Fourth Ward Christmas Home Tour

As usual the Holiday Home Tour in Fourth Ward was magical and one of Charlotte’s most special Holiday events. I am always amazed when I do this tour how enchanting it truly is.

Somehow every year it has so many delightful visual and sensual sights, sounds and smells in that eight or ten square block area, accessible, walkable and so much fun. Of all the events I cover during the Holiday Season I so look forward to the Fourth Ward Tour.

Art at McKeithen Residence

This year, the new addition to the tour was the McKeithen Residence at 324 West Ninth Street.

Chandelier at McKeithen

In years past the McKeithen home hosted the Charlotte Bronze Handbell Players on the front porch and visitors did not have access. This year however we toured this home in awe of the owners’ extraordinary art collection displayed throughout. The McKeithen family sponsors a gallery at the Mint Museum Uptown Charlotte.

McKeithen parlor

The Phillips Residence, one of the few remaining  residences in its original location in Fourth Ward, was built in 1903 with eleven foot ceilings. Muddy River Distillery was serving rum drinks to visitors on the New Orleans themed third floor. We are invited to tour the distillery and will be reporting on that later in this blog.

Stairway with rum at the top

The Lee Residence at 316 West was moved from Graham Street. It is totally at home in its present location.

Kitchen at the Lee Residence

There were eight fabulous residences and seven restaurants offering tastes and tidbits for your enjoyment, it is truly a beautiful experience to share with family and friends.

So many stories, so much history. Newcomers to Charlotte will love exploring the history of this magical neighborhood that expresses who we are, where we came from, and what we are about even today, giving them an insight into the community they are now a part of. See you next year. www.friendsoffourthward

Friends of Fourth Ward hosts 37th Annual Holiday Home Tour

This is one of our favorite holiday events. The hospitality and warm welcome of the residents of Fourth Ward is unequaled and always gets us in the Christmas mood. See our article on last year's tour, here.

Below is the press release with the details about this year's tour. Don't miss the history section at the bottom to find out more about this lovely neighborhood and great holiday tradition.

The Friends of Fourth Ward celebrates its 37th wonderful year with a three-day event showcasing the elegant Victorians, urban condominiums, cultural institutions and historic places for which Fourth Ward is famous – all dressed in their holiday finery. The public may tour these luxurious private residences and historic locations on the following dates & times:

2014 Tour Dates & Times

Friday, December 5th: 5:00 – 9:00 pm

Saturday, December 6th: 5:00 – 9:00 pm

Sunday, December 7th: 1:00 – 5:00 pm

This walkable tour includes admission to 7 private uptown homes (including the rarely-seen historic Berryhill House, the flagship Victorian of the neighborhood), free food, beer and wine samples (while they last) at locations along the tour route, plus special holiday surprises at the 7th Street Public Market. On Sunday only, guests may also tour the historic McNinch House restaurant and Victorian home, including the newly renovated private residence upstairs. Throughout the weekend, choirs and hand bell ensembles will perform seasonal music on the porches of neighborhood homes and tour-goers will enjoy free horse and carriage rides throughout the neighborhood, along with complimentary appetizers at participating center city restaurants.

Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour Tickets

Discounted, early-bird tickets are on sale now for $20 at www.fofw.org. Beginning Nov. 10, full price ($25) tickets may be purchased online and at the following retail outlets: Alexander Michael’s Restaurant & Tavern, Park Road Books, 7th Street Public Market, and all area Brixx Pizzas and Dean & Delucas. Tickets are good for all 3 days. During tour hours, ticket-holders must redeem their tickets for tour guidebooks at the tour ticket booth at the corner of 9th Street & Poplar Streets in Fourth Ward, or at the 7th Street Public Market. The Ticket Booth and Market also will be the only location for same day ticket purchases. Additional tour information and group rates: www.fofw.org. 

Tasting Stations & Restaurant Partners

Vendors providing complimentary refreshments and tastings within homes or at official stops along the tour route include: Mert’s Heart & Soul, Rock Bottom Brewery, Allen Tate Realtors, Good Eats & Meets, Skyhouse Uptown and 7th Street Public Market. Center City restaurants offering complimentary appetizers to tour ticket holders who visit during tour hours include: Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, The Asbury and The Wooden Vine. (Tour-goers must present guidebook to receive complimentary selected appetizers.)

7th Street Public Market

As an official stop on the tour, 7SPM will be open during all tour hours, offering complimentary cider & cookies, live seasonal music, multiple tastings, “Gingerbread Houses On Parade”, and terrific holiday gift shopping.

All tour stops are within walking distance of one another. Limited free on-street parking is available throughout the neighborhood. Additional flat fee ($5.00) parking is available in the surface lot adjacent to the 7th Street Public Market at 224 E. 7th Street. FREE horse-drawn carriages will transport tour-goers between the Market and the Holiday

The Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour is presented by Skyhouse Uptown. Supporting sponsors include Allen Tate Realtors, 102.9 The Lake, 7th Street Public Market and Charlotte Center City Partners. Tour proceeds benefit the non-profit Friends of Fourth Ward neighborhood organization.

History of the Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour

Founded in 1977 by neighbors who visited each others’ homes to feast, sing carols and enjoy holiday décor, the Friends of Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour has evolved substantially in 37 years. In 1979, the event opened to the public and quickly became a successful fundraiser for the neighborhood. To this day, all tour proceeds benefit important neighborhood projects such as neighborhood beautification, preservation of historic landmarks, and public art, social and safety programs. The annual home tour is hosted by the Friends of Fourth Ward, a not-for-profit neighborhood organization.

History of Historic Fourth Ward

In the mid-1830s, Charlotte was divided into four political wards. The northwest quadrant was called Fourth Ward – a prosperous area that was home to merchants, ministers, physicians and numerous churches, forming a strong center of social and religious influence.

By the early 1900s, the trolley had expanded beyond uptown Charlotte, making nearby “suburbs” such as Dilworth the neighborhoods of choice. Fourth Ward entered a period of decline that continued until 1976, when the Junior League undertook a restoration program that fired the imaginations of adventurous urban “pioneers”.

Today, Historic Fourth Ward is an active, charming community of grand Victorians, luxury condominiums, urban apartments, parks and businesses, as well as cultural, religious and educational activities – all within walking distance of Charlotte’s thriving uptown business center.

Friends of Fourth Ward Holiday Tour

Founded in 1977 by neighbors who visited each other’s homes to feast, sing carols and enjoy holiday décor, the Friends of Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour has evolved into a successful fund raiser and covers quite a large area of the Center City.

Nutcracker rehearsal

We began our tour at the North Carolina Dance Theatre where the students were rehearsing for The Nutcracker Ballet, an annual event for the school. 

 Then on to pick up our tickets by way of a carriage ride starting at the Seventh Street Public Market where musicians were playing seasonal music, and cider, cookies, wine and cheese were being served.

Young performers at 7th St. Market

Our next stop on the tour was Alexander Michaels, Fourth Wards historical restaurant and bar serving great food and beverages. After soup and salad we were on our way to our first home. 

 
Needless to say the homes were decorated with breathtaking artistry and the lights, caroling and music filled the narrow streets with street lamps glowing. It was truly magical.

Fourth Ward has been preserved in the greatest of traditions boasting its life of days gone by when coal heated the houses and the milk man left his bottles of milk on the front porch. I still remember the coal trucks coming after dark in the winter time rolling slowly down the street and the voice of a small child hanging from the side of the truck calling out “hey coal.” The kids came running from the houses with their empty buckets and their nickels to purchase a bucket of coal for the night. The mist would hang heavy in the street lamps and the smell of dinner still lingered in the air.

The Jenkins/Lancaster Residence transformed into a Christmas wonderland with a tree in almost every room. Each tree had its own theme. My favorite? The Top Hat Tree.

The Mink Santa standing about three feet tall was adorned in mink and jewels inherited from the owner’s mother and honoring her memory and her love of Christmas. What a great way to say, I love you Mom.

And of course the rooftop terrace is amazing for social gatherings, a garden oasis in the heart of the Center City.

The restored Dittloff Residence, dating back to the 1800s, is a modern day version of the original and done quite beautifully. The Dittloffs directed the renovation and have truly preserved the integrity of the home. Mrs. Dittloff, artist extraordinaire, has her art work displayed throughout the home for an added pleasure.

The McNinch House Restaurant 1891. 

 Oh my there is so much to say about this genteel Southern home. The photos don’t do it justice. The downstairs was decorated complete with all the trimmings you would have seen in the 1800s if you were dining at Christmas time in the McNinch home.


We have not had the pleasure of having a meal there but it is truly on our list of very special things to do.

The upstairs, open for the first time, is the private residence of owner Ellen Davis. The wife of the mayor of Charlotte who built the home, Mattie McNinch, had her private room looking down on the street where she spent her quiet time. The room is known as “Mattie’s room.”

Mattie's Room

The front parlor, master bedroom and the enchanting bathroom are decorated in the finest fabrics and accessories, with purple used throughout, Mattie’s favorite color.

One of the condominiums on the tour

 With four beautifully restored Victorian homes, two townhomes and two condominiums to tour, the Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour was a wonderful 4 or 5 hours of time spent in another era.

Refreshments were served at several of the homes and complimentary carriage rides around the Fourth Ward neighborhood were offered.

We ran into friends spending their 12-year wedding anniversary celebrating their life together while on the tour. So romantic.

Lisa and Joe celebrating 12 years

Chandelier at McNinch

See you in December. A wonderful way to celebrate the holiday season.

Happy New Year to All.

Our thanks to Beth Spears for inviting us on the tour. 
For more information on the Friends of the Fourth Ward and its two annual home and garden tours, visit fofw.org

Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour

Photograph by Joy Kennedy

The Friends of Fourth Ward association hosts its 36th Holiday Home Tour, this year a three-day event showcasing the neighborhood's elegant Victorians, urban condominiums, cultural institutions and historic places – all dressed in their holiday finery, as well as many free special events, including tastings, appetizers at local restaurants, carriage rides and previews of "The Nutcracker" by the NC Dance Theatre.

Tickets include entrance to luxurious private residences and historic locations, including 8 private uptown homes, (4 beautifully restored Victorians, 2 townhomes & 2 condominiums) along with the North Carolina Dance Theatre, and special holiday surprises at the 7th Street Public Market.

2013 Tour Dates & Times

• Friday, December 6th: 5 – 9 pm
• Saturday, December 7th: 5 – 9 pm
• Sunday, December 8th: 1 – 5 pm

All weekend, choirs and hand bell ensembles will play seasonal music on the porches of neighborhood homes. Tour-goers also will receive complimentary horse and carriage rides through the neighborhood and to the 7th Street Public Market, plus samples of beer, wine and food samples (while they last).

Photograph by Joy Kennedy

Vendors providing complimentary refreshments and tastings within homes or at official stops along the tour route include: 

• Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 
• Mert’s Heart & Soul, 
• Cowbell Burger & Bar, 
• Mortimer’s Café & Pub, 
• Local Loaf, 
• Assorted Table Wine Shoppe, 
• Fourth Ward Bread Co., 
• Allen Tate Realtors and 
• 7th Street Public Market. 

Center City restaurants offering selected free appetizers to tour ticket holders who visit during tour hours include: 

• Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 
• Delta’s Restaurant, 
• Dillinger’s Taproom and 
• Brixx Wood-Fired Pizza. 

Tour-goers must present their tour guidebooks to receive complimentary appetizers.

Photograph by
Virginia Dunn

North Carolina Dance Theatre

For the first two hours of the tour each day, NCDT invites tour-goers to preview live Nutcracker rehearsals, tour the studios and costume shop, and enjoy complimentary food and beer. Nutcracker tickets will be on sale for up to 50% off. Visit the NCDT website for more info.

7th Street Public Market

The Market, an official stop on the tour, will be open during all tour hours, offering complimentary cider & cookies, live seasonal music, wine and cheese specials, plus tastings, samplings and great options for holiday shopping. At 6 pm on Friday, 7SPM will unveil “Nutcrackers on Parade.” Tour-goers will receive free horse-drawn carriage rides between the Market and the heart of Historic Fourth Ward. Visit 7thstreetpublicmarket.com for more info.

The McNinch House Restaurant & Victorian Home

On Sunday only, tour-goers can visit the historic McNinch House restaurant and Victorian home, including a tour of the newly renovated and never-before-seen private residence upstairs.

Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour Tickets

Tour tickets are $25, and are good for all 3 days. They may be purchased in advance online at www.fofw.org or at these retail outlets:

Photograph by
Joy Kennedy

• Alexander Michael’s Restaurant & Tavern, 
• Park Road Books, 
• Blis Uptown Gift Boutique, 
• 7th Street Public Market, and 
• all Charlotte-area Brixx Pizzas, Dean & Delucas and FastFrames. 

During tour hours, ticket-holders redeem their tickets for tour guidebooks at the tour ticket booth at the corner of 9th & Poplar Streets in Fourth Ward, or at the 7th Street Public Market. Same day tickets are also available at the Ticket Booth and Market. Additional tour information and group rates is available at www.fofw.org. 

Parking

Photograph by
Virginia Dunn

All tour stops are within walking distance of one another. Limited free on-street parking is available throughout the neighborhood. Additional flat fee ($5) parking is available in the surface lot adjacent to the 7th Street Public Market at 224 E. 7th Street. Free horse-drawn carriages will transport tour-goers between the Market and the Holiday Home Tour.

The Fourth Ward Holiday Home Tour is presented by Allen Tate Realtors. Supporting sponsors include North Carolina Dance Theatre, 102.9 The Lake, 7th Street Public Market and Charlotte Center City Partners. Tour proceeds benefit the non-profit Friends of Fourth Ward neighborhood organization.