Newspapers / The Kings Mountain Herald … / May 4, 1978, edition 1 / Page 9
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78 (VA.*« Octant ' Virginia ate oJ State > Page, Science ^ ned the 4. Victorian Mansion Built In 1896 Living Today SECTION B Save This House Thursday, May 4,1978 By EUZABETH STEWART Womans Editor A local society for preservation of heritage Is gearing up In Kings Mountain to try to save the 1806 Victorian three-story Baker resi dence on North Piedmont Ave. from being demolished and establish a historical landmark to house a museum and restaurant. The home of Dr. Bob Baker Is situated in the path of the proposed U. S. 74 Bypass of Kings Mountain and May 16th Is the deadline date the 7 -V* [ric Icand 0 H' .1 [ CENTURY DECOR The.Uveoatory heme of Dr. Bob Baker, pic- I OB stairway, was bnllt by Dr. Baker’s grandfather, P. 8. Baker, in 1896. The home Is beautifully furnished in the Victorian motif. Photos By Tom McIntyre state department of transportation has given the Kings Mountain dentist to vacate the premises and move to his newly-acquired residence on West Mountain St., the former home of Jonas and Doris Bridges. Spurred by history buffs Liz (Mrs. Haywood E.) Lynch and ^rah Frances (Mrs. David) Faunce, eight local women held an organizational meeting last Wednesday evening to form a corporation called Victorian House, Ltd. and the papers were being drawn up by Attorney Bob Bradley this week. Mrs. Lynch ana Mrs. Faunce were named the trus tees for the new venture and Charles Hamilton was asked to serve as treasurer for funds to be deposited at First Citizens Bank A Trust Co. Widen House Movers of Concord have agreed to move the large Victorian mansion to a downtown location for cost of $40,000, said Mrs. Lynch. The women's volunteer group was meeting again yesterday morning to begin calling on local Industry and Interested citizens to seek donations for Victorian House 1896, and “hopefully”, according to Mrs. Lynch, "raise the necessary funds to pay the movers.” Meanwhile, Mrs. Lynch is con tacting local property owners this week In an effort to obtain property in the downtown area to relocate the house. “Citizens will be asked to donate a one-time-only gift,which of course, Is tax-deductible,” explained Mrs. Lynch, who envisions that once the house Is moved that the corporation would be eligible for grants and from help from such agencies as Rockefeller Foundation. Dr. Baker, who was born and reared In the house built by his grandfather, the late Philip Sylvanus Baker, has “mixed emotions" about moving from the residence and would like to see the home preserved for historical reasons. Timber for the sprawling mansion was hand-picked and cut In the Patterson Grove community. The beautiful hardwood floors, exquisite mantelpieces and chan deliers, and the elaborate con struction would be an elegant setting for entertaining 10 or hundreds. TTie house has six bedrooms, a winding stairway, balconies off the second floor, and a full attic which has a beautiful cathedral celling. A formal living room, foyer and entrance hall, formal dining room, den, master bedroom, kitchen and trophy room-Ubraiy is on the first floor. The mantiepleces In all the first floor rooms are conversation pieces with Intricate design. The rooms are all wallpapered and the elegant I8th Century furnishings of the late Dr. and Mrs. Luther P. Baker enhance the residence. Bob Baker, his brothers, Philip, Tom, Dick, of Rock Hill, S. C., and sister, Peggy Baker Fulford of Knoxville, Tenn., were all reared In the house. There are five spacious bedrooms on the second floor and the third floor houses an assortment of memorabilia handed down through many generations of Bakers, In cluding old-tlmey baby carrlagea and family keepsakes. Bob Baker’s grandfather operated a textile plant at Crowder's Mountain when he built the house In 1896 for his family of five children. He also operated the Lula Mill, named for his wife. Philip Sylvstnus Baker died In the Panic or depression of 1908. Bob’s father, the late Dr. L. P. Baker, started practicing dentistry here In 1907 and was a dentist for 67 years before his death in 1967. His sons were also reared In the business and continue the practice today. Mrs. Baker died In 1976. Bob Bsiker plans to move most of the elegant furnishings Into his new house, except for several bedroom suites which will go Into other family members’ homes. The former Jonas Bridges home Is also a large house and Bob plans to use as much as possible the Victorian house fur nishings. C^n this old house be moved and saved for posterity? Only 11 days remsiln to moving day for Bob Baker. Working against a deadline, locsil women say they are getting some good response from Initial contacts, some discouragement from others. Victorian House, Ltd. would be a Kings Mountain museum-showplace and headquarters for meetings, conventions, etc. with a high class restaurant to be opened at aome future time, promoters envision. Bob Baker hopes this "dream” will be a reality. t. ** i '•*'•^ iiinmnuHnini BS M f W Rm.i V'8 , , )\\ 'I --''1 _ .JncrORlAN BAKER HOME - Tha baaoWnl Vic- heritage to raise funds to move the resMeace tor iiaicocl Dr-Bob Baker Is situated In the path of housing at some future time of a museum and i.*. »»_ fNCnOj Me U. ■-74 By-Pass of Kings Mountain. Local htotory restaurant. 'H ffstHs week established a society for preservation of STEERING COMMITTEE — Mrs. Haywood E. of whirh Mrs. Ljmrh and Mrs. David Faunce (not Tommy (Beth) Baker, and Dr. Bob plotiired) will serve as trusteees. formation of Victorian House, Ltd.
The Kings Mountain Herald (Kings Mountain, N.C.)
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May 4, 1978, edition 1
9
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