Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Victorian Houses of MS (copy)

We’ve all seen the classic, It’s a Wonderful Life, with Jimmy Stewart and Donna Reed. Before NBC bought the rights, you could watch the film on many channels at the same time. I remember actually watching the movie four nights in a row in the late ‘80s. Needless to say, I can quote some lines.

One of my favorite ideas from the movie revolves around the Granville house, a warped, frustrated, old Queen Anne in need of repair. We find Mary Bailey, babe in arm, wallpapering the foyer or scrubbing the wooden floors as she transforms the house into a home.

Nothing is more romantic than returning a run-down Victorian to its original grand state. I use the word romantic because everyone knows “practical” would not be appropriate. For it's true, you will spend more money when you are in love.

Contemplating such a dream? Victorian Houses of Mississippi by Sherry Pace is the first step on your long road to restoration. Pace has photographed 143 distinctly different Victorian homes throughout the state. She has taken great pains to provide color details of the infamous wooden spindles and gingerbread trim associated with this architecture.

Tour the State of Mississippi alphabetically as you flip through this coffee table-size reference. Towns included in our area are Batesville, Como, Hernando, Oxford, Sardis, Senatobia, and Water Valley. One could tour smaller towns and discover these beauties on foot, then relax with a meal from local establishments.

Before you go, be sure to read the essay included in the front of the book. “Late Victorian Residential Architecture in Mississippi” is written by Richard J. Cawthon, an architectural historian for the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. His authoritative knowledge includes why “Victorian” may not be the correct word and the difference between styles like Italianate and Queen Anne. He will have you looking through the book as he provides visual examples to match descriptions.

I ran into Mrs. Pace serendipitously when she and husband John stopped in Como to photograph the United Methodist Church. This photo session will be included in her new book for Mississippians titled, Historical Churches of Mississippi.

So, if in the middle of your romantic restoration you discover a lack of money, leave Uncle Billy alone and include this book when you appeal to Mr. Potter.

7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Please correct your grammatical errors. They are very jarring and take away from content.

maggie moran said...

Would you be a little more specific?

I went ahead and changed its to it's, but other than the akward sentence struture in the 3rd paragraph last line, I'm okay with the copy.

Thanks for reading my article!

Michael Bains said...

Uhhh... LOL! Ignore 'em! (anon, not necessarily the grammar. {-;)

I've spent a couple of weekends in a beautifully restored Victorian home/B&B on Kelley's Island on Lake Erie. The owner's sold the place, for health reasons, to a private family, and I'll never forget how much work they put into maintaining the old place.

I'll always admire such homes, but know that something more, low-maintenance needs be in my own future.

Thanks for signin' on to Silly Humans' frappr map. Now I read on!

maggie moran said...

Oh, My!

Their headache was two fold! Can you imagine the extra maintenance nightmare from island wind and water!

We live in a victorian right beside an active railroad track. Can you say plaster crack?

Thanks also for the encouragement! :-)

Maggie

Anonymous said...

Hey, Mr. or Mrs. Anonymous up above needs to seriously get a life.
That comment about finding grammatical errors "jarring" is just a bit overboard, don't you think?
Sounds like SOMEONE is a little bit jealous!!

Anonymous, too and proud of it! :o)

maggie moran said...

Well, thanks for the support, but anon has a valid point.

I seriously need to purchase an English Grammar for Dummies book!

;-)

Anonymous said...

Hey! He or she may have a valid point, but that is NOT the way to get it across. That sounds like some sour grapes to me.

A little kindness goes a long way...

None of us are perfect and we ALL make mistakes. Keep doing what you
are doing.

Sincerely, an avid reader.