SILER CITY – The circuitous route that took Kathy Nail from the windswept plains of her birthplace in Wichita, Kansas, to her new home on West Elk Street in Siler City did not stop within a country mile of Mayberry.
Nail’s actual stops – Cairo, Bangkok, London, the Isle of Man, and most recently, Los Angeles – were much more exotic than the fictional hometown of the folksy North Carolina sheriff, his precocious, freckled son, and dowdy housekeeper known to everyone. at home, even her ancestors, as “Aunt Bee.”
In the living room of the royal three-story brick house where the actress Frances Bavier, Mayberry Bee’s real aunt, lived and died, however, Nail makes an admission: she is as interested as anyone in all Mayberry thing.
But she loves – loves – Aunt Bee’s house.
And for the record, it wasn’t Frances Bavier’s or Aunt Bee’s heritage that drew her to Siler City. It was the town itself.
“I didn’t really care who lived there,” says Nail. “I loved the house.”
Aunt Bee’s B&B?
A nail salon, at 503 West Elk, has attracted curious people for years. “Andy Griffith Show” fans to Mount Airy sometimes make the 90-minute drive to Siler City to see Bavier’s grave site at Oakwood Cemetery, off U.S. as “Mayberry” tourists. Hwy. 64. Some of those know about Bavier’s house, just a minute away, and drive by.
And some of them think that, of course: Why not? After shooting some obligatory pictures from the street or the front yard, they knocked on the door.
Can we come inside, they ask? Maybe look around?
Ingne, who is 68, gets it. She became an Egyptologist after being raised in Kansas, and eventually worked in Cairo for two decades. She knows a thing or two about antiquities, and the trip of a lifetime has given her refined nostalgia.
Evidence can be found throughout her new home, which she first learned was for sale exactly one year ago this week: among the tractor-trailer and a half full of personal items she shipped to Siler City from her triplex in LA after she got the house. a huge collection of vintage and ephemeral toys and games of all kinds — including, for example, the world’s second largest book collection of “Big Boy” restaurant games and memorabilia, some dating back more than 60 years , as well as collections of water pistols and marshmallow shooters.
Nail also knows the impact “TV houses” can have on fans. She lived only five minutes from the property known as the Brady Bunch house, which is always shown in long outdoor shots on the 70s sitcom of the same name. And a relatively recent discovery: Nail’s former home near North Hollywood was also just five minutes from the town where Bavier lived before she moved to Siler City in 1972.
So as a new owner and occupant, Nail is mulling, as she works on renovation plans for the house, about opening it up as a bed & breakfast — or, alternatively, as an official tourist destination — for fans of “The Andy Griffith” show who remember, and love, Aunt Bee. Her own labor of love
First, it will require work. As that begins in earnest, however, this summer’s focus has been on the yard – a labor of love, but still, labour: Ingne says she’s lost 35 pounds in the past few months working. by hand to clear property of brush, tree stumps, unsightly boxwood and saplings, and in secret ways to find hidden stones and generally spruce and clean up the yard. Together with her right-hand man, Robert Jones of Pittsboro, they have been working in the heat to remove, according to her, about 250 trees; Joyce and Earle Stout’s new friends are frequent guests and help out as well.
“It was a mess,” Nail said. “At least now the grass in the back yard gets some sunlight.”
As for the house: “It needs a lot of Band-Aids,” she says.
And a bit of surgery, too. Part of a big.
In addition to the cost of the acquisition, Ingne estimates she will have to spend about $250,000 on improvements and repairs, which have a long list. High on that list: new wiring, shortening the kitchen and master bathroom and an extensive basement renovation, when Dr. J.B. Earle and his horticultural wife on the site of exquisite parties thrown by the original owners and occupants of the house. commitment to beauty Nail wants to be resurrected in the yard.
The dual focus of the effort: first, to bring the house back more in line with its original appearance, when the Earls built it – although it has been modernized (for example, to put an Italian Nail gas stove in the kitchen) . And secondly, adding Nail’s own unique touch – perfect for what her California friends described as “Kathyland.” These include plans for an old-fashioned sitting room, creating space (perhaps in the attic) for a toy museum and perhaps even putting a dressing course on one part of the exposed roof. (Not to mention refurbishing the outdoor bench Bavier knew he was sitting on and revealing a large mural painted over it in a dining area. Nail work is also underway to replace brass door hardware. found to match what was once there; she says a previous owner thought brass “looked dirty.”)
It seems that the price tag is not to be relied upon. If Nail’s outrageously expensive LA triplex, which is now under contract, sells, it will be delicious.
It’s a big job for this landmark of Siler City. Construction began on the massive house – including the basement and porches, it is about 9,000 square feet – in 1951. A Greensboro architect named J.J. designed it. Croft Jr., who designed several others along the same street in that part of Siler City. Dr. Earle was a prominent physician in the town, and it was the town’s New Orleans-style architecture that first caught Nail’s attention.
While watching a trivia show on TV, no less.
‘A piece of history’
A nail seems to be always going forward in history. After spending those 20 years in Cairo, she switched careers to teaching English as a second language and trained English teachers in Thailand, where she spent another five years.
While there, she earned much of her own fame after playing a major role in the capture of one of the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” fugitives: Eric Rosser, who was the keyboardist in the rocker’s band. Once John Cougar Mellencamp. Rosser, a child predator wanted for his involvement in the production and distribution of child pornography, was in one of his classes; with the help of her intervention, he was arrested in Bangkok in August 2001 and is now in prison in Colorado. (“He wanted to be an English teacher so he would have more access to kids,” said Nail, who has written about 400 pages of a manuscript about the experience that she plans to publish.)
Language, another artifact of life, became important to her. From Thailand, Nail moved to London after being offered a job running an English school there. She also ran a B&B. Always curious, she would occasionally pop into film sets around London and Great Britain in her spare time, watching films being made. During one of those periods, she noticed a paltry craft service table — where food and drinks were set out for actors and crew.
“And I thought, ‘Oh, no — just a big 10-gallon tea thing and some cookies?'” she recalled. “I thought, I can do better than that.”
So she did, eventually starting a craft service business on the Isle of Man – a very successful venture, she says, that fell apart after she discovered her business partner was running out of company money.
That’s when she decided to move back stateside to Los Angeles, and start a craft service business there – and LA is also where she met her late husband, Walter.
He was a veteran in Vietnam before starting a career as an HVAC engineer for AT&T. Nail helped take care of his sick mother, and then did the same for Walter when his health began to decline. At the time of his death, in 2015, the couple was living in one unit of a triplex they had purchased, renting out the other two for income. (He made the trip to Siler City, too – his ashes in an urn in a place of honor in Nail’s office, along with memorabilia from his career and their life together.)
She ended up owning the three units of the place in Los Angeles, tired of making repairs after the tenants trashed the places. And finally, one night, a year ago this week, Nail’s revelation of Bavier House came three segments on a TV quiz show after a commentator’s remark about a chance to “own a piece of history”.
That history was 503 West Elk, where Aunt Bee retired.
“I fell in love with him,” Nail said. “I got a real estate agent and had him come over and make an offer. And there you go.”
‘Every room has a story’
She didn’t spend her first night until December, and it wasn’t long before she began to discover what previous owners had.
“You know, people are trying to come over … drive by to take a picture of the house,” Nail said. “And some people ask if they can see it. Of course they can – I don’t mind.”
She grew up watching The Andy Griffith Show, and knew about Bavier — that she was from New York City [see sidebar story] and that she became famous for her portrayal of the fictional housekeeper Mayberry. After moving in, Nail later learned more, especially from neighbors and friends like Joe and Jane McEvoy, Bennie and Trudy Walters, and longtime resident Ed Spence.
The relentless Nail is actively researching Siler City, the Earle family and the house, building a bank of information that will come in handy, especially when the curious stop by.
Steve and Wanda Cape three weeks ago went on vacation with their daughter, Heather, from their home in Chattanooga. Steve, a pastor, said the curious trio had visited Bavier’s grave site and searched online to see if they could find Aunt Bee’s house.
“To our surprise, we were only about a mile and a half away,” he said. “We put the address into GPS, and we were there within a minute. Kathy was out doing yard work and invited us in to see her house.” The Capes toured the house, learning from the curious Ingne about its history, a bit about Bavier, and the pre-Bavier history of the place as well (as well as the fact that the Earls, the original owners of the house, have long been from Bavier at Oakwood Cemetery).
“Every room had a story to tell,” said Rinn. “The beautiful house has a very difficult theme. We were very happy to visit the house of a famous and beloved actress, but the history was more attractive. Kathy has these wonderful plans to turn it into a beautifully preserved B&B for others to enjoy.”
When you join Nail on a trip, you’ll have the chance to drink some of her discoveries. The 11-foot ceilings, the crystal chandeliers, and the fact that each room has two entrances, meaning you can tour the entire structure without turning around, are just part of its appeal. She also carefully placed evidence of Bavier’s life – and Aunt Bee’s – here and there inside the house, along with artefacts and mementos from her own life. Everywhere you look, there is something to interest you.
Visitors also hear a debunking of some of the more untold stories about Bavier and his eccentricities.
“Some of the things people say about her are incredible,” Nail said. “So she had 75 cats … No, she didn’t. All the neighbors around here knew her. Some people said she was mean. No, she wasn’t. She was very nice to everyone. It was the people who came up to block her that made her cranky. There were times she didn’t like to worry.”
Nail says that the “nice” curious people come, and the “strange.” She confronts them all, using her gift of understanding to determine who is worthy of a tour and who is not. The Capes were They made the trip from Tennessee to Mount Airy, and they were polite.
“And Wanda said, ‘Can we take a picture of the house?’ And I go, ‘Sure you can.’ And she said, ‘Can we come in and look?’ And I go, ‘Sure you can.’ she asked, ‘How much does it cost?’ And I said, ‘Nothing.'” The joy of her visitors at being in Aunt Bee’s house was repaid with a vengeance; why not spread it?
She’s not quite settled on what the future holds for the house on West Elk Street. But Nail has been there, and in Siler City, long enough to figure out one thing – something Bavier has also learned.
“I love Siler City,” she said. “It’s the best place I’ve ever lived.”
Bill Horner III can be reached at bhorner3@chathamnr.com or @billthethird.
Joanna Moore loved working on ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ “I loved the Griffith show more than anything else I’ve ever done,” she said. “Everyone on the show is so nice. The show is well organized and there is no rush.
Who is Don Knott’s daughter?
Why did Don Knotts daughter leave his deathbed? “He was literally dying, but he did something or said something that made my stepmother and I laugh, and that’s why I ran out. I thought to myself, ‘ I don’t want to be standing in front of this man, my loving father, who is dying, and laughing.’â
Did Don Knotts have a daughter named Karen?
Karen Knotts is the daughter of Morgantown native Don Knotts, whose entertainment career took him to Hollywood and beyond after graduating from West Virginia University in 1948. Don Knotts had many famous roles, but he is best known as Andy Griffith’s sidekick, Barney Fife on â. The Andy Griffith Show.â
What was Don Knotts last words?
Although his last words were not recorded, Knott’s Daughter, Karen Knotts, recalls that she had to leave the room to laugh. Longtime friend and co-star Andy Griffith was at Knott’s bedside during his final moments. Griffith gave Knotts words of encouragement, saying “Jess (real name Don), breathe.
What were Don Knotts last words?
Although his last words were not recorded, Knott’s Daughter, Karen Knotts, recalls that she had to leave the room to laugh. Longtime friend and co-star Andy Griffith was at Knott’s bedside during his final moments. Griffith gave Knotts words of encouragement, saying “Jess (real name Don), breathe.
How was Don Knotts written off The Andy Griffith Show?
Knotts asked to be written out of scripts Eventually, he asked to be written out of four scripts a year so he could catch his breath.â Knotts’ absences from the show were usually explained as Barney being on vacation at the YMCA with scripts. in Raleigh, NC.
What did Barney Fife always say?
Barney: (chanting for good luck) Come, fish, come. Come, fish, come.
What does the P stand for in Barney Fife name?
Full name. Bernard P. Milton Oliver Fife. Job. Mayberry Sheriff’s Office (Former Deputy Sheriff)
What does it mean to be called Barney Fife? Calling a police officer or authority figure “Barney Fife” is an American slang term for gross ineptitude or over-eagerness. A notable example occurred during the Scott Peterson case, in which the defendant’s mother referred to the local police captain as “Barney Fife”.
What did Barney Fife call Andy?
In many episodes, Barney refers to Andy Taylor as “Ange.” That was Don Knotts’ real nickname for Andy Griffith, shortening Andy and Griffith to “Ange.”
What was Barney’s full name on Andy Griffith?
Continuity. The yearbook lists Barney’s name as “Bernard Milton Fife” but often throughout the series, he refers to himself as “Barney P. Fife.” It is established that Andy and Barney graduated in 1945.
What does Barney call Andy?
Barney often calls Andy “Ange” on the show as a nickname, but what’s really interesting is that Knotts also called Griffith in real life. Just together “Andy” and “Griffith!”
Why does Barney call Andy and?
If his name was Andy, why did Barney call his friend “Ange”? “Ange” was Don Knotts’ real-life nickname for Andy Griffith. It was just a form of “Andy” and “Griffith” joined together.
What did Barney Fife always say?
Barney: (chanting for good luck) Come, fish, come. Come, fish, come.
What does Barney call Andy?
Barney often calls Andy “Ange” on the show as a nickname, but what’s really interesting is that Knotts also called Griffith in real life. Just together “Andy” and “Griffith!”
What is Barney’s middle name?
Barney’s full name is Bernard Milton Fife, contradicting his middle name Oliver in A Plaque for Mayberry (1961).
What is Barney’s full name?
Barnabus Stinson is a fictional character portrayed by Neil Patrick Harris and created by Carter Bays and Craig Thomas for the CBS television series How I Met Your Mother (2005–2014). One of the main characters of the show, Barney is known for his brash, manipulative and opinionated personality.
What were Don Knotts last words?
Although his last words were not recorded, Knott’s Daughter, Karen Knotts, recalls that she had to leave the room to laugh. Longtime friend and co-star Andy Griffith was at Knott’s bedside during his final moments. Griffith gave Knotts words of encouragement, saying “Jess (real name Don), breathe.
How is Aunt Bee related to Andy and Opie?
On the show, Bavier portrayed Aunt Bee, the hot woman who helped Andy Taylor raise his son Opie.
What happened to Opie’s mother on the Andy Griffith Show? In the backdoor pilot episode of The Danny Thomas Show, viewers learn that Andy lost Opie’s mother when the boy was “the tiniest speck of a baby.” Opie, whose turtle died when someone stepped on it, asked, “Who stepped on Ma?” Andy was referred to as a widow several times in the show which would indicate that Opie’s…
What is Opie short for on The Andy Griffith Show?
See More. ‘The Andy Griffith Show’ was the 60th most watched TV programme. In 2016. According to Howard himself, who once explained the origin of the name to Jay Leno, Opie was named after the bandleader and actress Opal “Opie” Taft Cates, a popular clarinetist from the Arkansas swing era.
What is the full form of Opie?
Acronym. Definition. OPIE. Open Palmtop Integrated Environment (window manager for Linux on PDAs)
What is Opie short for SOA?
Harry “Opie” Winston is a fictional character on the FX television series Sons of Anarchy, played by Ryan Hurst. He was a member of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, the son of SAMCRO co-founder Piney, a member of SAMCRO, and Jax’s best friend since childhood. Harry “Opie” Winston. Sons of Anarchy character.
What was Aunt Bee’s real name?
| Frances Bavier | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frances Elizabeth Bavier December 14, 1902 Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | December 6, 1989 (age 86) Siler City, North Carolina, U.S. |
What was Aunt Bee’s full name?
Black and white seasons (1960-1965) Aunt Bee, whose full name is Beatrice Taylor, is the great-aunt of the widowed sheriff Andy Taylor and the great-aunt of his son Opie Taylor.
Did Frances Bavier dislike Andy Griffith?
Trivia (143) Neither Andy Griffith nor Frances Bavier were good during the series. According to Griffith and Howard Morris, Bavier was extremely sensitive, and resented her role as Aunt Bee. In 1972 Griffith and Ron Howard visited her at her home in Siler City, NC, but she turned away from them.
Did Andy Griffith and Aunt Bee get along?
Andy Griffith and Frances Bavier were not as good during the series. According to Griffith and Howard Morris, Bavier was extremely sensitive, and resented her role as Aunt Bee. In 1972 Griffith and Ron Howard visited her at her home in Siler City, NC, but she turned away from them.
Why didn’t Elinor Donahue and Andy Griffith get along?
The actress, Elinor Donahue, later admitted that she felt like she and Andy Griffith didn’t have enough chemistry to portray a believable couple on screen, so she decided to leave the show. Andy later took the blame and said he wasn’t very good at showing affection while being filmed.
Did Aunt Bee and Andy like each other?
Aunt Bee and Andy’s love for each other showed through the screen and was one of the most desired parts of the show. But the real life Andy (Griffith), did not get as well as Bavier. The two remained locked in an ordeal until Bavier died of congestive heart failure.
How much did Aunt Bee make on The Andy Griffith Show?
In episode 10 of the sixth season, Aunt Bee scored $4800 worth of prizes on a game show. Among her lucky runs was a dishwasher and a full-length mink coat, which she didn’t hesitate to show off to her neighbors in Mayberry.
Who did Aunt Bee leave her money to? The answer, happily, is no, she did. When Aunt Bee died, she started a $100,000 trust fund for Siler City’s best. The principal is kept at that amount, said Finance Director Roy Lynch, and the interest is divided between a staff of about 20 each year around December 15 – a Christmas bonus from Mayberry.
How much did Don Knotts make on The Andy Griffith Show?
Don Knotts had no ownership of the Griffith Show. Concealing their enthusiasm to sign him, the producers offered him one season, then a five-year contract, starting at $1,250 per episode, or about $35,000 a year.
Did Don Knotts quit The Andy Griffith Show?
Fife made all the difference.” Fife was on The Andy Griffith Show from the show’s inception in 1960 until 1965, when Knotts left the show to pursue a career in feature films. detective in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Who gets royalties from Andy Griffith show?
W.W. Answer: “All the actors from the show received standard residuals as set by the Screen Actors Guild at the time, generally for the original broadcast and six reruns for regular cast members,” said Jim Clark, co-author of â The Andy Griffith Show Bookâ and âPresiding Goober Emeritusâ of the show’s fan club.
Why did Andy Taylor and Aunt Bee not get along?
Trivia (144) Neither Andy Griffith nor Frances Bavier were good during the series. According to Griffith and Howard Morris, Bavier was extremely sensitive, and resented her role as Aunt Bee. In 1972 Griffith and Ron Howard visited her at her home in Siler City, NC, but she turned away from them.
Did Ron Howard get along with Andy?
Griffith himself told Closer that while Howard didn’t think of him as a father figure, he felt they were true friends. And Griffith’s daughter, Dixie Griffith, said: â[Andy Griffith] loved [Ron Howard] very, very much. They had a great and lasting respect for each other, and they remained friends until the end.â
What is the relationship between Aunt Bee and Andy?
Black and white seasons (1960-1965) Aunt Bee, whose full name is Beatrice Taylor, is the great-aunt of the widowed sheriff Andy Taylor and the great-aunt of his son Opie Taylor.
How old was Aunt Bee when she was on Andy Griffith?
Frances Elizabeth Bavier (December 14, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was 58-68 when she played Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. from 1960 to 1970.
Did Aunt Bee wear a wig?
Andy flipped her wig over Aunt Bee’s wig. Perhaps the biggest example comes in the season 7 episode “Aunt Bee’s Crowning Glory.” Aunt Bee tries to wear a wig to look prettier, and everyone agrees that it looks good. Everyone but Andy, that is. His response when he sees her make her new is, of course, “Huh-what?!”
Did Ron Howard get along with Frances Bavier?
Bavier was a talented actress Howard stayed in touch with Bavier until she died in 1989 at the age of 86. “She kept to herself,” Howard told the Archives of American Television in 2006. “Frances very much kept to herself .
How old was Aunt Bee when she died?
SILER CITY, N.C. (AP) _ Frances Bavier, an Emmy Award-winning actress remembered by millions of fans as the doting Aunt Bee on “The Andy Griffith Show,” died Wednesday night at her home. She was 86.
Was Aunt Bee married? However, according to a few other sources, she never married. She paired herself with respectable gentlemen and managed her affairs without significant help from Andy. Aunt Bee logged more Mayberry years (ten) than any other character.
How old was Aunt Bee in 1963?
Notes/Analysis When she died, Augusta was exactly her Aunt Bee’s age. Although that age is never given, Frances Bavier was born on December 14, 1902, and this episode was broadcast on March 11, 1963, so it can be assumed that Aunt Bee and Augusta Finch were 60 years old.
How old was Aunt Bee during the show?
Frances Elizabeth Bavier (December 14, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was 58-68 when she played Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. from 1960 to 1970.
Did Frances Bavier dislike Andy Griffith?
Trivia (143) Neither Andy Griffith nor Frances Bavier were good during the series. According to Griffith and Howard Morris, Bavier was extremely sensitive, and resented her role as Aunt Bee. In 1972 Griffith and Ron Howard visited her at her home in Siler City, NC, but she turned away from them.
How old was Aunt Bee in the show?
Frances Elizabeth Bavier (December 14, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was 58-68 when she played Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. from 1960 to 1970.
Who was the oldest person on The Andy Griffith Show?
So, Burt Mustin made his screen debut at the age of 67 in 1951. He went on to appear in many television shows, from Our Miss Brooks to All in the Family.
How was Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show?
Aunt Bee is a fictional character from the 1960 American television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. Played by Frances Bavier, the character transitioned to the Mayberry spinoff R.F.D. (1968-1971) when The Andy Griffith Show ended its run in 1968, and stayed for two years.
How old was Aunt Bee when she died on Andy Griffith Show?
Frances Bavier, who played Aunt Bee on ”The Andy Griffith Show” on television in the 1960s, died at her home here on Wednesday. She was 86 years old and was released on Monday from hospital, where she had been in the coronary care unit.
How old was Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show?
Frances Elizabeth Bavier (December 14, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was 58-68 when she played Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D.
How old was Aunt Bee when she died?
SILER CITY, N.C. (AP) _ Frances Bavier, an Emmy Award-winning actress remembered by millions of fans as the doting Aunt Bee on “The Andy Griffith Show,” died Wednesday night at her home. She was 86.
What were Don Knotts last words?
Although his last words were not recorded, Knott’s Daughter, Karen Knotts, recalls that she had to leave the room to laugh. Longtime friend and co-star Andy Griffith was at Knott’s bedside during his final moments. Griffith gave Knotts words of encouragement, saying “Jess (Don’s real name), breathe.
What did Barney Fife always say? Barney: (chanting for good luck) Come, fish, come. Come, fish, come.
How was Don Knotts written off The Andy Griffith Show?
Knotts asked to be written out of scripts Eventually, he asked to be written out of four scripts a year so he could catch his breath.â Knotts’ absences from the show were usually explained as Barney being on vacation at the YMCA with scripts. in Raleigh, NC.
Why did Don Knotts quit The Andy Griffith Show?
Fife appeared on The Andy Griffith Show from the show’s inception in 1960 until 1965, when Knotts left the show to pursue a career in feature films. It is explained that Fife had left Mayberry to take a job as a detective in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Why did Warren replaced Barney on Andy Griffith?
Warren Ferguson was a recurring character from The Andy Griffith Show. He served as Mayberry’s deputy after Barney Fife moved to live and work in Raleigh. He was only in eleven of the Season 6 episodes before the show was phased out due to his unpopularity.