrespectful,” adds Ann.

Today, the Rodgers house is bustling with the positive energy of a modern family: Patrick, Ann, their two children and several furry four-footed friends.

Tickets to all the homes on PHW’s Holiday House Tour can be purchased at Kimberly’s and the Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center. Tickets cost $25 in advance or $30 on the day of the tour. Tickets can also be purchased at any of the tour locations:

122 W. Cork Street (Peter Bullough Foundation Resident House)
120 W. Cork Street (Peter Bullough Foundation Collection & Offices)
124 E. Clifford Street (Joseph Hodgson House)
522 S. Loudoun Street (Dr. Cornelius Baldwin House)
524 S. Loudoun Street (Old Valley Hotel)

Tickets to the tour will also be for sale at PHW’s “Bough & Dough Shop.” The popular pop-up shop is stocked with sweets, holiday decor and fresh greenery. This year’s shop will be located in a booth at Winchester’s Winter Village at the open-air market in Old Town on Friday, Dec. 6 from 4 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 7 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday, Dec. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Bough & Dough Shop – New location!


Last Weekend for the Bough & Dough Shop

Our favorite tree from this year’s Shop is decorated with ornaments from Ornamentally Creative, Mark Chambers, Lighthouse Woodworking, and Very Merry Mittens. Additional decor on the mantel is Libba Pendleton and Dave Hickman.

Thank you all for coming out to the 47th Holiday House Tour last weekend. It was a magical day, even though the weather did not fully cooperate with us. From our rough numbers, it looks like over 340 people braved the damp and overcast to visit our winter village. We’re absolutely thrilled and delighted!

This also means we’re in our final weekend of the Shop. We are open 10 AM – 5 PM this Friday-Sunday on the first floor of the Hexagon House, 530 Amherst St. While some artists have sold out or picked up items, we still have plenty of goodies to choose from, including fabulous one of a kind handmade ornaments, many types of wood products, holiday decor and wall art, and tasty treats for a quick pick me up.

If you were contemplating an item earlier but had not purchased it, now’s the last chance to stop in and snag them before the Shop closes for another year on December 10. Our current sale offers are:

  • 10% off all Gustafson Glass products
  • 10% off necklaces and bracelets by The Merry Beader
  • Any remaining tables from George Davis will go on sale Saturday
  • Remaining greens in the Laidlaw Amphitheater are set your own price and wreath prices are negotiable

We hope if you’re checking out the winter village downtown this weekend, you’ll also stop by our outpost!

Holiday House Tour 2023: Last Notes!

The House Tour is almost here! We hope you will be able to join us on Sunday, December 3 to kick off the holiday season. Our final notes for the event are as follows:

Tickets will be available at the advance sale price of $25/person at the Bough & Dough Shop until the tour begins at noon on December 3, at which time they will roll over to the $30/person at the door price. The Shop is able to process credit/debit cards. If you are coming in from out of town for the tour to get tickets, we recommend starting with the Shop to get your tickets and program booklets before heading to the tour sites.

Tickets will be available at the door of 21 S. Loudoun, 613 S. Loudoun, 101 N. Washington, and 400 S. Washington from noon-4 PM. Payments at the door of these four sites is cash or check only. Exact change preferred!

A limited amount of off-street parking is available behind 21 S. Loudoun, accessed from Indian Alley. There are also several City-owned surface lots close to the Loudoun Street Mall. All parking meters and City-owned surface lots are free to park during the weekend.

A representative will be available for building tours at Vibrissa starting about 4 PM. Be sure to come with your House Tour ticket!

Checkout at the Bough & Dough Shop is slightly different this year, so please be patient if you have a large order or the Shop is busy. If you know you’ll be purchasing a large number of items, please feel free to leave your items at the checkout table so we can get started on the order processing while you continue to shop.

The weather for Sunday is looking to be a mild mid-50 degree day, but there are chances of showers in the afternoon. We don’t anticipate much disruption to the tour, so dress for the weather, grab an umbrella, and enjoy!

Holiday House Tour Tickets are available for purchase now at Kimberly’s and the Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center. Tickets are also available at the Bough & Dough Shop, open Wednesdays-Sundays, 10 AM-5 PM at the Hexagon House, 530 Amherst St.

Holiday House Tour 2023: Special Thanks!

The Holiday House Tour is largely a volunteer effort. In addition to the financial support we receive from our advertising sponsors whose ads are found throughout this booklet, PHW is also indebted to the support of:

Homeowners Tom and Lucy Rockwood, Lindsay Browning and Jayden Sibert, Bryan and Christa Lewis, and Harrison & Johnston, PLC
Special partnership location Vibrissa Beer & Kitchen
House chairmen Bruce Downing, Ben Ford, Ted Kalbach, Anne G. Scully, and Anne Walker Schroth
Advance ticket sale locations Kimberly’s and the Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center
Bough & Dough Shop artists Angel’s Roost Quilts, Blooming Hill Lavender Farm and Gift Shop, Nina Burke Gourds, Lorraine Candell, Capers in Crochet, The Card Shop Bakers, Mark Chambers, George Davis, Double D’s Bees, Eye of the Needle Embroidery, Gustafson Glass, Hailewatercolors, Heathen Works, Dave Hickman, J&W Farm, Susan Keenan, Lighthouse Woodworking, The Merry Beader, Ornamentally Creative, Libba Pendleton, Katie Pifer, Ree’s Treats, Very Merry Mittens, Waterlilly Pottery
Bough & Dough Shop co-chairmen Sandra Bosley and Ricky Alvarez
In-kind donors of bags, packing materials, and fresh greenery for the Bough & Dough Shop
Volunteer docents, decorators, and door greeters for each tour location

And visitors like you!

Holiday House Tour Tickets are available for purchase now at Kimberly’s and the Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center. Tickets are also available at the Bough & Dough Shop, open Wednesdays-Sundays, 10 AM-5 PM at the Hexagon House, 530 Amherst St.

Holiday House Tour Online Ticket Sale Update

We have been very pleased with the online ticket sales this year for the Holiday House Tour, but unfortunately we are nearing the end of our window to mail physical tickets to get them into your hands ahead of the tour. Get your last orders in now so we can get your tickets out in Saturday’s mail! The online order form will be disabled soon.

Still waiting to see how the weather goes for the tour weekend before buying tickets? Physical tickets may still be purchased in person at the Bough & Dough Shop at 530 Amherst St. during our normal operating schedule, or at the Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center and Kimberly’s in Winchester. For absolute last minute shopping, tickets will be available at the door of the houses the day of the tour, but for the increased price of $30/person.

Holiday House Tour 2023: Vibrissa Beer & Kitchen, 10 North Kent Street

Join us at Vibrissa Beer & Kitchen for a drink and enjoy a generous 20% discount with your Holiday House Tour ticket. Don’t miss out on this amazing deal to satisfy your thirst and tantalize your taste buds after exploring Winchester during the tour!

Formerly home to the Winchester Star, Vibrissa boasts a large production brewery, taproom, full service kitchen, and indoor/outdoor seating. This adaptive reuse project won a Preservation of Historic Winchester Award of Merit in 2023. Parking is available on the side of the building!

Open Sun-Thurs: 11 AM-9 PM, Fri-Sat: 11 AM-11 PM

vibrissabeer.com

PHW extends our gratitude to Kay Hallet, a business card advertiser in our Holiday House Tour booklet. Sponsorships like this help us to put together the event and make it a success every year. Thank you!

Holiday House Tour Tickets are available for purchase now from our online store, and are available now at Kimberly’s and the Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center. Tickets are also available at the Bough & Dough Shop, open Wednesdays-Sundays, 10 AM-5 PM at the Hexagon House, 530 Amherst St.

Holiday House Tour 2023: 400 South Washington Street

This single-family brick dwelling sits on the corner of West Cecil and South Washington Streets, enhanced with mature shrubs and foundation plantings. Constructed circa 1905, the Colonial Revival style house is composed of the main block graced with a full-width Doric-style front porch, and two additions to the rear, including a partially enclosed porch.

For many years, the home was owned by Katherine Solenberger, wife of hardware salesman Jno. S. Solenberger. In the estate auction of 1952, the house’s superlative features included a “full bath on 1st and 2nd floors, lavatory on third floor and toilet in basement,” with its proximity to Handley High School mentioned as an afterthought.

The main hip roof is punctuated by three half-hipped dormers. The one overlooking Washington Street is the most elaborate, with a tripartite window with a central 8/1 flanked by 4/1 windows. All the first and second story windows are enhanced with soldier brick jack arches and operable louvered shutters. Inviting visitors to step inside the home are segmentally-arched double-leaf doors with leaded glass, sheltered under the generous porch. Be sure to note the round-headed, stained glass window gracing the West Cecil Street side of the home.

PHW thanks homeowners Bryan and Christa Lewis for opening their home to the Holiday House Tour.

Maral Kalbian, Architectural Historian

PHW extends our gratitude to Maral Kalbian, a business card advertiser in our Holiday House Tour booklet. Sponsorships like this help us to put together the event and make it a success every year. Thank you!

Holiday House Tour Tickets are available for purchase now from our online store, and are available now at Kimberly’s and the Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center. Tickets are also available at the Bough & Dough Shop, open Wednesdays-Sundays, 10 AM-5 PM at the Hexagon House, 530 Amherst St.

Holiday House Tour 2023: 101 North Washington Street

The exterior of this ca. 1846 Federal-style home has evolved gracefully through the centuries. Many changes were made around the turn of the twentieth century and in the 1920s. The most recent changes, undertaken by the present owners, included removal of the 1920s pebbledash stucco, revealing remarkably well-preserved wood siding beneath.

The original entry on Washington Street faces a stairway with a gracefully curved banister at the upstairs landing. Painted details such as a carved ceiling medallion and stair brackets give texture and history to the older part of the house. The last renovation also added a library on the north side and reconfigured the kitchen area, smoothly blending the historic elements with contemporary features. The updated kitchen is enhanced by glass pendant lights over a shiny black granite countertop and a large open area with sunny windows on the south and west.

The library features a partner’s desk of tiered mahogany, said to be a replica of one owned by George Washington. A north window has been converted to a door, allowing access to a charming enclosed city garden featuring a herringbone brick and bluestone patio and a historic outbuilding with pebbledash finish.

PHW is grateful to Tom and Lucy Rockwood for opening their home to the tour.

PHW extends our gratitude to Dominion Real Estate Associates, a business card advertiser in our Holiday House Tour booklet. Sponsorships like this help us to put together the event and make it a success every year. Thank you!

Holiday House Tour Tickets are available for purchase now from our online store, and will also be available soon at Kimberly’s and the Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center. Tickets will also be available at the Bough & Dough Shop, opening Nov. 17.

Holiday House Tour 2023: 613 South Loudoun Street

Step back in time with this charming 1800s home that combines history with modern living. This historic log cottage covered in weatherboard siding has been expanded and adapted many times over the years. The building may have been a “starter home” for Charles Grim, Jr., whose father willed this property to him in 1778.
The building’s humble beginnings and unpretentious demeanor are reflected in the assortment of window styles, dormer addition, Victorian-era porch, and multiple rear additions, each one showing a choice to enhance or improve the building to the current needs of the owners.

The property left the Grim family in 1866, likely coinciding with the first building expansion of an ell and an Italianate-style front porch with jig-sawn brackets and pendants. The next wave of expansions happened in the 1930s and 1950s. Work included digging out a basement and removing an exterior chimney, as well as adding a large display window for the building’s time as a twentieth-century meat market. Beulah Carpenter, who purchased the home in 1938, was quoted in the 1976 Architectural Survey, “We sold over 3,000 hogs here.” Today, the building has been returned to residential use with an interior just as charming as its exterior.

PHW is grateful to homeowners Lindsay Browning and Jayden Sibert for opening their home to this year’s tour.

PHW extends our gratitude to The Shenandoah Group of Wells Fargo Advisors, a half page advertiser in our Holiday House Tour booklet. Sponsorships like this help us to put together the event and make it a success every year. Thank you!

Holiday House Tour Tickets are available for purchase now from our online store, and will also be available soon at Kimberly’s and the Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center. Tickets will also be available at the Bough & Dough Shop, opening Nov. 17.