South Cherry Street Historic District Walking Tour, Part 10 2011 Cherry Street The Craig-Flowers Home, also known as “Great Hope Manor,” ca 1906 This house is so interesting, I decided to share the complete description and history as included on the South Cherry Street Historic District Registration Form for the National Register of Historic Places. Description: The Craig/Flowers House is an impressive three-story, 12,000 square-foot Tudor Style residence, situated on its original three-acre site. The building is in excellent condition, with no known alterations to the original plans. Roughly U-shaped in plan, this asymmetrical building faces West on Cherry Street. The multiple-gabled slate roofs are pierced by large and small dormers and five brick chimneys. A large one-story gallery surrounds the house on the South and West sides, and has a flat roof (original drawings called for a second-floor terrace, which was never used as such). The front gallery and entrance area are articulated by brick pilasters and columns decorated with plaster inserts at the capital. A lesser shed roof porch extends along the southeast side of the building. Situated on a sloping site, the first floor level is approximately three feet above grade, with a full basement below. Exposed basement walls and first floor, as well as chimneys, are executed in red brick. The first floor also features a plaster decorative band all around at the height of the window heads. The second floor and exposed attic walls are stucco panels between chestnut wood members running horizontally and vertically, with trim. The slate roof has carved and decorated wood fascias and sloped soffits with exposed, decorated framing. All flashing is copper. Most windows on the rear and sides are double hung, one-over-one,with decorated wood frames. Windows are placed in sets of three, individually (as in dormers or other walls), or symmetrically flanking an exterior wall chimney, as in the east elevation of the master bedroom wing. Front elevation, second floor windows feature diagonal-cross panes on upper half of double hung windows. Three large bays on the first floor, one with curved glazing and door frames, all feature operable double fully-glazed doors with operable transoms and sidelights. Even the curved end bay doors are hinged. Double solid-paneled wood doors set in an ornate wood frame with inset decorated panels, symmetrical leaded glass sidelights and original copper screen doors make up the front entrance, which leads from the front entrance gallery to the formal interior vestibule. Over the stairs inside is found three stained glass windows with the Craig family Crest. All interior ceilings are coved, and many first floor rooms feature expansive detailed plaster castings on the walls and ceilings. All interior floors are wood. Interior details include ironwork registers in the formal rooms, brass stand-up radiators in the bedrooms, and all-copper electrical wiring. For a house built in 1906, it contained many state-of-the-art details and conveniences, such as a three-door refrigerator, built-in silver safe, plate warmer, servants bells, wall sconce light fixtures, and crystal chandelier. It even has an interior fire hydrant equipped with 100 feet of hose! Over the stair at the main hall, the stained glass window depicts a man on horseback with the familys mottos: Jai bonne esperance …I have good hope.” He carries in his hand a broken spear. History: Completed in 1906, the Craig/Flowers House is a highly individual architectural composition that can be classified as Tudor style, and is a practically intact example of a wealthy familys dream house in Vicksburg at the turn of the century. In 1901, the Craig family purchased this parcel of land, which was the former Vick Estate, the settlement of one of the founding families of Vicksburg. The original building was torn down and the lumber used to construct three outbuildings on the site, two of which remain today -- the Carriage House and the Servants’ Quarters. The main house was built from architectural plans of W.W. Knowles, an architect from New York, dated June 5, 1905. It was built at a cost of $60,000, a huge sum at that time. It was as unusual then as it is today. The house is significant for the high quality evident throughout the construction, the attention to detail, and the high level of craftsmanship exemplified by every view. This is one of the finest Tudor homes in the South. Both exterior and interior, this structure exemplifies the height of the arts and crafts approach to building construction. Everywhere the materials are carefully fitted together and detailed to provide ornament . The highly articulated framing on the front entrance gallery is carried throughout the building. In addition to its architectural significance, the house enjoys a rare degree of landscape integrity …its walks, parterres, and outbuildings have survived intact. In 1928, the property was deeded to Ms. Flowers, daughter of Mr, Craig, who owned it until 1984. The present owners are Dr. and Mrs. Bob Clingan. Descriptions source: pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/03001140.pdf
Posted on: Sun, 07 Sep 2014 19:28:06 +0000
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