Renovation work is a slow process.
It took Paula Lanham 12 years to decide on a color to paint the large foyer with winding staircase. Then her husband found the perfect shade.
"I was looking at Lowe's before the store moved to the new location and found two rugs," he said. "I told my wife she needed to look at them."
Decided on the color
When she saw the rugs, she decided on the color - teal, a dark greenish blue. The trim around the windows and doors and stair balusters is painted white.
The house has all the modern conveniences - heating and air conditioning and updated kitchen - blended in with the 1850-period furnishings.
Now 18 years later, the work continues. "We've still got a lot to do," said Tim Lanham.
The upstairs hall has a display in memory of Tim Lanham's father, Porter, who served in the Korean War.
An exhibit on a table dedicated to him has some of his military memorabilia - pictures, medals, etc.
A small room is used for an office and features a desk from the Old Bank where Porter Lanham worked for several years.
Three bedrooms and a bath also are on the second floor. The upstairs hall leads to a balcony above the front entrance.
With the house dating prior to the Civil War, it was one of the residences used as a hospital to treat soldiers after the 1862 Battle of Perryville.
The Lanhams suspect that stains on an upstairs bedroom floor are blood from wounded soldiers brought to the house after the battle.
Much of the glass is original
Several stains are near closet doors and there is evidence that former owners have tried to remove some of the stains.
Much of the house is like it was when built in the mid-1800s on a 250-acre tract by the Harberson family. However, the surrounding land was sold off, streets were added and additional houses were built in later years.
Glass in the windows is original with only a few replacements; and the exterior shutters are still intact. A portion of the trim in front of the house came from Aspen Hall in Harrodsburg.
The original mantels are still in place in most of the rooms. The wooden mantels are built in a simple style.
The Lanhams have not only worked on the interior, they uncovered a brick sidewalk that runs from the front porch to the street.
Listed as landmark
"It was covered with grass," Tim Lanham said. It took a lot of digging to remove the dirt and grass. Tim Lanham also has dug some in the backyard looking for artifacts, but only found a few square nails and pieces of dishware. One section had several rocks that appeared to be a building foundation.
Others who have owned the Harberson house are:
Edward Sandifer, 1845; J.W. Burton, 1845-50; John Briscoe, 1844-50; Robert and Margaret Walker, 1850-58; Jacob and Mary Ann Barkley, 1858-62; Benjamin Crow, 1862-67; Nelson Wingate, 1867-99; Harry G. and Della Wingate, 1889-1905; J.E. and Bettie L. Caldwell, 1905; A.C. Harberson, 1905-31; Hallie Green Harberson, 1931-71; Samuel S. Turner, 1985-87; and Walter M. and Evelyn Cummins, 1987-89.
The house is listed as the A.C. Harberson House as a Kentucky Landmark and also is on the National Register for Historic Places.
