DENVER – Ever drive by a stately old house and wonder what it looks like inside? The historic Mundy House is in plain view on North Highway 16 in Denver is open for guided tours courtesy of the Eastern Lincoln Historical Society on Saturdays at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and at noon through Sept. 10 led by the Mundy House Tour Guides.
On these tours, visitors can learn where the Mundy family dried apples. How Maggie Mundy saved her grandchildren from a snake. How the family sharpened their knives and what day was wash day. The interior of Mundy House contains a treasure chest of history from the Denver area of Lincoln County and must be seen to appreciate. Best of all, the tour is free, but donations which are used to keep the house in good repair are appreciated.
Melisa Thompson, who organizes events at the Mundy House shared this historical information.
The house was built around 1868 by Rufus and Fannie Killian Mundy. Fanny’s family owned a good bit of property in the area. They didn’t want Fannie to marry Rufus. According to their granddaughter, Nell Mundy Wade, they wanted her to marry a Mr. Lowe. Fannie wanted Rufus so she packed up 23 handmade dresses and eloped.
According to Nell, Fannie’s parents did not have anything to do with the newlyweds until they had their first child. After that, the Killians invited Fannie and Rufus (sometimes called “Doc”) to walk around the property and pick a site for a house. This is what they chose.
Rufus and Fannie had 12 children. Some died in childhood, but it was a large family.
When Rufus died in 1921, the house went to his son Robert Osborne “Bob” Mundy and his wife Maggie Allen Mundy. Bob and Maggie married Jan. 6, 1897. They had nine children, eight girls and one boy.
Bob Mundy and his father grew cotton on the 300-acre farm to support their family. They had a barn, chicken coop, corn crib, smoke house for curing meat and other outbuildings. The Mundy House did not get indoor plumbing until 1948.
The house stayed in the Mundy family until 1994.
Other upcoming events at the Mundy House include a car show on Sept. 10. On Sept. 12, Holocaust survivor Irving Bienstock puts a human face on an unimaginable time in Jewish history. Historian Tom Hanchett will give a talk on Oct. 10 on “The South in the Funny Pages,” How they shaped both positive and negative images of the South and Southerners.
Nov. 12 brings the annual Veterans’ Recognition Day Dinner for Eastern Lincoln veterans. On Nov. 14, Norah Brooks portrays Lottie Moon, long-time Baptist missionary to China and namesake for annual offering to support missions.
The monthly talks are held in the Mundy House Annex usually at 6 p.m. and light refreshments are served.
The popular annual Christmas Market featuring local artists and natural ornaments and wreaths created by Eastern Lincoln Community Garden Club will be on Nov. 26.
The Mundy House is located at 4353 North Highway 16 in Denver. The guided tour is free as is the rest of the events, but donations are appreciated. For groups larger than 10 or for more information on the upcoming events, call (704) 483-9446 or visit the Mundy House Facebook page.
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