The Godfrey-Petty-Abell home is one four on next weekend’s tour of historic homes. The Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation will host the thirteenth annual Holiday Happenings in Historic Homes on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 2-6 p.m.

Three historic homes and one lofthome in an historic structure will be open. Admission is $10.00 and tickets will be on sale at each home. Proceeds benefit the Meadowbrook Historic Neighborhood project in Kilgore.

On tour is one Meadowbrook Neighborhood structure, the Smith-Harder Johnston home at 1208 Meadow Avenue. Also featured are the Downs-Hale home at 316 Horseshoe Drive and the Godfrey- Petty-Abell home at 1000 Dudley Road. Downtown at 325 N. Kilgore Street the Brown loft home on the upper floor of Kilgore’s old City Hall’s upper floor will be open.

Godfrey-Petty-Abell

Home

1100 Dudley Road

The Smith-Harder-Johnston Home 1208 Meadow Avenue, above is the only Meadowbrook home on this year’s tour of historic homes sponsored by Kilgore Historical Preservation Foundation Foundation. Other notable homes on the tour include the Down-Hale home at 316 Horseshoe Drive, below left, and the Brown home (old city hall) at 325 N. Kilgore Street, below right. Also on the sour is the Godfrey-Petty Abell home at 1100 Dudley Road, pictured on Page 1. Amber and James Abell purchased this Southern plantation-style home in 2006 from Devonne Godfrey Petty. Built in 1937 for Douglas Godfrey, the showcase house commands a hilltop view of the country setting, complete with Longhorn cattle in the surrounding pastures. The meandering driveway leads to the two-story, columned entrance which opens into an expansive foyer.

Guests are drawn to the winding staircase which bisects the downstairs and leads to the three upstairs bedrooms, including the master room with a large bath and dressing area.

The Abells restored the original hardwood floors throughout and updated the kitchen and breakfast area without disturbing the classic dimensions of the home. The ground floor features an impressive living room with fireplace. Left in place in the formal dining room are the original chandelier and Godfrey dining furniture.

To the rear of the living and dining rooms are an office and kitchen-breakfast room. Opening into the breakfast room and foyer is an informal den which is connected to the back door by a hallway. A 1950s photo is displayed in the hall featuring three East Texas oilfield pioneers: Douglas Godfrey, Amber’s uncle Jake Maxwell, and her grandfather W. T. Maxwell.

The back door opens onto a patio floored with slatetiles and furnished with wrought-iron. The Abells invite guests to visit the refurbished guest cottage which they remodeled to match the architectural style of the main house.

Old City Hall- Brown Loft Home

325 N. Kilgore

Street

The discovery of oil in October 1930 changed Kilgore from a rural stop on the railroad into a burgeoning oilfield hub. Within months the town grew from 900 to 11,000. Tents and shacks occupied every vacant space. To bring order to the chaos, in February 1931 the City of Kilgore incorporated.

A massive, two-story City Hall was constructed in 1931 to house the Municipal Court, the fire and police departments and the jail. The exterior is solid brick construction with art deco flourishes at the crown and entrances. First-floor windows are glass brick, indicative of the era. Windows on the second story provided ventilation.

Current owners, Jennifer and Mike Brown, welcome visitors to their loft home which occupies the second floor. Since purchasing the building in 2004, the Browns have completed extensive renovations, including façade improvements to accentuate the art deco architecture.

They restored the original hardwood floors and created airy, family-living quarters. Unique features include the original light fixtures in the courtroom, which is now a game room. In the dining room the Christmas tree, decorated with a fireman theme, stands next to the original fireman’s pole. Firemen used the pole for quickslide access from their upstairs living quarters to the fire trucks on the ground floor.

The loft is accessible only by stairway and the family asks guests to use the Kay Street entrance.

Downs-Hale Home 316 Horseshoe Dr.

This mid-Twentieth Century home was designed to the specifications of Margaret Downs, wife of Kilgore medical doctor, Seth Downs. Built in 1957 for their family, the home sits atop a hill with a compelling view of Meadowbrook Park. Terraced landscaping in the front complements the brick and glass architecture.

Uniquely designed, every room in the house features at least one floor-to-ceiling, glass-window wall. Laid-out in a U-shape, the home’s interior window-walls overlook a central patio and backyard.

Original brick floors accent the great room and the spacious, entertainment-oriented kitchen which contains a banquet table for large parties.

Current owners Audry and Bobby Hale purchased the home in 2003 and have done all remodeling work themselves. In the kitchen they retained the original Chambers gas stove but modernized with stainless steel fixtures, granite counter tops, glass mosaic tiles and a contemporary coffee bar.

A long hallway lined with built-in book shelves leads from the great room to three bedrooms. Each room features built-in storage and windows. The master bedroom opens onto the central patio. It features a walk-in closet and dressing space leading to a double bathroom.

Bathrooms throughout the home feature yellow tile and porcelain fixtures.

The Hales decorated with Jazz-themed artwork and musical instruments which reflect their love of music and lyrical color. These accents, combined with earth colored upholstery and original grass wallpaper create innovative textures and decorative elements.

Smith-Harder-

Johnston Home

1208 Meadow Ave.

Located in the Meadowbrook Neighborhood, this home was built in 1937 for Tol and Jimmie Smith who owned the Merchant-Smith Lumber Yard. The contractor was S. E. Lewis.

The red-brick exterior is deceptively unassuming with a porch, supported by white colonial style columns, covering the front of the house. Visitors will find a delightful surprise when they step inside. The interior features original artdeco appointments which are artfully integrated into a cohesive design.

In February 2009, Everett Johnston purchased the home from the Harder family. Working as his own remodeler, Johnson restored the home’s original features and added elegant touches. Throughout, he installed customized crown-molding and ceiling textures to accent each room. Original hardwood floors are restored in the front room and bedrooms.

The front room and dining room are separated by French-paned, glass double doors. In the dining room, a built-in buffet and china cabinet are original to the house.

The kitchen and two bathrooms feature original decor. Blue-tiles adorn the master bath which has an unusual, built-in, square-tub porcelain fixture. An art deco, round mirror and stainlesssteel fluorescent-light fixture are original to the master bath.

The kitchen is a decorative centerpiece with red, black and white original tile-work for the countertop and splashboard. The cabinets feature art-deco, springloaded handles which are accented with red Bakelite. A stainless steel stove-hood is original and Johnston added a reproduction, pressed-tin ceiling.