Our Tour and Good Times

An update to yesterday's post: Chuck the maintenance guy for the Jefferson Center, which manages the Thurber House and neighboring properties, is a terrific tour guide. He met us again at the Thurber House at 4:15 p.m. EST - shortly after my brother called to confirm the Chicago Bear's commanding victory over the Carolina Panthers.

Go Bears!

Chuck took the time to make our tour special and I was as much impressed with his generosity as I was with the Thurber facilities. The restored Victorian was reopened to the public in 1984 and was redecorated with the help of James' younger brother Robert as well as a Sears Roebuck catalog from 1913 to demonstrate the typical middle-class furnishings from that period. The piano in the parlor had a music sheet from one of James' favorite songs, "Bye, Bye Blackbird," which I noticed immediately. It was a nice touch.

One upstairs room is now a museum of Thurber mementos including pictures and letters as well as examples of his elegantly simple, gracefully funny cartoons. I was also impressed with a collection of his books translated into the many languages of the world. That James Thurber's body of work is so regarded worldwide is especially impressive when you step into his old, sparse bedroom with its second-floor view of Columbus and an approximation of the world as he knew it way back then.

The refurbished Thurber House is a fine tribute to the man and his family, and the Thurber Center next door is impressive as well. Both, though, seem to call out for more utilization. The gift shop had some nice goodies (we spent $60+) but, frankly, my collection of James Thurber books at home is more in-depth. I was hoping to buy a new copy of my favorite book, "Thurber Country," to no avail.

When you rely on volunteers to run the house who both forget to lock when they leave one day and forget to show up the next, that's a clue that other problems are in play. Though it was less than a mile from the hotel, the desk staff at the Renaissance seemingly had not heard of the Thurber House and it was not listed in the in-room guide to area activities (though the staff did look up the home and print out directions for us). The bell captain volunteered he did live on Thurber Street, however.

The Thurber House neighborhood reflects the inner city challenges that many other communities the size of Columbus face. However, the Jefferson Center concept of taking a historic neighborhood, refurbishing the homes and then opening doors to non-profit groups is both novel and spectacular.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience - and yielded new stories for me to tell for ages. That's what a literary hero's home should do for those who visit. My thanks to Chuck for the tour - and everyone responsible for establishing this wonderful landmark. My hope for the Thurber House is a revitalized presence in Columbus - and beyond!

Next stop: Corning, N.Y.

More later,


Mark