Statesville, NC – March 6, 2016
There is a sense of excitement and sadness at Statesville’s Historic Sharpe House. The sadness stems from the impending end of the PBS Masterpiece series Downton Abbey. The show has served as inspiration for the Gilded Age style of service executed during events hosted at the Victorian home of our city’s first mayor. The excitement comes from news from the general manager of Charlotte’s PBS station WTVI; they will partner with the Sharpe House, “A Farewell to Downton.”
“PBS Charlotte is thrilled to be working with the Historic Sharpe House in Statesville to pay tribute to one of our favorite series Downton Abbey,” said PBS Charlotte General Manager Amy Burkett. “It’ll be an exciting way to say farewell to this beloved program by spending the evening with good friends and enjoying great food in a gorgeous home representing this historic period.”
Sunday evening March 6 guests will meet at the Historic Sharpe House at 5:30 for the Amuse of hors d’ oeuvres, wine and punch and then proceed to the Statesville Civic Center next door. There they will have the opportunity for photos with images of their favorite characters from the show, and a backdrop of Highclere Castle before having a formal six course dinner, created by Gluttons Restaurant and Bar, and Crowning Events of The Sharpe House.
The Civic Center will be set and decorated by Events Unlimited and with memorabilia from Dr. Steve Hill’s Statesville Historical Collection. Many citizens of the area are loaning beautiful period pieces to help achieve the look of Downton.
Keith Rhyne has been a site manager and event coordinator in the Statesville area since 2006 at both Darshana Hall Plantation and The Historic Sharpe House. “The events that I coordinate and execute for my clients are based on true service. A guest should go through a buffet only once if that is the style of the event. Beverages should be poured, used plates should be removed, desserts, should be brought on silver trays. At the plantation, we did all of that wearing khakis and polo shirts. It is while watching an episode of Downton Abbey that I realized our style was similar…we just needed to change the uniform to white tie and tails. The rest is now Sharpe House standard!”
The event is being held to raise funds for both The Silas Alexander Sharpe Foundation and for WTVI PBS Charlotte, to help keep quality programming coming from our local PBS station and a historic site where it can be experienced. Tickets are $100 per person and may be purchased by calling 704-682-7508 or at The Sharpe House Tuesday through Thursday 9AM to 5PM.
