The Wilmington morning star., 1940-03-19
By MELISSA BROWNE SMITH

theory of gardeners everywhere and
to convert this theory into practice
the Garden club of North Carolina
is again sponsoring the Statewide
Garden Pilgrimage in North Caro-.
lima this spring. Opening on March
81 for the third successive year, the
pilgrimage will offer the public an
opportunity to see the masterful re.
suits of good gardening. Featured
also in the pilgrimage this year will
be many of the states Oldest homes
and landmarks, some having gardens
which have been patiently restored to
their original eloquence.
A great revival of interest in pre-.
Revolutionary and Ante-Bellum arch.
itecture has been apparent in North
Carolina within the past few years
and in all sections of the state keen
concern is being evidenced over the
preservation of historic houses and
shrines. Since the advent of the first
garden pilgrimage in North Carolina
three years ago, this state has rap
idly taken her place alongside the
other southern states, rich in the
remaining evidences of a proud past.
Visitors from rs states made the pill.
grimage in North Carolina last
spring.
The Eastern section of the state
will ring up the curtain on the 1910
Pilgrimage which will open in Will
mington and Greenville simultan-
eously March u, continue to New
Bern, first capital Of the state and
storehouse Of early American anti.
qulties and on to the quaint village
of Hillsboro. Also covered in the
towns will be Wadesboro, Concord,
and Rocky Mount, the picturesque
homes and gardens of Tarboro, Red
Springs and Bath, Durham, Wins
ton-Salem, Halifax, Enfield, War
renton, Oxford and Henderson, con.
tinuing to the western area through
Mebane, Greensboro, High Point,
Reidsville, Gastonia and Asheville
where the pilgrimage will close en-
April 25. Dates for the garden tours
in each of these localities have been
arranged so hal the public may see
to the best advantage the flowers for
which each section is famous-cam.
elias and azaleas on the coast, tn.
lips in the East, dogwood blossoms
covering the Piedmont, peach BIOS
SONS in the sandhills and the spec
tacle of rhododendron and mountain
laurel in the West.
Bath, scene of many exciting ev
ents in North Carolina history, will
observe April 18th as pilgrimage day
and will open to the public the Oldest
church building in North Carolina,
st. Thomas, organized in 17O1 and
built in 1874.
Valuable relics are housed in the
st. Thomas church., including tn,
silver ~candelabra presented to the
church by King George II of Eng.
land which are still in use, and a
bell bearing the date 1892, known IS
the Queen Anne Bell and believed to
have bean bought from st. Thomas
from the Queens Bounty Money.
Four other landmarks will be open
in Bath, the Marsh House, built
about 1870, notable for a chimney II
feet wide; the Bonner House built
in 1743 with many-paned windows
and an unusual doorway, the Buzz
ard hotel, built in 1740 with an in.
teresting chimney and named for It's
builder; and the Williams House,
built in 1748 and surrounded by
oaks, elms and hedge. In addition,
seven informal gardens will be open
for public enjoyment including the
gardens of Mrs. c. C. Caravan, IIrs.
j. T. Nicholson, Mrs. M. E. Brooks,
Mrs. T. E. Tankard, Mrs. 7. S.
Payne, Mrs. G.. w. Marsh and Mrs.
T. A. Brooks.
The club house at Bath will be
Headquarters for the tour.
The Hillsboro Garden club will
combine many gardens, both modern
and traditional, and half a dozen
Colonial homes for a full and delight.
full garden pilgrimage day in Hills.
boro on April 10. Mrs. J. C. Webb is
chairman of the tour.
Gardens and homes open there will
be the William Hooper place, home
OF Mr.. and Mrs. H. H. Brown; the
house and handsome lockwood gar.
den of DR.. and Mrs. b. N. Roberts;
the residence of DR.. and Mrs. N. w.
Moore, built around 1918; Sans
Souci, home of Mr.. and Mrs. S. T.
Latta, Jr., built about 1910; the
Governor Burke House, home of tie
w. A. Hearts; and the General
Johnston Headquarters House, built
in 1853, now the home of Colonel
and Mrs. John K. Ross-Duggan.
Also open in Hillsboro will be the
private gardens of Mrs. Bonner D.
Sawyer. Mrs. Paul C. Collins, Mrs.
T. N. Webb, Mrs. A. H. Graham and
Mrs. J. c Webb, where spring Dor
der planting will be featured.
DDIES