By Diana McFarland

News editor

On a winter’s day in 1901, Segar Cofer Dashiell was born in a four-poster bed in Smithfield.

Dashiell, who would become the town’s historian, died 100 years later in the same bed in the same house. Her son, Harry, who served on the Smithfield Town Council, was also born in that same bed in 1925.

The circa 1866 cedar four-poster bed that played such a large part in the Dashiell family is just one piece of Hamtown’s history available for viewing Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 5-6 during the Christmas in Smithfield Historic Homes Tour and Antiques Show.{mprestriction ids=”1,2,3,4,5,6″}

Proceeds from Christmas in Smithfield go to the 1750 Courthouse, a program of Historic Smithfield.

The Cofer-Dashiell House is one of three historic homes on the tour. Also open are the James Robert Jordan House and The Grove. Tickets are still available for day tours Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

A free shuttle will be available from The Smithfield Center, and parking near the homes is also available. An Antiques Show and Sale will also be held at The Smithfield Center Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

The show features dealers and vendors from as far as Maryland, Georgia and Florida.

The circa 1898 Victorian-era Cofer-Dashiell House hasn’t changed much over the years, said Ellie Dashiell, wife of Harry, who died in 2010. Ellie continues to live in the house and credits Sig, as she was best known, with having “very nice taste.”

Much of the furnishings have been passed down through the generations, she said.

 Also on the tour is The Grove, built between 1780-90 for Thomas Pierce and later used as a boarding house and hotel. Virginia Lt. Gov. and Mrs. A.E.S. Stephens restored the home in 1956 and today is home to the Ivy family.

The James Robert Jordan House is a handsome Classical Revival home built by James Robert Jordan, an early 20th century representative to the Virginia House of Delegates.

Other venues available for viewing with any show or tour ticket include the Mansion on Main Bed and Breakfast and the 1750 Courthouse, both located on Main Street, the “Sing We Now of Christmas” concert Dec. 6, 6 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church, admission to the Schoolhouse Museum Dec. 5-6 from noon to 4 p.m., and the Lionel Toy Train Display at the Isle of Wight County Chamber of Commerce on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Tickets to the Antique Show only are $4 online or at the Visitor Center, 319 Main St. by Friday and $5 at the door. The antique show and day house tour combined is $20 online or at the Visitor Center or $25 at the door at The Smithfield Center.

For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit christmasinsmithfield.com, call 365-9339, 357-5182 or by email at smfdtour@isleofwightus.net.

 

 

Want to go?

Tickets to the Antique Show only are $4 online or at the Visitor Center, 319 Main St. by Friday and $5 at the door. The antique show and day house tour combined is $20 online or at the Visitor Center or $25 at the door at The Smithfield Center located at 220 N. Church St.

For more information or to purchase tickets online, visit christmasinsmithfield.com, call 365-9339, 357-5182 or by email at smfdtour@isleofwightus.net. {/mprestriction}