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

Secret Garden Tour of Fourth Ward

The weather was amazing, the homes oh so enchanting, and the gardens were sublime.

First stop for libations

We picked up our tickets at 9th and Poplar by way of horse drawn carriage and proceeded to our first stop: libations of Skyy Vodka and lovely sweet and sour mixer, cold and refreshing to sip as we walked down to our first garden. On the way we ran into Chandler (a local Charlotte actor), her husband Taylor and friends.

Chandler, Taylor and friends

Lee Garden, deck and patio

First garden: The Lee Garden, beautiful fresh and well thought out for design and color. And of course the Dittloff Garden. Both of these homes are located on 9th Street. 

Garden at the Poplar St. Condos

And really one of my favorites, the Poplar Condominiums on 10th Street bringing back memories of my childhood when I would roller skate the sidewalks and through the covered entrance. 

 I remember how glamorous the apartments were and the movies were the only place you saw buildings like this. The architecture is perfectly preserved including the original entrance doors, the windows unique at that time to Charlotte and the structure itself is all original, built to last. 

Door at the Poplar St. condos

On to 10th Street Courtyard Park surrounded by well designed condos to compliment the old trees and streets built in the 1980s when the city of Charlotte was restoring Fourth Ward. 

More libations at the Garden condos

 More libations, lovely champagne and lovely people having fun with lots to talk about. 

Really enjoyed the Knott-Schooler Garden as we were invited to walk through the home and view the exquisite rooms with the old preserved to its original beauty.

On the porch, where business decisions were mads

 Lovely porch and courtyard garden where most important business decisions were made back in the day.

My favorite porch

 At the Timmins garden and lovely front porch we sat and relaxed and did some serious people watching. 

My pick for Best Garden:  the Causby-Cernohorsky Garden

But truly I have to say the Causby-Cernohorsky Garden with its sloping waterfall and Koi pond is breathtaking. 

Koi pond

 The front landscaping and the garden down the side of the home as you leave the back garden is something to see. I was so glad that they were among the gracious homeowners to share their private space with us. 

Beautiful Fourth Ward Park

By the time we reached Fourth Ward Park we sat again in the shade and watched the people on the tour strolling in and out of the park. 

The Wood Vine

Then on to the Wood Vine Wine Bar up on North Tryon, part of the tour for a delightful glass of wine and a tapas of citrus infused cheese with a splendid sauce, a perfect pairing with the Cabernet we were served. 

Great cabernet

We also stopped in the Asbury restaurant located in the Dunhill Hotel and had a dressed up egg they serve as an appetizer, a yummy deviled egg, really different. The Dunhill is another favorite Center City spot beautifully preserved and so very romantic. 

Bar at the Asbury in the Dunhill Hotel

3 Church hosted the kickoff party, so sorry we missed it, Rock Bottom was serving Mimosas and Bloody Marys. After stopping by Alexander Michaels for a visit with friends, we hopped a carriage ride to the 7th Street Market, our favorite community gathering place, and called it a day. What a wonderful way to spend the day. There is something about nostalgia that touches my soul and leaves me with deep appreciation. 

A free carriage ride adds to the fun. 

To find out more www.fofw.org 

Shepperd house, built in 1898, at 601 Poplar. Not on the tour while it undergoes a two year renovation but look for it next year.

Additions are improving on perfection.

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