Holiday 2019

This year’s Christmas House has ended but celebrations will continue into 2020.

To help us celebrate our 40th Anniversary, here’s a bit of history:

In 1977, a group of dedicated and forward thinking individuals who called themselves Friends of Weymouth became incorporated with the intent to save Weymouth, home of James and Katharine Boyd.

Admiral I.J. Galantin, elected the first president of Friends of Weymouth, spearheaded the campaign to buy the estate. He and retired Navy Captain Raymond Kotlra contacted the National Trust for the Preservation of Historic Houses and the Nature Conservancy for their assistance in preserving the surrounding pine tree forest.

Sam Ragan, editor and publisher of The Pilot newspaper used his influence with former North Carolina governors, Bob Scott and Terry Sanford to pursue funding.

Funding for the purchase of the Boyd house with twenty surrounding acres was taken up by the sister of statesman Adlai Stevenson, Mrs. Elizabeth “Buffie” Ives who directed fund-raising events leading to the eventual purchase. The appearance of “Lady Bird” Johnson at a benefit luncheon at the Country Club of North Carolina was the singular most productive fund-raising event. It helped to bring the $300,000 asking price to within a possible goal.

New and exciting events are planned for 2020! Keep an eye on this site and watch for posts on social media.