“It’s like coming home.”
Janie Pappas, on how it feels to own the Garrard-Crittenden house on Wilkinson Street.
“The first time John and I walked in this house, it had a familiar feel,” Janie Pappas said, standing in the foyer of the Garrard-Crittenden house. Dr. John Pappas and Janie Pappas have added the three story red frame house to a collection of historic properties in central Kentucky.
Together, the couple own the John Morrison cabin and the Thomas January Hemp house in Lexington’s Gratz Park; the Clemens Caldwell house in Danville; and a cabin with spectacular views of the Kentucky River Palisades situated on land that was formerly an old distillery. Janie is involved with historic home preservation organizations on a local and national level and is a real estate agent. John has had a long career as a physician in many disciplines including internal medicine and clinical research.
The Frankfort property is particularly special to Janie because of it’s historic roots to the area, but also because her mother lived in the house for a time. A devastating fire left the Murray street home that Janie’s mother grew up in uninhabitable, so the family rented the Wilkinson street house while repairs were made. “It feels like coming home,” Janie said.
Buying homes with history
The couple enjoys buying and renovating historic houses and then offering them for short term rental, usually through Airbnb.
“Often, it gives us the opportunity to save the property,” Janie explains. “Many of our projects have had so much work to get them ready for visitors. So, it was wonderful that the Garrard-Crittenden house was already being restored and renovated when we came into the picture. Architect Jen Williamson has done such an amazing job.”
Cohlmeyer Construction was also instrumental in the renovations.
The Colonial Dames of Kentucky was approached by the owner of the house to determine whether the organization — whose mission includes preserving and restoring buildings connected with early history of the state of Kentucky — was interested in purchasing the Garrard-Crittenden house.
“The Colonial Dames executive director and I walked through the house with Jen Williamson while it was under construction,” Janie, who was then president of the group, said. “The Colonial Dames board decided they had enough to care for with Liberty Hall and the Orlando Brown House and declined to pursue it. At that point, John and I thought, ‘maybe we need another house!’”
Distinguished owners
The Garrard-Crittenden house is also known as the Hoge house because the Hoge family owned it for more than 70 years. Gov. Garrard’s daughter, Lucy Garrard Stell, owned the home until she sold it to the Hoge family in 1902. The Hoges then sold the property to the state of Kentucky in 1973. It was used as offices for various state agencies through the years; and then sold to a private party in the last few years who began to renovate it.
The house is in good company as the next door neighbor to Liberty Hall, the stately former home of Sen. John Brown. In the mid-1800s, the three story frame house was home to the relatives of two governors — Thomas Crittenden, son of Kentucky statesman, John Crittenden, who then sold the Wilkinson street residence to James H. Garrard, grandson of Kentucky’s second governor.
Unique construction style for Kentucky
While frame construction was not unusual for Kentucky during the beginning of the 19th century, it is unique that bricks were placed within the timber framing supports according to Williamson.
“The timber frame structure are mortise and tenon construction joints,” Jen said. “Every single joint had to be reinforced, I believe. It’s a bit rare to have this kind of structure here in Frankfort.”
A small open square in the wall at the back of the foyer reveals the unique construction bones of the house. “It is felt that the house is important to Kentucky history because of the unusual construction and that is what distinguishes it,” Janie remarked.
The entire house has new infrastructure including new electric and HVAC making it a comfortable place to stay with modern conveniences like internet while keeping the character of the house.
“The windows and doors are not original to the house but the floors are,” Jen said. “Restoring the floors was a top priority. We had workers down on hands and knees with paint scrapers and hand sanders to finish the floors that had been hidden for so long under plywood and carpet.”
Elegant, comfortable from top to bottom
Handsome center fireplaces have been restored on the first floor in the main parlor and the kitchen. John Pendrey Carpentry built a custom mahogany mantel patterned after an early vintage mantel from the house. Janie has selected the tasteful and pleasing decor showcased throughout the home. Comfortable chairs sit on either side of the parlor fireplace.
“I just love these chairs,” Janie commented. “I had them covered in this glorious fabric by artist Alex Mason out of Versailles. She creates amazing designs from her paintings and turns them into fabrics.”
An open staircase gracefully turns and rises from the foyer to the second and third floors. Nestled under the staircase is a convenient powder room. Light pours in through the large kitchen windows that look out toward the Kentucky River.
On the second floor is a sitting room, a full bath and two bedrooms each with matching four poster beds and charming furnishings. The third floor has two cozy bedrooms and a sleeping area at the top of the stairs.
John and Janie plan to have the fireplaces put in working order in the future as well as adding another full bathroom. Currently, there are five areas for sleeping on the second and third floors and one and a half baths in the house. “We both really like architecture and the history of the properties we buy,” John said.
“Visitors who have an appreciation for historic homes can enjoy this and our properties throughout central Kentucky,” Janie said. “We find these projects fun, and John and I enjoy doing it together. We want to use the house as a place for people to come and stay. We hope the Colonial Dames will be able to use it for gatherings and guests.
“And, it’s a wonderful place for our family and friends. It makes us feel good to be able to share this house. It’s another jewel in the crown of these historic properties that we want to save.”
For more information on the Garrard-Crittenden house and other Pappas properties, contact Dr. John Pappas at 859-312-4486.
A collection of old glassware sits on a table at the Garrard-Crittenden house, also known as the Hoge house, located on Wilkinson Street. The house has been renovated by John and Janie Pappas. (Photo by Hannah Brown)
