The Hardy County Tour and Craft Association is pleased to announce that “Sunnyside” on Winchester Ave in Moorefield will serve as the Tile House for the 2014 Heritage Weekend. Owners, Peggy and Tom Hawse, are excited to have their home featured for this long standing Hardy County tradition. Preparations are underway for the 61th annual Heritage Weekend, and committee members hope for a better than ever turn out.
“Sunnyside” was built in 1905 and 1906. The original owner Branson W. Chrisman enlisted his brother in law, Joseph Harper, to design the home. He patterned the house after his own home in Lost River, which is now owned by the Teets family. “The bricks were all made here on the property,” states Tom Hawse, who purchased the home in 1990 from Miss Patti Chrisman, whose parents built the home. She was 14 when the home was built and lived there except for the last few years of her life. She died at the age of 98
“It’s been a labor of love,” states Peggy Hawse, who shares her husband’s passion for collecting antiques and tracing family genealogy. The pair have worked together to collect period pieces to fill the home with and restore the home. Additionally, they have an extensive collection of family photographs, which they can trace back to the early 1800’s. “My great grandfather on my mother’s side, Jonathan Halterman, was the last member of McNeil’s Rangers to surrender,” boasts Hawse. The Hawse family has roots that run deep in the history of Hardy County and West Virginia. Keeping with his love of history, Tom has managed to collect a complete set of West Virginia Blue Books, which is a tradition that started in 1916. That collection is something any West Virginia History enthusiast can appreciate!
The unique home is a two story brick house in the late Queen Anne Style. It is accented by a semi-hexagonal projecting bay beneath a heavily bracketed overhanging gable. Most of the rooms in the house have five windows. The craftsmanship of the home is very apparent in the woodworking. Each room has a different theme and design of wood corner blocks.
“The house is really very functional, we enjoy living here and enjoy our antiques,” says Peggy. Tom, who started collecting antiques in the 1970’s, has collections of parlor and oil lamps, flow blue dishes, antique furniture, antique hardware, and more.
The Tile House will be the highlight of the 2014 Heritage Weekend which is slated for September 26-28th. If you are interested in showcasing your historical home or property as part of the weekend please call, Kriston Strickler, Homes Tour Coordinator, at 304 257 6192. For up to date Heritage Weekend information please visit our website at www.heritageweekend.com or look us up on Facebook at Hardy County Tour and Crafts Association.
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