The merry month of May brings the Derby, weddings, flowers in bloom and all things lovely about our fair State of Kentucky. The cold weather fades from memory and folks head out to enjoy trips and overnight adventures. South of Louisville and Elizabethtown, in the little town of Sonora, are two treasures: a welcoming Guest Home and Tea House. I traveled to Claudia's Tea Room & the Thurman-Phillips Historic Guest Home for tea, good food and relaxation.
The history of the lovely Bed and Breakfast dates back to William Phillips, who had eight sons and relocated from The Hermitage, near Nashville, Tennessee, to Hardin County in 1820. The Phillips established and prospered local farming and businesses. William Phillip's grandson-Josiah Phillips, Jr.-built the two-story Victorian home in 1897 with some 200,000 handmade bricks. The home stood vacant after 1968.
Over three decades later, undamaged by storms and not vandalized, Charlie and Claudia Thurman hired renovator Tony Vance to restore the family home. The 11-month long restoration commenced in 2002 and in January of 2003 the Thurman's welcomed guests to both the historic home and later to the Tea Room next door.
The Thurman-Phillips Historic Home is listed on the National Historic Register. Renovators found a unique foundation with a glass wall 1/8 inch thick by 16 inches wide. The glass foundation deters both insects and moisture migration. The home amazingly has 90 percent of its original furnishings, including a family Bible, sales ledgers, the original parlor (now a downstairs bedroom) and an iron and brass bed that has been in the family for 150 years. The ceilings soar to ten feet high, and the original dining room was converted into a very comfy den. The den has shelves with period books. The home even has original paintings by the daughters of Josiah Phillips, Jr. The interior brick walls are three bricks thick.
The home has modern conveniences such as a hot tub, and boasts five bedrooms. There is a marvelous, sunny back atrium with a piano and cheerful dÈcor. Several porches allow maximum opportunity for enjoying the outdoor view and small town ambiance. I woke up to hear an Amish buggy clip-clop down the street toward the town center. Everywhere in and around the home begs discoveries about the original inhabitants. For example, one bed is constructed from architectural elements rescued from the remodeling work. It has back porch posts, window shutters-from windows that were enclosed by the remodel-and balcony railings. The 1820 Grandfather clock is off the main front stairs.
The Tea Room is a one-story, cheerful white frame house built in 1880. Walking from the Historic Home kitchen takes one through the enclosed patio to the Tea Room. Remodeling the Tea Room was also a labor of love. Claudia reported that it took ten times sanding the floors to recover the natural green look to the poplar wood floorboards. The Tea Room has tall ceilings, wide base boards and pleasing murals by Sherrill Williams. Claudia noted that over 6,000 people have come to their Tea Room or Historic Home. They host and serve meals for celebrations of all kinds, weddings, business events, holiday parties, receptions and more. Claudia has several recipes (Ham and Asparagus Phyllo Rolls and Spicy Egg Salad Sandwiches) featured in Gary P. West's culinary book Eating Your Way across Kentucky-the recipes are on pages 46-47.
From their years in New Orleans, both Claudia and Charlie are excellent cooks of Cajun meals. Since it was a winter day when we visited, we requested and were served homemade chili. The dining room has a glass chandelier and silver cutlery. When we left, Claudia pointed us toward some antique shops in Sonora. We drove a few blocks back in town to find some reasonably priced chairs and shelves. More antique shops are just north in Glendale, Ky., and there are numerous additional nearby attractions.
For reservations and more information call (270) 949-1880 or 949-1897. Or visit their website at http://www.claudiastearoom.com/Thurman-Phillips.html. You may also send an email to claudias@bbtel.com. Tours of the Historic Home are $5 for adults and $3 for children.
Enjoy your day trips!
To get there
To get there from Lexington, take Versailles Road out to the Bluegrass Parkway. Drive for a bit over 70 miles toward Elizabethtown. Merge onto Interstate 65 south and travel for 13 miles to Exit 81 at Sonora. Turn right off the exit ramp onto Western Avenue, proceed over the railroad tracks, past Main and Locust Streets to turn right on Broadway. The Tea and Guest Homes are located at 103 Broadway Street, Sonora, KY., 42776-9773. They are at the corner of Western and Broadway. You can also stay on Western just past Broadway to turn into their other driveway for parking.