West Jefferson
West Jefferson, NC · Arts & Culture
Bertie Ledger-Advance
‘Every little detail tells a story’: Todd Hotel restoration honors family legacy
TODD — The Todd Hotel has been in John Baker’s family for seven generations, and he is now restoring it to its former glory. The property and hotel — an 1840s Appalachian farmhouse, built in the Greek Revival style and renovated in Victorian style — has been in the family since before the railroad came to Todd. The hotel’s first known mention in print came in 1885, when the Watauga Democrat called it a boarding house, Baker said. In 1909, his great-great-great-grandfather, Felix McGuire, purchased the hotel and farm. Baker said he believes his family bought it expecting prosperity would follow the railroad to the area. Felix’s son, T.A. McGuire, and T.A.’s wife, Mae McGuire, took over in 1912 — adding more guest rooms and renovating the hotel in the ornate Victorian style that survives today. “What was more of a simple farmhouse, they expanded into a really grand hotel — in a very optimistic way,” Baker said. “It’s really kind of based on things they saw — styles from New York — to make a really grand impression on visitors that would be coming from all over the world.” At its peak from the 1910s through the 1930s, the
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Plans for Christmas parade unfold
The annual Mount Airy Christmas Parade on Nov. 21 will feature the usual holiday floats, marching groups and sparkling lights, but also the added attractions of Jeff and Sheri Easter and a first-ever “sensory-friendly area.” The Easters, who lead a popular Southern gospel group and have ties to the legendary Easter Brothers locally, will serve as grand marshals for the parade scheduled for 5 p.m. that day through the downtown area. Meanwhile, a special area will be designated along the procession route to accommodate onlookers who are sensitive to loud noises. “Because we’ve had a few complaints about the sirens and everything,” Gail Hiatt of the sponsoring Downtown Business Association said of the sounds emanating from public safety vehicles in the parade along with horns and other loud noises. “We’ve never done this before,” Hiatt added regarding the quiet zone. Applications available The Christmas parade typically includes elaborate floats by local businesses, high school marching bands, fire trucks, unique vehicles, festive costumed characters, community organizations, sports teams, churches, local elected officials and others. And, of course, more than a few pieces of candy and other goodies will be tossed out by those riding in the parade. It is considered the
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This Maze-Like North Carolina Bookstore Has Readers Wandering Its Shelves for Hours
You step inside planning to grab one book, and somehow an entire afternoon slips away. That is the magic of a certain shop tucked into a busy corner of North Carolina, where every turn of the shelves reveals another surprise. It looks like a regular store from the parking lot,...