LIKE ANY CITY founded over two centuries ago, the city of Covington boasts a rich sense of history. The Covington Heritage Foundation (CHF) was established during the city’s bicentennial year to preserve and celebrate this unique history. “With the help of the Board and our many volunteers, we’ve accomplished the goal of creating activities that celebrate our great city’s culture and heritage,” says CHF president Sharon Nunez.
One of the most anticipated events of the year is CHF’s annual History and Holly Home Tour. This year’s event is scheduled for Sunday, December 11 and will follow the theme, “Then and Now” with seven homes, some dating back to the turn of the century and some that have been built in historic Covington within the last ten years.
We were excited to have the opportunity to visit two of the homes on the tour and bring you a sneak peek at the December event. The Couvillon home, located on S. Vermont Street in the Spring district of Covington, was built in 1906 by the Smith family and acquired by Alice and Robert Couvillon in 1981. Alice and Robert adore their front porch and can be seen enjoying “porch time” daily. “When we bought the house, the owners, the Bonnettes, told us that we would love the porch, and they were so right. Sometimes we think that we only needed to buy a porch! The porch has seen babies, birthdays, holidays, friends, boyfriends, weddings and now grandbabies,” says Alice.
The Couvillons opened up the home’s living and dining area by tearing down a wall that used to contain a small office area. In keeping with the historic nature of the house, the Couvillon home is filled with sentimental antiques and heirloom family photos. “Most of the furniture was inherited,” explains Alice, “The cane rocker and sofa were my grandparents’. I was rocked in that chair as a baby. The courting chair is from Robert’s home. There is a photo going up the stairs of Rob and his brother and sister sitting on the chair when they were children.”
The home of Jan and Gayden Robert sits a few blocks from the Couvillon home on New Hampshire Street in the midst of historic downtown Covington, just one block from restaurants, shopping, art galleries and even closer to the concerts at the landing and festivals in the park.
When the opportunity arose for the pair to renovate this craftsman bungalow and downsize from the home where they raised their two children, they didn’t hesitate. Over the course of 16 months, they opened walls and added a bit of square footage to the small home. They “took” one of the home’s three bedrooms for the living area, and then added another bedroom to the second story. Post-renovation, the living area spans the width of the house in front and then extends into a dining area and kitchen, leaving plenty of room for entertaining. While the columns and covered porch look original to the 1920s home, they were actually added seamlessly during the renovation.
A wood-burning fireplace was constructed to bring warmth and a new focal point in the welcoming living area, and craftsman-style details like tapered columns separating the dining room and kitchen were also added. Original hardwood floors flow throughout the living and dining areas to the well-loved kitchen. Jan is responsible for Sophisticated Woman’s “Foodies and Friends” blog, which focuses on recipes, and enjoying food with friends, so you can imagine that the kitchen is as much the heart of this home as the porch is for the Couvillons.
According to the Covington Heritage Foundation, The History & Holly Home Tour is a seven-tenths of mile walk near Bogue Falaya Park and Christ Episcopal Church in the divisions of St. John and Spring. Two trams will be available for those who wish to use them. Tickets may be purchased in advance at local stores including The Jefferson House, Hebert’s Cleaners, the Southern Hotel and Braswell Drugs. The event will take place on December 11 from 3 to 7 p.m. Day of event tickets will also be available.
