Open to the public

CHARLESTON, Mo. — One of Charleston’s most well-known homes will be open to the public during this weekend’s 50th Annual Dogwood-Azalea Festival.

The former home of Missouri First Lady and state representative Betty Hearnes of Charleston and the late Gov. Warren Hearnes is the highlight of Mississippi County Historical Society’s home tours set for 1 to 4 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

A New Madrid County native, Angie Fitzgerald said she and her husband, Riley, purchased the residence located along East Marshall Street in 2015. After undergoing a 10-month renovation, the couple will open their home to the public for the first time this weekend.

Tickets for the home tour are $10 and must be purchased at the Mississippi County Historical Society, 403 N. Main St., in Charleston.

Constructed in 1966, the home’s original owners were Warren and Betty Hearnes. Angie Fitzgerald noted Hearnes served as the 46th governor of Missouri from 1965 to 1973.

The tour will consist of the residence’s main level which includes a sitting room, living room, kitchen, office, dining room, bedroom and the spiral stair case in the entry way.

“We wanted it to be pretty, functional and something the kids can enjoy,” Fitzgerald said of her home, adding between the two, she and her husband have three sons and five grandchildren.

Fitzgerald said she will offer a brief history and facts about the home.

Those who tour the home will also see the home’s swimming pool and outdoor space as well as Fitzgerald’s husband’s, massive man cave located behind the residence. The man cave features custom-made pieces and wood carvings and accents hand-picked to suit her husband’s and family’s style, Fitzgerald said.

The Moore home, an 1899 Victorian country home, is also included with the Historical Society’s Home Tour admission. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the seventeen room house contains seven fireplaces and is fully furnished  including the original dining room furniture and gas chandelier.

The Mississippi County Historical Society’s featured artist for the Dogwood-Azalea Festival is photographer Rosemary Showmaker. A retired educator from Charleston R-1 School District and a lifetime resident of Charleston, Showmaker’s work will be displayed for public viewing through Sunday at the Moore home.

Many of Showmaker’s photos include scenery and landscapes of Charleston. For example, one of the very first pictures she took was of “Til’s Corner” which is located adjacent to Rolwing Park. This corner flower garden was the first in town and was planted and maintained by Til Moran who was a prominent gardener in town. Her photograph of the garden was chosen by the Chamber of Commerce in 2009 to appear on the Festival brochure, and her work has appeared on several other Festival brochures and T-shirts throughout the years.

Another of Showmaker’s special photos, “Main Street,” was chosen to appear on a billboard advertisement for the annual festival. That same photo appeared in a publication of The Wall Street Journal. Her work was also featured on the Foders website showcasing Charleston as one of the best places to visit in the Spring.

In addition to photographing scenery and landscapes she also takes pictures of families, friends, historical places and events. A personal adventure she undertook one year was taking a sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean and a sunset over the Pacific.

Showmaker will also have many photos displayed from the ice storm of 2009 and the flood of 2011.

For more information, visit the Mississippi County Historical Society’s Facebook page.