Archive for the ‘Press Releases’ Category

Körner’s Folly Reopening January 13th!

Dear Folly Friends – After a brief closure following the holiday season, we are pleased to announce the reopening of Körner’s Folly on Wednesday, January 13, 2021 for self-guided tours by appointment. Our top priority, in addition to sharing our beloved historical treasure, will be the well-being of our visitors and staff.  We will require face coverings, limit capacity, encourage distancing using timed entry, offer sanitizing stations, and regularly disinfect high-touch surfaces.

All tour tickets and appointment will be booked through our website.  To purchase tour tickets, please click here.

We will be open for tours Tuesdays – Saturdays, 10am-4pm.  Adults are $10, Children (ages 6-18) are $6, and Children Under 6 are free.

As we gear up for continued restoration projects in 2021, we are currently only opening tour tickets from now until the end of January.  We will update the website once we have our 2021 restoration schedule finalized, which could result in room closures. Thank you for your patience and understanding. We look forward to sharing our exciting restoration progress with you soon!

2020 Holiday Season at Körner’s Folly

Historic Kernersville landmark Körner’s Folly, a 5,600 architectural wonderland, prepares once again for a spectacular holiday season. Each winter, this remarkable 22-room structure adds a layer of adornment and excitement with ornate displays of Christmas décor.

Preparations for this magical time of the year begin in October, as staff embark upon a deep cleaning, relocate fragile collection objects, and unpack cherished ornaments. Thanks to the energy and creativity of a corps of special volunteers, the rooms of Körner’s Folly will be filled with Victorian-inspired trees, garlands, and beautiful interpretations of this year’s theme of Christmas Carols. Holiday tours will be offered starting November 27, 2020 and will run through January 2, 2021.

Körner’s Folly also looks forward to hosting the first annual Holiday Market on November 28, 2020, from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm, in conjunction with Small Business Saturday, to provide visitors with a one-stop shop for holiday gifts created by local makers and artisans. Following health and safety recommendations, this market will be outdoors and socially distanced.

In addition, Körner’s Folly will host special evening tours to offer visitors a truly unforgettable experience. Evening tours, known as Christmas by Candlelight, will be offered on December 5, 12, 19, and 26 from 5:00 to 9:00 pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance for this event.

For a fun, day-time experience, join us for A Kernersville Yuletide, when 3 local destinations team up for a day-time holiday experience at the Kernersville Museum, Paul J. Ciener Botanical Garden, and Körner’s Folly, on Saturday, December 12, 2020, 10am-3pm.

This year, to help Körner’s Folly manage capacity and cleaning protocols, tours are available by appointment only, via our website www.kornersfolly.org. “We are looking forward to making this season bright for all our visitors and staff, as well as prioritizing health and safety,” says Executive Director Dale Pennington. “We encourage those who enjoy the decorations at Körner’s Folly every year as a holiday tradition, to return this season, with the reassurance that we are doing everything we can to ensure an excellent experience for everyone. We’re also very excited about this year’s theme, and anticipate the house being full of music and excitement of Victorian-era Christmas carols.”

Körner’s Folly is open for self-guided tours Tuesday – Saturday from 10:00 am – 4:00 pm, with the last tour appointment offered at 3:00 pm. Tickets must be purchased in advance at https://kornersfolly.org/buy-tickets. Please call (336) 996-7922 for more information. Regular updates posted on Facebook and Instagram @KornersFolly.

 

Körner’s Folly Receives NC CARES: Humanities Relief Grant Funding

 

Körner’s Folly Receives NC CARES: Humanities Relief Grant Funding

 

The Körner’s Folly Foundation has received a NC CARES: Humanities Relief Grant from the North Carolina Humanities Council. This emergency grant funding was provided to North Carolina cultural organizations experiencing hardships due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “We are grateful to be one of 59 organizations the North Carolina Humanities Council selected for this funding,” said Dale Pennington, Executive Director

This important funding will support a new At-Home Program: Victorian Time Traveler. This program provides a complete supply kit and videos for Homeschool Families to step back in time and discover what life was like in the Victorian Era. Thanks to generous funding from the NC Humanities Council and private donors, we are able to offer our Victorian Time Traveler Program at free and reduced rates.

Körner’s Folly has been closed to the public since March 2020 due to the pandemic.  The historic home will reopen once NC moves to Phase 3 per the Governor’s Office Executive Orders.

NC CARES: Humanities Relief Grant funding was provided to the North Carolina Humanities Council by the National Endowment for the Humanities through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act passed by Congress in late March. The $2.2 trillion CARES package included $75 million for the National Endowment for the Humanities, nearly $30 million, or a total of 40%, of which was sent to the 56 state and jurisdictional humanities councils, including the North Carolina Humanities Council, to distribute to local cultural nonprofits and programming. The North Carolina Humanities Council www.nchumanities.org is a statewide nonprofit and affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Thanks to generous funding from the NC Humanities Council and private donors, we are able to offer our Victorian Time Traveler Program at free and reduced rates.

You can learn more about the program here: Victorian Time Traveler.

You can use the form below to apply for a scholarship for a free Victorian Time Traveler Program:

Advance Tickets are Now Closed

 

CLOSED Until Further Notice

We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation.  For the safety of the community, Körner’s Folly is temporarily closed to the public until further notice per NC Executive Order 147. Events have been cancelled, postponed, or made virtual through August 15.  Körner’s Folly plans to re-open once the NC Executive Order is issued for Phase 3. We will post updates here when we have information about a re-open date.

In the meantime, connect with us on social media and check out our online educational resources, where you’ll find downloadable craft projects, historic recipes, and restoration updates.

 

A Video Message from Executive Director Dale Pennington

During this time of uncertainty and disruption, Körner’s Folly is committed to remaining connected to our community.  While our doors remain closed, work at the Folly has continued. Not only do we have a new Online Resource Catalog, with educational and entertaining content for all ages, we are undergoing significant restoration in the Master Bedroom, Breakfast Room, and North Stairway. Check out our Operation Restoration page for a closer look.

We appreciate those who have recently reached out to ask how they can help us continue to fulfill our mission during this challenging time. Donations in any amount make a huge impact in stabilizing our operations, meeting the critical needs of the property, and providing opportunities for visitors to engage virtually.

Giving is easy, quick, and will mean so much – click for secure donation link.

Stay well, and we look forward to seeing you at the Folly as soon as it is safe to do so!

Dale Pennington
Executive Director, Körner’s Folly Foundation

Körner’s Folly Responds to COVID

Historic Körner’s Folly, 413 S. Main Street, Kernersville, NC, adjusts to public closure and moves resources online, in keeping with public health guidelines during the COVID pandemic.

“During this time of uncertainty and disruption, we are committed to remaining connected to our community,” says Dale Pennington, executive director of the Körner’s Folly Foundation. “While we are saddened to close our doors, we understand that in the interest of public health, we must confront this challenge and find new solutions for fulfilling our mission.” Pennington continues: “Offering such in-depth virtual access steps outside the scope of our normal activities, and it is our hope that during this time, Körner’s Folly will remain an anchor of the Kernersville community and continue to offer high-quality content that shares knowledge, provides entertainment and enjoyment, and relieves stress.”

The new Online Resources Catalog launched Monday, March 30th, was made possible in part with a grant from the Winston-Salem Foundation. This Online Resource Catalog is provided free of charge for accessing the unique history of Körner’s Folly while the museum is closed to the public. “Fun and engaging for all ages, the catalog includes printable activities, collections spotlights, fascinating trivia, vintage recipes, and links to further reading about this amazing house and the family who made it a home,” says Operations & Programs Manager Suzanna Ritz. New content will be added to these pages weekly – visitors can check the online catalog for new ideas and activities, or follow Körner’s Folly on social media to get notifications when new content is available.

“Over the past several weeks, we have appreciated a record-breaking amount of engagement through our website and social media, and look forward to providing opportunities for folks to connect to Körner’s Folly and to each other, even when we are physically apart,” says Dale Pennington. “We have also received many queries about how to support the Körner’s Folly Foundation during this time of lost revenue. Fortunately, we have in place several mechanisms through which our community can make a real impact on our organization. We encourage people to purchase advance tour tickets online – they can be used as soon as we are able to open our doors, and are redeemable through 2022. We are also grateful for online donations in any amount that will help us sustain operations. But most importantly, we ask our supporters to bear with us during this closure, keep learning and enjoying history, and be ready to gather in celebration with us when it is safe to do so.”

Körner’s Folly is currently closed to the public, but can be reached via email at info@kornersfolly.org.

Interior Restoration continues at Körner’s Folly

Historic Körner’s Folly, 413 South Main Street, is pleased to announce the continuation of Operation Restoration, a long term project with the goal of restoring and preserving the Victorian house museum.

Jule Körner died in 1924, and his wife died in 1934.  After that, Körner’s Folly was never again lived in as a full-time family home.  Over the decades, time, age, and weather have all taken their toll on Körner’s Folly.  Despite multiple re-purposes, by the 1960s, the house sat unused and vulnerable to vandalism.  Fortunately, in the 1970s, a group of 26 local families, including Körner descendants purchased the house.  Their goal was to restore and preserve Körner’s Folly for the education and enjoyment of the public.  They eventually created the Körner’s Folly Foundation, a nonprofit organization, and had the house listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Over 40 years later – from 2012-2015 – the first major restorative work took place, to completely stabilize the exterior structure of Körner’s Folly.  The house’s foundation was repaired, the porches were restored, and the entire roof was replaced.  Now that the home is water-tight and structurally stable, interior restoration work is underway.  This summer, restoration work began into the home’s main kitchen.

Restoration is the process of depicting the form, features, and character of a property at a particular period of time.  Throughout the restoration process at Körner’s Folly, the Foundation focuses on the house’s 1897-1905 appearance, when the home was at the height of family activity.  The goal is to move through the house, restoring one room at a time, so the house is never closed for tours.  New rooms are being restored each year, three were completed in 2015.  It is a remarkable time to see historic restoration in action.

One of the most challenging aspects of restoring the 135 year-old house is to maintain the home’s historic charm, character, and “lived-in” feel.  Although restoration work brings in new materials and revitalizes each room, it is important that Körner’s Folly remains historic in appearance, and is not overly restored to look brand new.  For example, during the kitchen restoration, extra care was taken to save the original tile floors and hardware, rather than replace them with a modern equivalent.

The first step in the restoration process is to research the history of the room, including the original paint color schemes.  To determine the original paint colors of the kitchen, David Black, AIA/APT of HagerSmith Design of Raleigh, North Carolina, took multiple paint samples of the kitchen. Samples were removed from the wood trim, doors, window sash, wall plaster, and built-in cabinets using a scalpel. Each sample was evaluated with a microscope to identify its original color.

With the historic color analysis complete, work began to repair unstable infrastructure, remove modern elements added to the house over time, replicate and repair missing or damaged plaster details and woodwork, and refinish, clean, and paint architectural surfaces.  However, this project really came to in the final phase – when painters were able to successfully restore the kitchen to Jule’s original color scheme. The plaster walls and the furniture have been returned to a dark red color; the wood window and door trim, window sash, ceiling, baseboards, fireplace trim, and cabinet doors are dark brown – a distinctly Victorian look.  The dark trim and vibrant color scheme will offer visitors a stark contrast to the previously white walls and trim in the kitchen.

As we peel back the layers of paint, read through family letters, and look back at old photographs, we begin to gain a better understanding of not only the house itself, but also the people who lived, breathed, and slept here. Even more of Jule’s eccentric personality becomes clear when we uncover the original color schemes. The floor tiles match the original wall colors, giving visitors a better sense of Jule’s original vision. We learn about the family’s likes, their interests, their joys, and their fears. Eventually, as all the pieces begin to come together, we gain a glimmer of what it might have been like to live here.

Restoration of the Kitchen is made possible by Wolfe & Associates in Honor of Mary Cook for her more than twenty years of service to the Law Firm and her many years as Board Member and Secretary of the Körner’s Folly Foundation.  Stay tuned for more information about this exciting restoration project!

Main Kitchen before restoration. Note the white walls and furniture.

Main Kitchen before restoration. Note the white walls and furniture.

Inaugural interior restoration: The Rose Room

Historic Körner’s Folly has undergone major exterior restorative work over the last 2 years.  And now, the work is moving inside.  The Rose Room, Jule Körner’s daughter Doré’s bedroom, is the first to undergo serious interior restoration work.  The Körner’s Folly Foundation hopes to bring the room back to its 1905 condition, when Jule renovated the room for Doré’s sixteenth birthday.

The restoration process will involve a variety of components.  In order to understand the color and material of the walls when Doré used the room, a paint analysis has been done of the current plaster.  This step will allow us to know the exact colors of the room when it was occupied by Doré, giving us an appropriate color palette for other objects and patterns in the room.

Like the rest of the building, the Rose Room contains many original decorative features.  Plaster moldings will be recast and wood details will be duplicated to mimic Jule’s original design.  The pine floors, painted grey over the years, will be sanded down to their original wood finish. The Körner’s Folly Foundation Director, Dale Pennington, feels the efforts will provide new insight into Jule Körner’s dynamic personality as well as provide a better understanding of local life in Victorian America.  She remarks, “The restoration process feels a bit like being a history detective.  As we start to peel back the layers of paint, read through family letters, and look back at old photographs, we begin to gain a better understanding of not only the room itself, but also the people who lived, breathed, and slept there.”

Fortunately for the Körner’s Folly Foundation, the Rose Room is an excellent room to learn from.  Relatively well preserved, our work during this restoration stage will provide us with the insight and knowledge to move forward with larger and substantially more deteriorated rooms.  The Foundation hopes the challenge of restoring the Rose Room will also build connections in the community, helping us develop a network of conservators in the area.

The restoration process is not only a venture for the Körner’s Folly Foundation, but is very close to the hearts of the remaining Körner descendents.  With many Körner relatives active in Kernersville, they are excited to see their mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and even great-great-grandmother’s room restored for the public.  The restoration project, funded by Wolfe & Associates, is in honor of Doré Körner’s daughter, Polly Körner Donnell Wolfe.

The Körner’s Folly Foundation is accomplishing these goals within the framework of its mission, to preserve and restore Körner’s Folly for the education and enjoyment of the public.  A beloved landmark within the Kernersville community, the Folly has become a destination for many families within North Carolina, as well as throughout the nation and abroad.  The Folly’s ability to educate the public about life in Victorian America and Jule’s incredible design vision have compelled many to support our efforts to restore Jule’s home and business.

Körner’s Folly is the architectural wonder and home of artist and designer Jule Gilmer Körner.  Built in 1880 in Kernersville, North Carolina, the house originally served to display his interior design portfolio.  The house is comprised of twenty-two rooms, separated into three floors on seven levels, with ceilings ranging in height from five and a half feet to over twenty-five feet tall.  In every room, Jule designed unique doorways, windows, and fireplaces, hoping to attract clients who visited his home.

Color History of the Rose Room, Korner's Folly

Color History of the Rose Room, Korner’s Folly

Challenging Renovation… March 2013

KERNERSVILLE, NC—Historic Körner’s Folly, 413 S. Main Street, is facing a remarkable challenge.  A $150,000 challenge to be exact, and the structural stability of the house is riding on it.  As it turns out, the Körner’s Folly Foundation is actually welcoming this particular challenge—in fact, the Foundation is downright thrilled.

In August of 2012, an anonymous donor and descendents of the Körner family issued a challenge to the Körner’s Folly Foundation.  They offered to donate $150,000 specifically for the structural restoration of Körner’s Folly, IF, and that’s a big IF, the Körner’s Folly Foundation can raise $150,000.  And there’s more: they must raise the matching funds by December 2013.  If the Körner’s Folly Foundation is successful, they will then have $300,000 to structurally repair Körner’s Folly.  The structural repairs include stabilizing the foundation of the house and restoring the Folly’s iconic roof.  Upon completion, these repairs would structurally stabilize Körner’s Folly for at least the next 100 years.  The matching challenge is certainly a tall order, no doubt about that, but the Körner’s Folly Foundation is hopeful of community support.

The challenge and structural repairs are part of the Körner’s Folly Foundation’s long term restoration plan, “Operation Restoration,” which outlines a mission to restore the exterior and interior of the house.  Exterior restoration has been divided into three major phases:

Phase 1:  Front and Side Porch Restoration (Approximately $160,000) COMPLETED

Phase 2:  Foundation Stabilization (Approximately $100,000) COMPLETED

Phase 3:  Roof Renovation (Approximately $200,000) NEEDS YOUR HELP!

The Körner’s Folly Foundation has consulted with many specialists over the years to develop this long-term restoration plan.  They have patched the roof numerous times and did minor repairs to stay ahead of water damage for decades, and it’s been a costly, uphill battle. But now, Operation Restoration is finally being put into action to proactively preserve the house.

This summer, Phase I of Operation Restoration was launched when the Foundation completely restored the intricate brick masonry of the front and side porches thanks to funding from the Lawrence E. Pope Foundation and the Town of Kernersville.   The challenge has created an outpouring of support, which allowed the Körner’s Folly Foundation to begin Phase II, the structural repairs to the foundation, this January.  The house is reopening for public tours as of March 1, 2013.

And now, if the Körner’s Folly Foundation can complete the $150,000 challenge, Phase III, restoring the roof, will complete the structural stabilization of the house.   Thanks to overwhelming community support, in just six short months, Körner’s Folly is almost half way to their goal; having raised $70,000 to date.  The individuals from all over the community have come together to show support for the beloved, albeit strange, town landmark.

The restoration of the roof is a particularly important goal of Operation Restoration because the leaking roof has prevented any interior restoration for decades.  The red tin roof that currently tops Körner’s Folly was installed in 1954 to replace the original chestnut-shingled roof that had weathered considerable damage.  Now, nearly 60 years later, the tin has weathered considerable damage and poses a unique threat to the eight murals on the top level of Körner’s Folly.  The tin roof heats and cools creating considerable temperature fluctuation and condensation that leaches through the plaster walls, to stain the murals that are located just 10 inches on the other side.  Normally, an insulation layer would combat this problem, but no insulation was installed when the tin roof was put on Körner’s Folly.  The goal of the Körner’s Folly Foundation would be to install a more breathable and insulated roof and explore building materials that are more similar to Körner’s Folly’s original roof.  Restoring the 133 year old house has been no easy task, but the Körner’s Folly Foundation is thrilled at the progress so far, and is hopeful progress will continue.

Looking to the future, now that Phases I & II are complete, once the roof restoration is completed, the next major phase would be to start interior restoration.  Interior plans would include restoring the damaged and faded murals, woodwork, and interior plaster, with the ultimate goal of returning it to a sparkling representation of life in Kernersville in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.  Armed with a clearly prioritized master plan to proactively restore Körner’s Folly, the board of directors and executive director now have a clearly focused way of seeking funding.  This systematic approach to restoration has proven successful thus far, and shows a strong commitment to the mission to restore and preserve Körner’s Folly for the education and enjoyment of the public.

Interested in helping Körner’s Folly raise the challenge of $150,000?  Every dollar counts; call (336) 996-7922 for more information or to donate today!

This article appeared in the March 2013 edition of Kernersville Magazine, click here to see the full article: Challenging Renovations…March 2013

132-Year-old house gets an operation June 2012

Groundbreaking Ceremony at Korner's Folly

Groundbreaking Ceremony at Korner’s Folly

Körner’s Folly, sitting majestically on South Main Street, is under-going an operation.  That’s right, an operation, for rejuvenation of sorts.  The strange old house needs work, badly.  Kernersville’s most famous home has been the source of constant revision and renovation since the 19th century. Now, in the 21st century, this unusual residence once again is preparing to be reinvented.

Sitting directly on South Main Street, age, weather, and traffic have all taken their toll on this historic house.  The intricate masonry on the front and side porches has weathered the brunt of the structural damage over the years.  “The brick work on the porches is especially delicate because the bricks were handmade on the property over 132 years ago.” says Dale Pennington, Executive Director of Körner’s Folly.

Wilson-Covington Construction Company, Inc. of Winston-Salem, North Carolina has been selected to complete the extensive structural and masonry repairs to the front and side elevations of Körner’s Folly.  “Small repairs have been made to the masonry, but have included the addition of Portland Cement, that has further eroded the face of the original, handmade bricks,” says Hayes Wauford of Wilson-Covington.  The original mortar had a very high lime concentrate.  Over the years, the bricks have been patched with Portland Cement, which did not adhere to the lime based mortar, and has actually sped up deterioration.

Wilson-Covington will be adding footings below the front porch walls to help prevent future settling. The area of the front porch that extends toward Main Street will be reconstructed with salvaged brick and new, handmade brick from Old Carolina Brick Company.  Any new, handmade brick will be made to specifically match the existing bricks. The masonry knee walls and arches at both side porches will be reconstructed on new footings, again using brick salvaged from the Folly and new brick from Old Carolina.

This project is particularly exciting for Wilson-Covington as the President, Clay V. Ring, Jr., grew up on Salisbury Street behind the Folly.  Ring constructed his first home on the lot next door, just north of the Folly.  In a curious twist, the current resident of Ring’s home is now the great grandson of the original builder of the Folly.

“The Folly is an irreplaceable piece of Kernersville history and today remains standing through community support.  Our goal is to eventually restore the Folly to its former elegance and beauty, as a lasting landmark for generations to come,” says Pennington.   Plans are to stabilize the house structurally, and then focus on restoring any interior items such as faded artwork, damaged woodwork, and interior plaster. A membership campaign called “Operation Restoration,” has been launched to coincide with the renovations.  The porch restoration was made possible by support from the Lawrence E. Pope Foundation, the Town of Kernersville, and supporters of the Körner’s Folly Foundation.