2017 Historic Homes Tour Set For Oct. 20-21

CANTON, GA -- The Cherokee County Historical Society will soon roll out its 2017 Historic Homes Tour featuring homes in Canton and Waleska. The tour will be held Oct. 20-21, providing residents with tour days to explore some of the most exclusive homes in the county.

The Friday, Oct. 20 tours will be held from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. while the Saturday, Oct. 21 installment will run from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

These tours will highlight the historic character of both Canton as well as Waleska, and all proceeds will benefit the Cherokee County Historical Society's education and outreach programs.

The tour is sponsored by the city of Canton and Canton Tourism. Tickets are $25, but discounts are available for Historical Society members or Homes Tour volunteers. Tickets can be used on one or both days; however, guests will only be able to visit each house once.

Any potential volunteers can contact the Historical Society at 770-345-3288 (SIGN UP: Get Patch's Daily Newsletter and Real Time News Alerts. Or, if you have an iPhone, download the free Patch app).

The 2017 tour will showcase six private homes: the Gordy Hospitality House and the President’s Home at Reinhardt University in Waleska; and the Hasty, McManus, Perkins and Wilbanks homes in Canton.

Shuttle buses will run continuously from the Cherokee County Historic Courthouse to visit the Canton sites. Guests will have to provide their own transportation to the Reinhardt University homes. Follow directional signs to the Gordy Dining Center parking lot at Reinhardt University at 7300 Reinhardt College Parkway, Waleska, GA 30183.

The parking lot will be adjacent to the Gordy Hospitality House and the President’s House. Tickets are available at the following locations:

• Chamberhouse, 145 West Main Street, Canton
• Christine’s Creations, 8494 Main Street, Woodstock
• Northside Pharmacy, 6824 Reinhardt College Parkway, Waleska
• Three Sisters Gifts and Home Accents, 6205 Hickory Flat Hwy #106, Canton
• Jasper Drug Store, 1 North Main Street, Jasper

In order to receive the member or volunteer discount, tickets will need to be purchased in advance online or at the History Museum & Visitor’s Center at 100 North Street Suite 140 in Canton.

Here's some history about each home on the 2017 tour:

Hasty Home: Nestled on wooded acreage near the historic Canton Golf course, this traditional brick ranch-style home was built by Virginia and P.W. Jones, Jr. The property was originally owned by Canton Textile Mills, and was purchased by Jones, a grandson of R.T. Jones, founder of the mills. The "Williamsburg" interiors were created by Helen Jones Spears and feature an expansive living room overlooking Town Creek, which runs along the border of the property. Purchased in 2001 by the Hasty family, the home was enhanced by pine floors, renovated bathrooms and a lovely screen porch. Furniture from the family, antiques and a reproduction "Middleton Plantation" bed further add style to the home.

Hawkins - McManus Home: This craftsman style home was built in the early 1920's. The Claude Hawkins family lived here at one point and later it was a rental property. In 2016, it was purchased by Christine McManus. During renovation, the outside was completely updated, and an attached garage replaced the old detached one. A master bedroom and bath was added, the hardwood floors were refinished, and 4 fireplaces were uncovered.

Hyatt - Perkins Home: This circa early 1930s home was originally owned by E.M. McCanless, who sold it to Surgeon and Grace Hyatt in 1936. The Hyatt family resided in the home for more than 20 years. Following numerous owners, the house had succumbed to years of decline. In 2003, the home was purchased by Stan and Tammy Perkins, and underwent an extensive renovation. The old was revived. A new master bedroom and outdoor living was added. A detached garage was relocated from the adjacent property. Old meets new in this downtown beauty!

Wilbanks Home: Originally begun in the 1950's by Eugene Smith, an engineer with Lockheed, the
house began as a daylight basement which was temporarily capped when Mr. and Mrs. Smith were transferred to Brazil for work in the late 1950's and early 1960's. Upon their return, Mrs. Smith implemented a number of design innovations, which accented the Brazilian influence they had enjoyed during their stay. In Septemter 2001, the home was purchased by Anita and Dave Wilbanks and their labor of love to restore the house began with a complete kitchen renovation, the addition of authentic heart pine floors harvested from antique homes in Locust Grove as well as a complete overhaul of the sun porches, and the addition of shiplap throughout the house.

President’s House, Reinhardt University: In 1977, amid many campus initiatives ongoing at Reinhardt College, a beautiful Georgian-style home for the school’s President was completed. The general contractor for the bold project was Jack Howard Smith, prominent member of the North Georgia community and former mayor of Waleska. The 4,400-square-foot home was called a magnificent example of ingenuity, generosity, sacrifice and teamwork. “Belle Meade,” the Augusta home of Board of Trustee Chair Peter S. Knox, was used as a model in the final design. Ahead of the 2016 inauguration of Reinhardt’s 20th President, Dr. Kina S. Mallard, the home underwent a renovation in 2015 – complete with new floors and furnishings. Martha McIntyre Hasty, wife of Reinhardt’s Board Chair Billy Hasty, oversaw the decoration of the home. The home includes a living room, dining room, butler’s pantry, three bedrooms, three bathrooms, guest room and the “Reinhardt Room,” a wonderful relaxing space for students to visit throughout the year. A new patio for outdoor entertaining was also created.

Gordy Hospitality House: The Evelyn Gordy Rankin Hospitality House was given to Reinhardt University in 1990 by Mrs. Rankin. The 3,500-square-foot home was originally constructed in 1929 on seven and a half acres at 3558 Piedmont Road in Atlanta by Mr. C.A. Pittman of Pittman Construction Company. Frank Gordy, owner of the Varsity Restaurant in Atlanta, purchased the home in October 1940 and gave it to his wife as a Christmas present. It was moved in four pieces from the site on Piedmont Road to the campus in January 1991, renovated and opened in 1992. One of the most interesting features of the home is the Zuber wallpaper found in the Gallery. Zuber is rare French handblocked wallpaper and the pattern “El Dorado” is used in this home. The roof tiles are clay tiles of the type originally made by the Ludowici Clay Tile Company in Ludowici, Georgia. The name of the tile is “Colonial Shingle.” The wallpaper in the foyer is a reproduction of antique wallpaper printed in the 19th Century and is called Edenton – from the original found in the Joseph Hewes House in Edenton, N.C. The original marble in the dining room fireplace was replaced by the present marble called Rossa Dequesa from Spain. The floor is teakwood and is original to the house. Mrs. Rankin furnished the home from her collection and with special purchases. Some of the pieces now in the home are from her personal collection. The home now serves as a guest house for special visitors and a meeting place for special functions and groups at the university.

For more information, contact the Cherokee County Historical Society at 770.345.3288.

Photo 1: Reinhardt University President House

Photo 2: Wilbanks Home

Photo 3: Perkins Home

Photo 4: McManus Home

Photo 5: Hasty Home

Photo 6: Gordy Hospitality House

Photo credits: Cherokee County Historical Society