The History - From Home to B&B
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The
home at 608 Perry Street is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places. Described as a Queen Anne two and one-half story home.
The architect, George F. Barber, who prepared the "mail order" plans, refers to it
as a Late Victorian plan with Classic Revival detailing from the
Edwardian Era. |
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The architectural drawings were brought to reality
by its owner Charles Moore Sr., a local Helena businessman and former
captain in the confederate army. He
started construction in 1895 - and completed the home in 1900. It
boasts an octagonal tower with peaked roof, a full wrap-around porch and
porte-cochere (carriage covering), the finest of wood paneling, tile work
and lighting.
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The
portraits of the original owners Charles Lawson Moore and Gabriella
Thompson Moore proudly hang in the entry way. The Moore's lived in the home
until 1939.
In
1940 the Presbyterian Church held church
services there. During World War II the home was used as a USO Club
called the "Cadet Club".
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In
1944 a French family from Virginia
bought the house and it became known as the Moore-Tardy house.
They lived there from 1944 to 1981.
In
1992 the
Insco's bought the home and created the Magnolia Hill Bed &
Breakfast... making sure their restoration preserved the
original floors, mantles, woodwork, and many of the light fixtures.
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Some
Local History...
Helena fell to the Union Army on July 4,
1863
the same day of the surrender of Vicksburg
and General Robert E. Lee's retreat from Gettysburg.
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