Celebrate Loved Ones at Körners Folly for Valentine’s Day

By Brittany Hendley

In February of 1884, a bright and energetic woman from Winston, North Carolina received an anonymous Valentine postmarked from the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. Knowing no other person to be in that city at the time, Polly Alice Masten took a risk and sent Julius “Jule” Gilmer Körner of Kernersville a letter inquiring about the Valentine she received.

As it was known throughout the area that Jule was working on an innovative exhibition for The World’s Industrial and Cotton Centennial Exposition in New Orleans at the time, Polly Alice was correct in her guess! Over the next two years, the pair kept up a written correspondence that blossomed into romance. Before departing the Exposition to return home to Kernersville, Jule purchased an additional item: a stunning red velvet traveling vanity case from the French Pavilion. This beautiful gift solidified his intentions to win Polly Alice’s hand, and the two married a year later in 1886, after which the newlyweds settled into their new home of “Körner’s Folly.”

Designed and built by Kernersville native Jule Körner in 1880 as a living catalogue for his interior design firm, Körner’s Folly evolved over time into an unforgettable example of eclectic Victorian-era architecture and American ingenuity. Jule’s marriage to Polly Alice sparked one of the biggest changes in the style and floorplan of the house. Electing to raise their two children at Körner’s Folly rather than to build a new structure, the two embarked upon a large-scale renovation of the home in 1891. This renovation enclosed the original open central carriageway, relocated the home’s stables and haylofts, and created additional living spaces to meet the needs of their future family plans.

To honor Jule and Polly Alice’s love story, Körner’s Folly will host the 2nd Annual St. Valentine’s Family Celebration on Saturday, February 15 from 10 am – 4 pm. This exciting event will focus on this season of love and the ways in which people in the Victorian era celebrated one of their favorite holidays!

Historically, Valentine’s Day has been associated with love, inspired by the mythology of the ancient Roman festival celebrating Juno, the goddess of marriage, and was further popularized by Shakespeare and Chaucer. However, it was the Victorians who made it into the more commercial holiday we know today. Körner’s Folly, with its whimsical and extravagantly decorated interiors, is the perfect backdrop to learn about 19th and early 20th century holiday traditions.

This event will help visitors of all ages discover the lightheartedness of a Victorian-era Valentine’s Day and get the whole family involved in hands-on activities and fun. Visitors who attend the St. Valentine’s Family Celebration will enjoy a self-guided tour of the 22-room historic house museum with an all-new Valentine’s themed scavenger hunt and hands-on activities. There will be special collection objects on view, including the exquisite “pillow” Valentine Jule Körner sent to his future wife Polly Alice Masten, the lace fan their daughter Doré Körner carried on the day she married Lanier Donnell on the lawn at Körner’s Folly in 1916, and the traveling vanity case Jule purchased as a declaration of love to his future bride. Visitors can also listen to music by the great Romantic musical composers of the period while on tour and learn about their influence on the music Victorians enjoyed!

This year, we are able to incorporate the new John & Bobbie Wolfe Visitors Center into our Valentine’s festivities! In the Community Room, visitors of all ages can create their very own Valentine just as the Victorians did over 150 years ago with lace, ribbons, beautiful papers, stickers, and other decorative items. Visitors are encouraged to bring a photo of a loved one, such as a family member or pet, to use in their artwork.

Complimentary hot chocolate, as well as sweet treats, will also be available in the Community Room from 10 am – 4 pm. Visitors are invited to learn about floriography, the Victorian language of flowers, and make their own mini flower bouquets, also known as “tussie-mussies” to give as gifts or to take home.
All activities and refreshments are included in the regular admission price. Adult tickets are $12, tickets for children ages 6-18 are $6, and tickets for visitors ages 5 and under are free. The historic house museum and Visitors Center will be open from 10 am – 4 pm, with the last entry time at 3 pm to ensure a leisurely exploration.

Online ticket reservations for Saturday, February 15, can be made by visiting our website at kornersfolly.org. Same-day tickets may be purchased inside the Visitors Center at the reception desk. Visitor parking is located at the John & Bobbie Wolfe Visitors Center, located at 401 S. Main Street, Kernersville, North Carolina. For parking, accessibility questions, or navigation assistance, call the office at 336-996-7922.

For more information about Körner’s Folly and the programs offered throughout the year, visit us at kornersfolly.org.

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