Historic Hope hosts annual yard sale

The annual Historic Hope yard sale was held last Saturday as personal collectors of antiques, trinkets and garage clutter hunted for the next unsigned David Hockney, that hidden Tiffany lamp or the tea set that never should have left grandma’s china hutch.

“The rain has held off and it looks like a good size crowd,” said Historic Hope President Turner Sutton.

Whether one’s eye wandered for that special wicker basket, the night stand so needed or the coat rack with antique brass hooks, there was a never ending collection of collectables.

Governor David Stone’s mansion is the focal point of the event, hosting the Master Gardeners plant sale on Stone’s front lawn.

Avid collectors Robin Payne and Nicole Outlaw may have been the first to arrive at the 8 a.m. opening. By 9 a.m. Payne had her hands full of baskets and a worn wooden soda case while still scouting for more items to fill her truck.

Catherine and Willie Riddick were excited about the antique hall tree they purchased.

“Look at these hooks. They are beautiful and very very old,” said Willie Riddick, pointing to the ornate hooks that held many a hat and coat in its long history.

The yearly yard sale is one of the many events held at Historic Hope throughout the year.

One of the foundation’s most prestigious events takes place on May 18 when the annual Elizabeth Stevenson Ives Lecture Series will feature Dr. Steven and Lynn Walker.

The Walkers are restorers, researchers and collectors with over 50 years experience in those areas. Their current c1842 home in Kentucky is on the National register of Historic Places.

Steven Walker holds qualifications in archaeology and ancient history, research, cultural heritage, conservation and a PhD in settler colonial history. Walker is the author of ‘Kentucky’s First Senator: The Life and Times of John Brown — 1757-1837.’

From piloting fighter jets to commanding operations, Walker led a career in defense and government while also pursuing a varied academic path.

Lynn Walker specialized in fine art and is a consultant in English ceramics. They will speak on Hope’s collection of eighteenth and nineteenth centuries art and ceramics and its connection to John Campbell of Lazy Hill.

The annual lecture series is named after Elizabeth Stevenson Ives, an active leader in Historic Preservation throughout North Carolina. After her husband, Ernest Ives, retired from the U.S. Diplomatic service the couple split their time between Southern Pines, in Moore County and the Stevenson family home.

The program begins at 10 a.m. with a presentation by Walker on the Tyler Collection at Historic Hope. A second presentation will highlight Campbell. Campbell was a legislator, merchant and a political leader and merchant in Edenton. He eventually married Mary Hill and moved to Lazy Hill Plantation on the Chowan River in Bertie County where he lived out his life.

Registration for the Ives Lecture Series begins at 9:30 a.m. The program begins with introductions at 10 a.m. Tickets are $35 and include the lecture and lunch and can be purchased on the HistoricHope.org website.

Historic Hope Foundation, Inc. is located at 132 Hope House Road in Windsor.