Decatur Woman's Club Tour of Homes: Main Street Home & Gardens, 'The Brown Home', Cary and Beth Hardin, 603 W. Main St.
By Staff | Published Thursday, December 4, 2008
Even though the Brown Home, located at 603 W. Main Street, is no longer in the Brown family, owners Cary and Beth Hardin have made efforts to keep reminders of the original owners throughout the home and gardens.
The home now houses Main Street Home & Gardens but retains the feel of a "home" by incorporating many of W.W. and Mary Susan Harlan "Birdie" Brown's belongings into the decor.
The house was built in 1930 by the Browns on land originally owned by Dr. Carpenter.
The barn that is now located in the garden center was built by Dr. Carpenter more than 100 years ago. An old chicken coop built by the Browns is also in use for retail sale of garden supplies.
The home was built where the Carpenter family had built an above ground pool. The sides of the pool were constructed out of cut limestone, which was used for walkways and patios after the pool was disassembled. The stones now line the driveway.
The brick home is an English Tudor with 10-foot ceilings, original oak floors and pine walls and ceilings. The east porch's brick arches were glassed in by the second owner and was the entrance to their business, Decatur Antiques.
During the restoration of the property, the Hardins found family signatures with dates underneath the brick windowsills and in the old stone garage and barn. They have been left uncovered.
The Hardins recognize Birdie's place in the history of the home and have worked to keep reminders of her throughout the house. Her teapot is on the left rear burner of the stove, along with cookie cutters and an old measuring cup in the kitchen. Birdie painted during her 80s, and her paintings are hanging on the walls of the home.
The Browns had two sons, Harlan and Donald. Donald, in his 90s, still lives in Decatur, and occasionally drops in to tell stories about life in his old home.
Harlan had three daughters, Sue, Jan and Becky, and Donald had one daughter, Linda. The four still refer to the home as "Granny's" and are regular visitors.
Upon their first visit to the home after the restoration, an iris bed had been planted along the front iron fence and the granddaughters told the Hardins that irises were Granny's favorite flowers.
