Newspapers / The Warren Record (Warrenton, … / April 22, 1987, edition 1 / Page 9
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Section B (Thp JHrtj-t-ptt <Kprrtt*h Sections Wednesday, April 22, 1987 ^ ^ ^ ^ Wednesday, April 22, 1987 The Wilson-Christmas-Davis house, located at the corner of West Macon and Front streets in War renton, has been renovated and this week opened for business as Traub's Inn, a bed and breakfast and delicatessen and lounge. The proprietor is Monika Perry, a native of Germany who recently relocated to Warrenton from Fayetteville. (Staff Photo by Dianne T. Rod well) SENIOR CITIZENS HOME Serving the elderly in the Henderson and surrounding areas since 1969. -LPN Supervision 24 Hours A Day ?Private and Semi-Private rooms Ruin Creek Road-Henderson (919) 492-0066 - C^W WHY WE RECOMMEND PROWL FOR GRASS AND WEED CONTROL IN FLUE-CURED TOBACCO BROADEST-SPECTRUM CONTROL PROWE herbicide controls 20 major grasses and broadleaf weeds. More than any other herbicide. And it includes some of your toughest problems: pigweed, foxtail, lambsquarters, and fall and Tfexas panicum. PROWL even helps control <5iri/irfwppH LOWEST-COST CONTROL You get more for your herbicide dollar with PROWL. Out standing control at an easy-to-live-with price. You can save a lot of money over other herbicides. LOCAL SERVICE As your friends and neighbors, we feel that service is just important as product. And now, as your local Cyanamid Agri Center, we can serve you even better. Come see us about PROWL for grass and weed control in flue-cured tobacco. You'll see for yourself why PROWL is your best herbicide value. *1II 11 H n HmCm Always read and follow label directions carefully LEBANON CHEMICAL Warrantor), N.C. 257-3288 In Downtown Warrenton Bed And Breakfast Inn Opens Doors Tuesday By KAY HORNER Feature Editor Ask Monika Perry what made her undertake the renovation of Warrenton's WiIson-Chr istmas Davis house at the corner of Front and West Macon streets and she'll tell you without a mo ment's hesitation, "When some people don't have a headache, they make a headache." She is one of those people, but for her the headache is now giv ing way to the joy of being the proprietor of the newly opened Traub's Inn, a bed and breakfast with a delicatessen and lounge. Sitting in the living room of the inn, surrounded by treasures from her native Germany, Ms. Perry, a petite blonde whose ac cent still bears traces of her native tongue, reflected on her reasons for coming to Warrenton with her business venture. "I see big potential for Warren ton," she said. "I want to see it stay as unique as it is now with one exception?I want to see a business boom here. It can be done and done right." I-ast year, Ms. Perry, who operated her own real estate firm in Fayetteville where her family settled after immigrating 25 years ago, decided to relocate with her son following the death of her mother. "There were just too many reminders there," she said. Having restored a 200-year-old home in Fayetteville, Ms. Perry scouted around for a project that would enable her to utilize what that experience had taught. "I read historical publications and happened to see that the Grabill house (the former Ridgeway Street home of Dr. and Mrs. J. R. Grabill) was for sale," she explained. "In visiting War renton and inquiring about that house, I was also shown three other houses, two of them being this house and the house next door, where I'm now living." She and her son David, a junior government major at Campbell University now taking a break from studies to help with the opening of the inn, saw the poten tial in the house most recently owned by the descendents of John Boyd Davis. After all, it had at one time been a showplace of Warrenton, with the ballroom that spans the width of the house on its northern end being the scene of countless festive evenings during a bygone era when it was the home of John Boyd and Eleanor Davis. The Greek Revival frame house was built around 1850 by Dr. T. E. Wilson across from courthouse square on the site of the Old Coffee Exchange. Dr. Wilson, a native of Greensville County, Va., came to Warrenton to practice medicine in 1845 and lived in the home until his reloca tion to Salem, Va. in 1869, when he sold the home to James Y. Christmas. It was later bought by Mrs. Henry G. Williams and passed on to her descendents, the Davises. Ms. Perry has decorated the home eclectically from her per sonal furnishings and from pieces acquired at auctions. The Euro pean influence is felt throughout the home and many of the pieces were brought to this country by Ms. Perry, whose family settled here 25 years ago. Among the most unusual pieces is a bed headboard lined with fox fur, a gift from Ms. Perry's mother. It has found its place in one of the four bedrooms that Ms. Perry now has available as part of the bed and breakfast arrangement. "I have no idea where mother got it," she laughed, "but I put it up here and have decided to call this the playroom!" There are shared bath facilities for every two bedrooms, and a fifth bedroom is now being renovated. The rooms rent for $48 a night, including a continental breakfast of hard rolls, butter, jelly and coffee. The dining room has been refurbished for use by inn customers, but the general public can feast on a variety of delicatessen sandwiches (in cluding German sausage weiners and potato salad), German pastries and beer and wine in the former ballroom, which now seats 30. Hours for the delicatessen and lounge are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday. Bookings will also be taken for private parties. When asked if that included catering, Ms. Perry haltingly responded in the affirmative, adding "if there's not too much involved." Ms. Perry and David are operating the deli themselves, from preparation of food to waiting of tables. "Do you think that's too much?" Ms. Perry asked, with an uneasy laugh. "I don't really think so. Not at first." Ms. Perry has already had good response from the com munity to her effort in bringing a new business to the area. "The fact that people here have been so friendly and helpful is the only reason I haven't packed my bags and gone back to Fayette villei," she said. "If people will give us a chance, and I think they will, they'll see things change in the right direction." On the recent homes tour spon sored by the Warren County Historical Association, around 300 people visited Traub's Inn. "I was so pleased with the response of those who saw the house," Ms. Perry said. Having the inn on the tour also gave Ms. Perry an opportunity to answer the question that everyone who knows about Traub's Inn has been asking: Where did the name come from? "I named the inn in memory of my parents," she said. Her father first came to this country in 19,'18 and then returned to Germany where he married, later bringing his family to this country. "I think often of my mother and her adventurous mind and her courage," Ms. Perry noted. "If she were with me now, we would have been opened for business weeks ago and she would have this house filled with people stopping by to visit and have coffee. That's just the way she was." Although a newcomer, Ms. Perry is already making her niche in Warrenton and has been named to the Board of Directors of the Warrenton Merchants Association. "It's an exciting time to be here," she concluded "there's so much to do." WE BUY PINE & HARDWOOD TIMBER AND PULPWOOD Call GEORGE BOBBITT 257-1513 MAX STEELMAN 496-5048 JOHN GARRETT 266-2275 Highway 56 West. P.O. Box 269, xoLocnn Louisburg, N.C 27549 496-2500 We go all the way, Warrenton We're your local source lor the lubricants you need?high quality Amoco and Quaker State lubricants for fleet or farm. We can make deliveries to you fast and on time. And we're close enough so if you want you can drive right to our loading dock and pick up what you need. Call us. Today. Tremendous . j V.1U.sOnS"??J Quaker State Stock No-detergent SAE 30 89* qt. Dexron II transmission fluid 88' qt. FLM transmission fluid 88'qt. Sterling SAE 10W40 1.06qt. CRAWLEY OIL COMPANY, INC. 230 S. E.Maftn NC Watts 1 Warrentonians, who observed with sadness the deterioration of the house in recent years, watched with renewed interest last fall as workmen began repairs. "There was so much to do," Ms. Perry commented, "and as is the case with older houses, there were a lot of surprises! The biggest was the plumbing, which was in terrible condition." On the plus side, the plumbing included a marble shower stall, which unlike some other fixtures, Ms. Perry had no intention of replacing. Although Ms. Perry has been able to preserve the light fixtures and the dining room draperies that came with the house, visitors familiar with the home during the Davis years will And that it has taken on a new look.
The Warren Record (Warrenton, N.C.)
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April 22, 1987, edition 1
9
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