webadmin posted on August 21, 2010 19:46
During the decades following the Civil war, the home of Statesville’s first mayor Colonel Silas A. Sharpe was a vibrant part of the city’s social and political history. But until the recent installation of a historic marker on the lawn at 402 South Center Street, many did not know its name or history. Plans are underway to change that.
The Silas Alexander Sharpe Foundation is reopening the house beginning September 2 for tours on Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. or by special appointment. “We will add more days as interest builds and our list of volunteers grows,” adds Sherry Johnson, Site Manager. Admission will be $5.00 and free for children under 12.
“The Sharpe House is a jewel of historic preservation in Statesville,” states Dr. Ralph Bentley, Chairman of the Foundation. “Thanks to the foresight and generosity of Katherine Knox and Sarah Nooe, the Foundation is able to make the home of their grandparents available to the public.” Bentley encourages area residents to consider the house for future business or social functions. Rental fees were recently lowered to make use of the house more affordable. “It’s an ideal location for small club meetings, family events, or bridge parties.”
When the Sharpe family moved into their new home in 1866, Statesville was suffering under the devastating impact of the Civil War on the Southern states. “Silas could have given up on Statesville and headed west to start over,” Johnson explains. Over the remaining decades of the nineteenth century, a post-war generation rebuilt Statesville into a thriving business and trading center for seventeen counties of western NC. “It’s an incredible story and considering our current economy, a lesson we need to hear today.”
Johnson anticipates adding programs and events to appeal to a wide range of interests over the coming months. The first will be a costume exhibit scheduled to open September 17 during the Downtown Statesville Art Crawl. No admission will be charged that evening.
A website with complete information, history and upcoming events is currently under development at
www.thesharpehouse.org. The house is also available for rent as a unique venue for small meetings or private parties. For more information on programs, tours or rental of the Sharpe House, contact Sherry Johnson at
info@thesharpehouse.org or 704-871-2085.