A Season of Renewal: The Historic Sharpe House Celebrates 160 Years with the Tenth Annual Easter Tea and Egg Hunt

Mar 23

This spring marks a meaningful moment for the Historic Sharpe House. As the home enters its 160th year overlooking South Center Street in Statesville, it also prepares to welcome guests for one of its most cherished traditions: the Tenth Annual Easter Tea and Egg Hunt, taking place Saturday, March 28th.

For many in the community, the Sharpe House is more than a landmark, it is a living reminder of Statesville’s early growth, architectural heritage, and the generations of families who have gathered within its walls. This year’s celebration arrives at a time of reawakening for the property, following the beginning of important repairs and renewed attention to the house and grounds.

Honoring a Decade of Tradition

The Easter Tea has become one of the home’s signature public events over the past decade, offering guests the opportunity to experience the elegance of a traditional afternoon tea inside a restored 19th-century residence. The tradition began ten years ago through the efforts of local event planner Heather Krumroy and has continued to grow in popularity with each passing spring.

This year’s gathering also recognizes the fifteen-year tenure of Site Manager Keith Rhyne, whose steady stewardship has helped guide the Sharpe House through years of preservation work, public programming, and community engagement.

Tea, Service, and the Sharpe House Footmen

Guests attending the tea will be seated in one of three traditional afternoon seatings and served a curated menu of savory tea sandwiches, pastries, and premium long-leaf tea. The service itself remains a hallmark of the experience. Continuing a long-standing tradition by the Footmen of the Sharpe House who are now in their sixth generation will continue to oversee the setup and formal service, maintaining the standards of etiquette and hospitality associated with the home’s earliest years.

Through these details, the event offers more than just refreshments; it provides a window into the customs and rhythms of social life in the late 19th century.

An Easter Tradition for Families

Following each tea service, the celebration will continue outdoors as children gather on the lawn for the annual Easter Egg Hunt. The hunt has become a favorite for younger guests and reflects the Sharpe House’s ongoing effort to remain a welcoming place for families as well as history enthusiasts.

**New Partnerships for a Historic Future**
The 2026 season also marks the beginning of a new chapter in the Sharpe House’s preservation story. A strategic collaboration with HEARTS Collaborative has been formed to support long-term planning, public engagement, and historical interpretation for the property.
HEARTS Collaborative’s mission is to connect, share, and sustain the region’s historic places which aligns closely with the ongoing needs of the Sharpe House. Together, the organizations are working to expand research, strengthen digital archives, and ensure that the history of the home is accessible to both current residents and future generations.

As part of this effort, the Sharpe House’s website is being developed into a central hub for historical information, photographs, and community memories. Residents who have family connections to the house or who possess historic photographs and documents are encouraged to contribute to this growing archive, helping to build a more complete and inclusive record of the site’s past.

Looking Ahead

Events like the Easter Tea serve as reminders that historic preservation is not only about maintaining structures but also about sustaining traditions and creating new memories within old spaces. Each gathering adds another layer to the Sharpe House’s long history connecting its past and present in a way that written records alone cannot capture.

As guests arrive this Saturday to take tea, stroll the grounds, and watch children search for hidden eggs, they will be participating in a tradition that reflects both continuity and change: a 160-year-old home continuing to evolve while remaining a constant presence in the life of the community.