NEWPORT NEWS –HAMPTON
York County
Sponsored by the Hampton Roads Garden Club and
The Huntington Garden Club
Wednesday, April 21, 10a.m. to 5 p.m.
Chairman:
Frankye McAdam (Mrs. Richard B.)
302 Seven Hollys Drive
Yorktown, VA 23692
Telephone (757) 898-8090
E-Mail: kmac302@cox.net
Co-Chairman:
Jane Ishon (Mrs. John C.)
814 Park Place
Hampton, VA 23669
Telephone (757) 722-0301
E-Mail: hpstat@aol.com
INFORMATION CENTERS:
THE YORK COUNTY INFORMATION CENTER OFFICE
P.O. Box 532
Yorktown, VA 23690
Telephone (757) 898-3300
Web site: theyorkcountyinformationcenteroffice.gov
HAMPTON VISITOR CENTER
120 Old Hampton Lane
Hampton, VA 23669
Telephone (757) 727-1102; Toll-free (800) 800-2202
Web site: visithampton.com
NEWPORT NEWS VISITOR INFORMATION CENTER
13560 Jefferson Avenue
Newport News, VA 23603
Telephone (757) 886-777; Toll-free (888) 493-7386
Web site: newport-news.org
FULL TICKET: $25 day of tour, or $20 advance purchase. Advance tickets available at Anderson’s Home & Garden Showplace, 11250 Jefferson Ave. (757) 599-3510; Chaffin Interiors, 63 Hidenwood Shopping Center (757) 595-1471; Suntrust Bank, 301 Hiden Blvd., Newport News; Suntrust Bank, 2 E. Queensway, Hampton; Suntrust Bank, 5208 George Washington Memorial Hwy, Yorktown; Nancy Thomas Studios, Ballard St., Yorktown. Single–site admission $10. Children 6-12 half-price; children 5 and younger, free of charge. Tickets may be purchased on tour at any of the homes open for the tour. Advance tickets may also be purchased by accessing www.VAGardenweek.org.
Houses may be visited in any order.
LUNCHEON: Providence United Methodist Church will serve a boxed lunch and beverages from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall, 113 Old Dare Rd., Yorktown, $10. Reservations required by calling Jan Wiener at (757) 874-1951.
RESTROOMS are available at the luncheon site.
REFRESHMENTS: Served at the Hankins Residence, 403 Holly Point Road from 2 to 4 p.m.
DIRECTIONS TO TOUR AREA: All houses are within the 23692 zip code. Properties are within walking distance of each other along a paved county road. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended. Carpooling is suggested, with the luncheon site being a good meeting area to park.
From the north and west, take I-64 East to Exit 250B to Yorktown. Proceed along 105 E to Hwy 17 S. Take a right on Hwy 17 S for 2.5 mi. to Dare Rd. Take a left and continue on Dare Rd. for 2.7 mi. following green arrows to Holly Point Rd.
The luncheon site and carpool parking will be 1.4 mi. down Dare Rd. on the right./p>
From the south and east, take Rte 17 North from Victory Blvd for 3 mi. Take a right on Dare Rd. following the green arrows and above directions to Tour and Luncheon site.
YORK COUNTY
A few miles down Dare Road in York County is an area rich in American history. Dating to 1690 when King William III granted 1,000 acres on the Poquoson River to a group of early settlers, this area became a vibrant community of farmers and watermen.
A number of descendants continue to live on and farm some of this property, which is one of the last working farms in York County. A 60-acre parcel of this land was sold for $5.00 in 1893 and later purchased by the Wornom family. The property, along with the original Glenmaco home, was sold to George B. Colonna in 1943 and continues to be home to five generations of Colonna children. In 2001, Hurricane Isabel destroyed the original house. The waterfront property on which the house stood is owned by Jane Colonna Matney and Dr. David M. Colonna.
This peaceful spot off the Poquoson River provides a serene setting for the 2010 Hampton Roads Garden Tour.
403 HOLLY POINT ROAD. Built in 1996, the contemporary-style Glenmaco home was built in 1996 and designed by architect Jim Bates to take advantage of the tranquil waterfront views from most rooms. A welcoming courtyard is surrounded by grounds planted with azaleas, oak leaf hydrangeas and daylilies.
The many fine 18th century English heirlooms, inherited antiques and Oriental rugs are enhanced by warm terracotta walls, rich vibrant fabrics and hardwood floors. From the entrance, two arches lead to the vaulted ceiling of the light-filled living room. Broad doors open onto a large wrap-around deck, a sloping lawn and panoramic Poquoson River views. Portuguese tiles customize the bright kitchen where original deeds and maps of the 60-acre Glenmaco Farm are displayed in the breakfast nook. An intimate memento-filled study connects to the dramatic master suite, featuring a private dressing room and a Dolly Anderson portrait of the owner. Open for the first time. Ann Colonna Hankins, owner.
407 HOLLY POINT ROAD. Nestled on a private lane, surrounded by working farmland and marsh, The Cottage was built in 1952 as part of the Glenmaco Farm. The former caretaker’s cottage has housed many Colonna families over the years. Simplicity, comfort and intimacy define the charming home. A garden path of slate and stone, bordered by a turquoise swing draped with Carolina jasmine, leads to the entrance.
Bright overstuffed furniture, original hardwood floors, an 18th century blanket chest and corner cupboard, and a framed photograph of the original farm adorn the living room. The kitchen holds many family treasures including a decorative blue mantel and a portrait of the owner’s grandfather, Walter Macomber, a distinguished Boston architect commissioned to manage the restoration of Colonial Williamsburg in the 1930s. The cozy bedroom features a custom-built floral stepping stool and high bed made by a Phoebus, Virginia, craftsman for the owner’s father. Open for the first time. Cynthia “Muff” Colonna, owner.
317 HOLLY POINT ROAD.Built in 2000, this warm and vibrant colonial-style home is surrounded by fields of corn, sweet potatoes and soybeans. It was inspired by the Diggs House in Historic Yorktown and designed by Jim Bates. The residence was built to accommodate a fine collection of antiques and family heirlooms, including a grandfather clock constructed by Mr. Longacre’s great-great grandfather, around 1800. Also of note are the dining room furnishings, silver service and 1900s Lenox dinnerware that once belonged to Mrs. Longacre’s great-grandmother. The breakfast room features furniture that was original to a Scottish schoolhouse, reflecting the owners’ diverse interests by showcasing collections of decoys and duck prints, pig and rabbit figures, and pieces from the Nancy Thomas folk art collection. Life-sized portraits of the three children painted by Amanda Diabrini grace the formal living area.
An informal back staircase leads to a lively family room and the children’s bright bedrooms. A whimsical “Eloise” and other murals that depict the surrounding marsh enliven cherished beds and desks of another era. A favorite year-round sunroom overlooks informal gardens with lush plantings of peonies, hydrangeas, daylilies, roses and a variety of grasses. Open for the first time. Chuck and Marni Longacre, owners.
201 HOLLY POINT ROAD. This welcoming shingle-style house was designed by Jim Bates, the owner’s father, and built in 2006. The open floor plan is a perfect setting for casual family gatherings or formal entertaining. From the entryway visitors can view the entire living space while gazing through a screened porch into the expansive backyard. Vaulted ceilings of tongue-and-groove, white-painted pine, walls of cool coastal colors, and bright fabrics make for a relaxed atmosphere. The dining room is home to treasured family antiques including Grandmother Colonna’s Irish sideboard, circa 1780, neoclassical in style with inlays and solid brass pulls.
The kitchen’s teak-and-holly countertops and granite island are offset by white columns, opening to a family room with a large stone fireplace. A comfortable porch provides additional living space for the family of six, as does a second-floor den where the entire crew can retreat for family time. Open for the first time. Charlie and Christie Bates, owners.
OTHER PLACES OF INTEREST:
YORK COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM. Spanning the centuries of York County history, the Chiskiack Watch Archaeological collection includes artifacts from early Native Americans to 1989 when the dig began, as well as displays about early 20th century Yorktown. Open 10 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information call (757) 890-4490 or (757) 898-3727.
YORKTOWN BATTLFIELD VISITOR CENTER. Operated by the National Park Service, located adjacent to the Yorktown Battlefield. The museum features a film, battlefield auto tours, ranger programs and a bookstore. Open daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more information call (757) 898-3400.
YORKTOWN VICTORY CENTER. The story of the American Revolution is told through Gallery exhibits, a stirring documentary film and living history. Open daily 9 a.m.-5p.m. For more information call (757) 887-1776.
WATERMAN’S MUSEUM AND GIFT SHOP. Tells the story of the Chesapeake Bay’s wooden boats and iron men through boat models, photos, tools and artifacts. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Sunday 1-4 p.m. For more information call (757) 887-2641.
NELSON HOUSE. Restored mansion of Thomas Nelson, Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence, governor of Virginia and commander of the Virginia Militia during the Siege of Yorktown. Open daily 1-4:30 p.m. For more information call (757) 898-2410.
YORKTOWN VICTORY MONUMENT. Commissioned by the Continental Congress in 1781 to commemorate the great victory at Yorktown, this monument was constructed between 1881-84. For more information call (757) 898-2410.
LEE HALL MANSION, 163 Yorktown Rd., Newport News. Stately historic, antebellum plantation house. The grounds were landscaped by the Garden Club of Virginia with funding from Historic Garden Week tours. Admission fee. For more information call (757) 888-3371