Published: April 16, 2008 09:55 am         

Stepping back in time: Jackson-Brown-Manderson-Thomas home, garden set for May 3 tour

The Attala Historical Society is sponsoring a tour of three Kosciusko homes and three gardens on Saturday, May 3, from 1 until 4 p.m.

Scheduled for the tour are: home and garden of Jonathan and Carol Thomas, 107 North Wells Street; home and garden of Scott and Holly Millikan, 205 Goodman Street; home of Brady and Nikki Richardson, 2088 Attala Road 2213; and garden at the home of Tim and Brenda Horne, 116 Highland Drive.

Tickets to the tour are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the event. They may be purchased from members of the historical society, at all Kosciusko banks, and on the day of the tour at the Mary Ricks Thornton Cultural Center.

Money collected from the tour will go to the restoration and maintenance of the Mary Ricks Thornton Cultural Center.



Jackson-Brown-Manderson-Thomas home

The Jackson-Brown-Manderson-Thomas home, circa 1882, is the residence of Jonathan and Carol Thomas, former residents of Pennsylvania, who have lived in the home for the past several years.

Now listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was once destined for destruction. It was in disrepair, had been damaged by fire, and used as a haunted house at Halloween as a fundraiser. It was rescued by C.L. and Linda Manderson who bought the property and began renovation in 1992. They resided in the home until selling to the Thomases.

The Victorian style house is of Queen Anne and Italinate architecture and is furnished with period antiques. Of interest are the couple’s collections including Edison players, children’s toys, dolls, pictures of children with Saint Bernard dogs, hair receivers, clocks, and others.

In the hallway entry, first of Thomas’s collections can be seen in toys and children’s books displayed in a bookcase desk. At the far end of the entry is a grandfather clock, one of many clocks found in the home.

The formal living room with its Victorian furnishings includes “his and hers” chairs which flank the fireplace. Other furnishing are of the Victorian period. Focal point is the mantel with three clocks displayed.

Across the hall, to the right of the entry is the casual living room with its color scheme of rose and pink. An Edison phonograph with cylinders is displayed, and is indicative of many other Edisons Thomas has in his collection. A collection of hair receivers is displayed in the casual living room. The small containers have a small opening in the top designed to hold hair gleaned from combs and brushes saved for the purpose of making hair pieces.

A guest bedroom with antique bed and other antique furnishings is also on the first floor.

The antique oak table in the formal dining room belonged to a relative of Mrs. Thomas. A massive sideboard is in keeping with the room’s style.

The kitchen with its cabinets of cherry are contrasted against the white, tile counter tops. A sitting area offers a cozy spot in the kitchen while another sitting area surrounded by windows is located adjacent to the kitchen.



Formal garden

Entrance to the formal garden is through a gate with a peaked roof which Thomas built. The roof of the entrance is covered with slate which he brought from Pennsylvania. Just inside the gate is a sitting area featuring furniture in a variety of bright colors. The garden continues beyond a picket fence, along a stone walkway to the rear of the home which is attractive with plants accentuated with statuary and fountains. A wood and brick fence ensures privacy.