Fundraiser – Page 9 – Preservation of Historic Winchester

The Winchester Little Theatre Needs Your Help

The Winchester Little Theatre (WLT) has been a good partner with PHW over the years, particularly with the Holiday House Tours. Now it’s our turn to give back. WLT and its patrons need our help to meet their goals in their Restoration Campaign to restore their home and to bring this local landmark back to life.

On October 20, 2014 the PHW Board of Directors voted to pledge a total of $25,000.00 to this project, to be paid over a period 2 years. These funds will come from our Preservation Funds account, which is mostly from profits realized from the sale of the Kurtz Building, and other Revolving Fund Properties. Also, all proceeds from this year’s Bough & Dough Shop will be donated to the WLT Restoration Campaign.

This is a worthy project, one that supports PHW’s goals and mission of preservation. In order to meet our mission “Improving tomorrow by preserving the best of the area’s past” we have also offered to reach out to our membership and friends directly for your help. We kindly request that you make individual pledges and donations using the PHW pledge forms to show your support for both PHW and WLT. WLT is a 501 (c)3 nonprofit organization just like PHW, so any contributions may be tax deductible to the extent provided by law. Pledge forms will be available at each house during the Holiday House Tour, and through Sandra at the office, as well as available for download at the PHW website: Download a pledge form (PDF).

Thank you for your continued support of local preservation efforts, and best wishes for a very happy holiday season.

Holiday House Tour: 219 South Kent Street

219 South Kent Street
The Home of Martha Shickle

This charming log cottage is one of the oldest extant structures on South Kent Street. It was likely built shortly after 1823 when part of Lot 142 was sold for $20 to Elizabeth Conrad. The cozy one and a half story cabin still retains many of its hallmarks as an early vernacular structure, such as a wood shingle roof, a solid vertical batten wood door, and a one story shed wing that formerly served as the milk and wash house. The home also incorporates Victorian-era gingerbread additions with delicate, stylized tulip sawn balusters on the porches.

This cottage, as well as several other nearby homes, was owned by the Hodgson family from 1899 until 1979, when the Hodgson Estate properties were purchased through PHW’s Jennings Revolving Fund and rehabilitated by the new owners.

Holiday House Tour: Bough and Dough Shop

The Bough and Dough Shop
Winchester Little Theatre (Pennsylvania Freight Station)
315 West Boscawen Street

Hours of Operation:
Saturday, Dec. 6, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
Sunday, Dec. 7, noon-5 p.m.

Musicians:
Celtic Heir Duo, Sunday 1:30-3:30 p.m.

Start your Winchester Holiday House Tour weekend with a visit to the Bough and Dough Shop in the Winchester Little Theatre for fresh greenery and unique handmade items from local artisans!

The Winchester Little Theatre occupies a former Pennsylvania Railroad freight station built circa 1890. The hipped roof with large overhanging eaves supported with large brackets tied into the masonry walls provides cover for the freight loading dock. The interior was modified to accommodate live theatre performances by the Winchester Little Theatre. The Theatre moved into its railway home in 1974 and has provided critically acclaimed professional-quality live theatre to the community ever since. Since 2011, the Theatre has also been the home of PHW’s Bough and Dough Shop during the Holiday House Tour weekend.

This year’s proceeds from the Shop will benefit the Winchester Little Theatre Restoration Campaign. The Pennsylvania Freight Station is in need of substantial structural work to the masonry walls and roof, with the final goal being to restore the building’s original appearance with a slate roof. PHW is committed to seeing this local landmark restored and remain a vital arts hub for the Winchester-Frederick County community with a pledge of $25,000 and additional donations based on membership support like the Bough & Dough Shop.

When you purchase artisan goods or greenery from the Shop this year, you will be helping Winchester Little Theatre realize their dream of restoring the Pennsylvania Freight Station to its exterior appearance circa 1890.

2014 Artisans and Gifts at the Shop

Unique Handmade Gifts
EBS notecards & prints, jewelry, pottery, hand-carved woodenware, infinity scarves, herbal soaps, candles, holiday ornaments, greenery arrangements, hand-sewn gifts, and so much more…

Featured Bakery
Naughty Girls Donut Shop — Donuts, cupcakes, pies, assorted sweet breads, pastries, cookies, cheesecakes, brownies, whoopie pies, bars, etc.

Featured Artisans
Eugene B. Smith Gallery, Jackie Tobin, Mary Turner, Lin Hausknecht, Shauna Lupton, Alma Dove, Jose & Mary Montero, Karen Cartlidge, Nina Burke, Ellen Hockensmith, Kim Labash

Greenery for Decorating
Freshly-cut pine, juniper, magnolia, spruce, nandina, holly, boxwood, decorated wreaths, and bows

Tickets
Advance tickets for the Holiday House Tour Preview Party and Daylight Tour, Winchester Little Theatre tickets by play or season

Potato Hill Promenade: Introduction and Map

Welcome to Potato Hill, one of the oldest neighborhoods in Old Town Winchester. The area encompasses the gentle hill on South Loudoun and South Cameron Streets and the adjoining side streets.

The origin of the name Potato Hill is lost in the mists of time and subject to fanciful speculation. Theories range from the area being particularly well-suited to growing potatoes, the site of a farmer’s market at the top of the hill where potatoes would roll off the back of wagons to be snatched by the residents, or perhaps most likely, an area with a high number of Irish immigrants. Whatever sparked the first use of the name Potato Hill was cemented into the history books by the 1850s, when “Potatoe Hill” was a frequent identifier of property transfers on South Loudoun Street.

Many of the buildings in this area are log, in whole or in part, and many of those likely contain remnants of Fort Loudoun. The fort, constructed by George Washington during the French and Indian War, never saw combat and was abandoned in the 1760s. Since the fort’s wood was in good repair, local builders repurposed it for their new construction on Potato Hill.

Potato Hill had fallen on hard times 200 years later. Several homes were saved by Preservation of Historic Winchester’s Jennings Revolving Fund. Others were “spin off” restorations enabled by PHW’s neighborhood stabilization efforts. All of these buildings remain because of owners who were willing to peel back the layers of inappropriate changes and reveal the early American history waiting beneath.

There is no better time to see these success stories than during PHW’s 50th anniversary year. Join us for the Potato Hill Promenade!

Map of the 2014 Holiday House Tour

1. 219 South Kent Street—Martha Shickle
2. 221 South Cameron Street—Eugene and Sarah Smith
3. 510-512 South Loudoun Street—Joseph and Sharon Collette — Preview Party House
4. 602 South Loudoun Street—David and Margery Wingenbach
5. 610 & 612 South Loudoun Street—Dr. John Chesson
6. 17 East Monmouth Street—Tommy and Sarah Beavers
B: Bough & Dough Shop, 315 West Boscawen Street — Saturday, Dec. 6 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 7 noon–5p.m.

Free parking is available the weekend of the House Tour at the Bough & Dough Shop lot, City-operated surface lots, and on-street along the tour. City Autoparks are $0.50 per hour. Please be mindful of residents when utilizing on-street parking. On-street parking is extremely limited in the Potato Hill neighborhood. Carpooling and utilizing City lots is recommended.

Holiday House Tour: Potato Hill Promenade

Thank you for your patience while PHW went into radio silence for a few weeks. We are well on our way toward the 38th annual Holiday House Tour festivities, which will be held this December 6 & 7. Starting on Monday, November 17, we will post a new Holiday House Tour themed post every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday up to December 5. (We will continue the history of PHW’s past fifty years in January.)

One very important item to note is that this year’s proceeds from the Bough & Dough Shop artisans and the greenery will be donated by PHW to the Winchester Little Theatre Restoration Campaign. The Pennsylvania Freight Station is in need of substantial structural work to the masonry walls and roof, with the final goal being to restore the building’s original appearance with a slate roof. When you purchase artisan goods or greenery from the Shop this year, you will be helping Winchester Little Theatre realize their dream of restoring the Pennsylvania Freight Station to its exterior appearance circa 1890.

Buy Tickets Now
Online via PayPal at phwi.org or at the following advance ticket sale locations:
The Final Yard, 33 East Gerrard Street
Kimberly’s, 135 North Braddock Street
OakCrest Companies, 126 North Kent Street
Wilkins’ Shoe Center, 7 South Loudoun Street
Winchester Book Gallery, 185 North Loudoun Street
Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center, 1400 South Pleasant Valley Road

Poker Party Update

We’ve had a few similar questions come in on the topic of the liquid refreshment that will be served at the Poker Party on Saturday, March 16. There will be wine, soft drinks, and bottled water as well as beer as at the event. If you’re on the fence about attending because of the selection of drinks, don’t be afraid! There will be a variety of beverages for you to choose that evening.

Reminder to RSVP for the Second Annual Poker Party

The Poker Party will finish out this busy week at PHW — don’t forget to RSVP by tomorrow, March 13, to make sure we have enough refreshments for everyone!

After you RSVP, come to the Grim-Moore house at 510 South Loudoun Street on Saturday, March 16 from 7-10 p.m. Buy your chips at the door for $20 as a donation to PHW and play in a friendly atmosphere. If you’re not the gambling type, stop in to socialize and see the Grim-Moore House, one of the PHW Revolving Fund properties, before the building is updated by its new owner. Beer and light refreshments will be served also.

As a special thank you, new members to PHW since 1/1/2011 will receive $5 in chips on the house. Bring a friend as well and introduce them to PHW!

Click here to see the invitation. RSVP your attendance by 3/13/2013 to 540-667-3577 or phwi@verizon.net.

Noakes Reception Ticket Sales Update

Tickets are still available for both the afternoon and evening showings at the Samuel Noakes House on Saturday. The office will be closing at 3 PM today to set up for the event, but you can still make your reservations either through the PayPal links below or leave us a message at 540-667-3577 with your preferred time and pay at the door on Saturday. And if you are running very late, a few tickets might be left to be purchased Saturday at the door.

Can’t make it to the event but want to bid on an item? You may leave your contact information and your proxy bid by emailing us at phwi@verizon.net or leaving a message at 540-667-3577. Make sure you send in your proxy bids no later than March 9 at 5 p.m. for the afternoon showing, and 8 p.m. for the evening items!Afternoon Showing, 3-5 p.m. – $20 admission

Evening Showing, 6-8 p.m. – $30 admission

Noakes House Silent Auction: Barber Chair

The reception and silent auction to celebrate the completion of the Samuel Noakes House on March 9 is drawing closer. While we count down until March 9, a number of items that will be available at the auction will be highlighted in the PHW blog.

The last item we will highlight in the silent auction is the fabulous Emil J. Paidar barber chair, circa 1940 and still in working condition. The manufacture of “modern” barber chairs can be traced back to shortly after the Civil War. By 1880s, barber chairs could be raised, lowered, reclined and revolved, and in 1900, the familiar hydraulic-operated barber chair was patented.

In 1900 there were two American primary dealers for barber chairs, Emil J. Paidar and Koken. Sources indicate the Emil J. Paidar Company of Chicago, Illinois was the leading company through the 1950s, producing top of the line barber chairs along with other barber shop necessities. The Koken and Paidar chairs were similar in function and price points.

This balance between the barber chair manufacturers lasted until a third competitor arrived on the scene, Takara. Takara, a Japanese company, was expanding their operations overseas in the 1950s. The US Tariff Commission wrote of Takara in 1970:

After World War II a vigorous new barber chair industry grew up in Japan. Through energetic design, sales and advertising campaigns, this industry built up the barber chair market in Japan until it is larger than that of the United States, despite the smaller population of Japan.

Takara produced chairs of almost identical style and function to the Paidar and Koken chairs for substantially less and took advantage of decreasing tariffs to expand their operations in America. Imports increased dramatically in the late 1950s and through the 1960s, supplanting the American-manufactured barber chairs.

In an additional clever move, Takara found another, indirect way to up the competition with the American manufacturers. The Takara chair parts are interchangeable with the Paidar and Koken chairs, so if a piece of an existing chair was broken, it could be replaced with the less costly Takara part.

Takara purchased the struggling Koken company in 1969 and thus obtained 70% of the market for barber chairs in the United States. Paidar appealed to the US Tariff Commission for assistance and/or increased import levies against the foreign competition in 1968 and again in 1970, but to no avail. The Takara Belmont company remains the leading manufacturer today.

To see learn more about Paidar’s rise and fall in the production of barber chairs, visit www.antiquebarberchairs.net and www.usitc.gov.

If you would like to own this piece of history, tickets are still available for both the afternoon and evening reception and silent auction on March 9. Remember, the barber chair will be available only during the evening showing! Reserve your spot online via PayPal, or make your reservation by mailing in a check payable to PHW to 530 Amherst St., Winchester, VA 22601.

Afternoon Showing, 3-5 p.m. – $20 admission

Evening Showing, 6-8 p.m. – $30 admission

Noakes House Silent Auction Items: Peoples Barber Shop Sign

The Peoples Barber Shop sign will be available for bidding during the evening showing. The sign, which graced the Noakes house for more than 60 years, is another testament to the enduring quality and quantity of advertising from Coca-Cola.

In addition to the standard shop sign proclaiming the location of the Peoples Barber Shop, the sign features two red Coca-Cola button signs. The button signs are weathered from their many years outdoors, but are still largely intact and identifiable.

The button signs were produced by Temco, a company based in Nashville, TN. The signs, advertised as “Porcelain is Permanent,” are made from metal coated with a porcelain enamel. Signs generally ranged in size from 12-36″ and came in a variety of colors and logos.

To see learn more about the Temco Coca-Cola signs, visit www.vintagevending.com and www.collectorsweekly.com.

If you would like to own this piece of history, tickets are still available for both the afternoon and evening reception and silent auction on March 9. Remember, the People Barber Shop sign will be available only during the evening showing! Reserve your spot online via PayPal, or make your reservation by mailing in a check payable to PHW to 530 Amherst St., Winchester, VA 22601.

Afternoon Showing, 3-5 p.m. – $20 admission

Evening Showing, 6-8 p.m. – $30 admission