SILER CITY — The route that took Kathy Nail from the windy plains of her hometown of Wichita, Kansas, to her new home on West Elk Street in Siler City didn’t go more than a mile past Mayberry.
Nail’s real-life stops – Cairo, Bangkok, London, the Isle of Man and, most recently, Los Angeles – were far more exotic than the fictional hometown of a folksy North Carolina sheriff, his precocious, precocious son and a housekeeper everyone knew. in the town, even his elders, as “auntie Erle”.
In the living room of the stately three-story brick mansion where actress Frances Bavier, Mayberry’s real-life Aunt Bee, lived and died, however, Nail makes a confession: she’s as interested in all things Mayberry as anyone.
But she adores Aunt Bee’s house – absolutely loves it.
And for the record, it wasn’t Frances Bavier or Aunt Bee’s legacy that drew her to Siler City. It was the house itself.
“I didn’t care who lived there,” Nail says. “I loved the house.”
Aunt Bee’s B&B?
Nail’s home, at 503 West Elk, has attracted the curious for years. “Andy Griffith Show” fans who flock to Mount Airy as “Mayberry” tourists sometimes make the 90-minute drive to Siler City to see Bavier’s grave at Oakwood Cemetery, just off the U.S. Highway. 64. Some of them know Bavier’s house, a few minutes away, and by car.
And some of them, of course, think: Why not? After taking a few obligatory pictures from the street or the yard, they knock on the door.
Can we go inside, they ask? Maybe take a look around?
Nail, who is 68 years old, gets it. After growing up in Kansas he became an Egyptologist, eventually working in Cairo for two decades. He knows a thing or two about antiques, and his life’s journey has given him a fine sense of nostalgia.
The proof can be found in his new home, which he first learned was for sale exactly one year ago this week: It was among the tractor trailer full of personal belongings he shipped from his L.A. triplex to Siler City after he bought the house. a huge collection of vintage toys and games and all kinds of ephemera; among them, for example, the world’s second largest collection of matches and “Big Boy” restaurant memorabilia, some of which are more than 60 years old. as well as collections of water guns and marshmallow shooters.
Nail also knows the effect the “television house” can have on fans. He lived five minutes from the property once known as the Brady Bunch house, which is always featured in long exterior shots on the 70s sitcom of the same name. And a rather recent discovery: Nail’s house near North Hollywood was also just five minutes from where Bavier lived before he moved to Siler City in 1972.
So, as its new owner and occupier, Nail is mulling over plans to renovate the house, opening it up as a bed and amp; 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 need work. As that begins in earnest, though, his constant focus this summer has been primarily on the yard — a labor of love, but work nonetheless: Nail says he’s lost 35 pounds in the past few months from hand-brushing. tree trimmers, unsightly boxwoods and shrubs, and earthing up hidden flagstone walkways and generally tidying up and cleaning up the yard. Together with his right-hand man, Robert Jones of Pittsboro, they have worked hard to fell about 250 trees, he believes; New friends Joyce and Earle Stout are often invited 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,” he says.
And a bit of surgery too. Some major ones.
In addition to the cost of the purchase, Nail estimates he will have to spend about $250,000 on improvements and repairs, the list of which is long. High on that list: new wiring, gutting the kitchen and its master bathroom, and extensive basement renovations by the home’s original owners and owners, J.B. Dr. Earle and his horticulturist wife used to throw great parties a long time ago. a commitment to beauty Nail is trying to revive in the yard.
The twofold focus of the effort: first, to bring the house back to its original appearance when the Earles built it, though modernizing it (for example, to include Nail’s Italian gas stove in the kitchen). And secondly, adding Nail’s special touches: California friends took to describing it as “Kathyland” with a penchant for idiosyncrasy. These include plans for an old living room, creating space (perhaps in the attic) for a toy museum and perhaps adding a putting course to part of the roof. (In addition to restoring the outdoor bench, Bavier unknowingly revealed a large mural painted in a dining room. Nail is also working to find brass door hardware to match what was once there; a previous owner, he says, thought the brass “looked dirty.”)
The price doesn’t seem to bother him. Nail’s outrageously expensive triplex for sale in LA, now under contract, will be palatable.
That’s a lot of work for this Siler City landmark. Construction on the huge house – including the basement and porches, is about 9,000 square feet – began in 1951. J.J. It was designed by a Greensboro architect named Croft Jr., who designed others on the same street in that tony part of Siler City. Dr. Earle was a well-loved doctor in town, and it was the New Orleans-style architecture of the home that caught Nail’s attention.
While watching a trivia show on TV, no less.
‘A piece of history’
Looks like Nail continues to make history. After spending those 20 years in Cairo, he switched careers to teach English as a second language and train English teachers in Thailand, where he spent another five years.
While there, he gained some notoriety after playing a key role in the capture of one of the FBI’s “Ten Most Wanted” fugitives: Eric Rosser, onetime keyboard player in rocker John Cougar Mellencamp’s band. 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 his intervention, he was arrested in Bangkok in August 2001 and is now in prison in Colorado. (“She wanted to be an English teacher so she could have more access to kids,” said Nail, who has written about 400 pages of a manuscript about her experience that she plans to publish.)
Language, another artifact of life, became important to him. From Thailand, Nail moved to London after being offered a job running an English school there. He also ran a B&B. Always curious, he would occasionally drop into film sets in London and Great Britain in his spare time, watching films being made. During one of these stays, he noticed a poor craft service table, where food and drinks were placed for the cast and crew.
“And I thought, ‘Oh, no, just a 10-gallon tea and some biscuits?'” she recalled. “I thought, I could do better than that.”
He did, eventually launching a craft services business on the Isle of Man – a highly successful business, he says, that collapsed when he discovered his business partner was skimming the company’s money.
That’s when she decided to move back stateside to Los Angeles and start a craft services business there, where she also met her late husband, Walter.
He was a soldier in Vietnam before starting a career as an HVAC engineer at AT&T. Nail helped take care of her 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, with the other two renting out for income. (She also made the trip to Siler City – her ashes are in an urn in a place of honor in Nail’s office, along with memorabilia from their career and their time together).
He eventually occupied the three units in Los Angeles, tired of making repairs after tenants trashed the place. And finally, one night, a year ago this week, Nail’s exposure to the Bavier house came via a segment on a TV quiz show, where a commentator talked about the possibility of “owning a piece of history”.
That history was 503 West Elk, where Aunt Bee retired.
“I fell in love,” Nail said. “I found a real estate agent and came over and made him an offer. And there.”
‘Every room has a story’
He didn’t spend his first night there until December, and it wasn’t long before he started experiencing what the previous owners have.
“You know, people who want to drive up … drive by and take a picture of the house,” Nail said. “And some people ask if they can see it. Of course they can, I don’t care.”
He grew up watching the Andy Griffith Show, and he knew about Bavie: that he was from New York City [see sidebar story] and that his fame came from his portrayal of the fictional Mayberry housekeeper. After moving in, Nail learned more, especially from neighbors and friends like Joe and Jane McEvoy, Bennie and Trudy Walters, and longtime neighbor Ed Spence.
The endlessly curious Nail is also actively researching Siler City, the Earle family and home, building a bank of knowledge that comes in handy, especially when curiosity inevitably strikes.
Steve and Wanda Cape spent a week or two vacationing with their daughter, Heather, from their home in Chattanooga. Pastor Steve said the trio became curious after visiting Bavier’s grave 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 in the GPS, and we were there in a few minutes. Kathy was outside doing yard work and graciously invited us in to see the house.
The Capes toured the house, learning from the wealthy Nail about its history, a bit about the Bavies and the pre-Bavie history of the place (including the Earles, the original owners of the house). He was buried not far from Bavaria in Oakwood Cemetery).
“Every room had a story to tell,” Cape said. “The beautiful house is very nostalgic. We were delighted to visit the home of a famous and beloved actor, but the history was more compelling. Kathy has great plans to turn it into a beautifully preserved B&B for others to enjoy.”
Helping Nail on a tour allows you to drink something he found. The 11-meter ceilings, crystal chandeliers and the fact that each room has two entrances, meaning you don’t have to go around the entire structure, are just part of its appeal. She has also carefully placed evidence of Bavier’s – and Aunt Bee’s – lives here and there throughout the house, along with artifacts and memorabilia from her world travels. Everywhere you look, there is something to fascinate you.
Visitors also hear a rebuttal to some of the more flattering stories about Bavie and his sharp eccentricities.
“Some of the things people say about him are unbelievable,” Nail said. “He had 75 cats like that… No, he didn’t. The neighbors around here knew everyone. Some said it was evil. No, it wasn’t. He was very nice to everyone. It was the people who came close to bothering him that made him cringe. Sometimes he didn’t like to be bothered.”
Nail says there are “nice” curiosities that come along, and “weird” ones. He takes them all in, using his gift of discernment to determine who is worth a tour and who isn’t. They were capes. They made the trip from Tennessee to Mount Airy, and they were friendly.
“And Wanda said, ‘Can we take a picture of the house?’ And I said, ‘Sure you can.’ And he said, ‘Can we come in and have a look?’ And I said, ‘Sure you can.’ He asked, ‘How much does it cost?’ And I said: ‘Nothing'”.
Nail’s compensation came from the joy his visitors had in being at Aunt Bee’s house; why not spread it?
What’s next for the house on West Elk Street isn’t quite settled. But Nail has been there, and in Siler City, long enough to figure something out, something Bavier learned too.
“I love Siler City,” he said. “It’s the best place I’ve ever lived.”
Bill Horner III can be reached at bhorner3@chathamnr.com or @billthethird.
What is Siler City famous for?
In recent years, Siler City has become a suburb of Greensboro and Research Triangle Park. Since 1997, it has developed as an industrial-scale poultry processing center, attracting many immigrants and Latinos for jobs.
Where is Aunt Bee’s house in Siler City? Take a look inside 503 West Elk Street in Siler City, best known as the former home of Frances Bavier, best known as Aunt Bee on The Andy Griffith Show. The house has a new owner, and it could be converted into a bed. & Breakfast where fans of the show can stay.
Who was Siler City named after?
A railroad depot in western Chatham County was named Siler Station in honor of Samuel Siler, who donated the land for the depot. Siler City, population 6,966, is located in Chatham County in central North Carolina at the intersection of US 64 and US 421. Siler City is the largest city in Chatham County.
How did Siler City get its name?
On April 16, 1884, the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway completed its route between Sanford and Greensboro. The depot was named Siler Station in recognition of Samuel Siler, who donated the land on which it stood.
Is Siler City NC A good place to live?
Overall, it’s a nice, quiet little town. All 22 years I have lived in the city of Siler. Siler City is a nice town to live in. The downside of Siler City is that there are no activities for children.
How much is Aunt Bee’s house worth?
The 5,000-square-foot, three-story brick home with stone accents is known as the former home of Frances Bavier, best known as Aunt Bee on “The Andy Griffith Show. Bavier bought the house. In 1972, he lived there until his death at the age of 86, in 1989. The house is now for sale at $425,000.
How much is Aunt Bee worth?
When he died in 1989, his estate was worth about 700,000. Even today the money left for the municipal police to receive bonuses still exists.
Where did Aunt Bee live when she died?
| Frances Bavier | |
|---|---|
| Frances Bavier (1964) | |
| born | Frances Elizabeth Bavier, 14 December 1902 Manhattan, New York, USA |
| the deceased | December 6, 1989 (age 86) Siler City, North Carolina, USA |
| resting place | Oakwood Cemetery, Siler City, North Carolina, USA |
Why is Siler City called Siler City?
On April 16, 1884, the Cape Fear and Yadkin Valley Railway completed its route between Sanford and Greensboro. The depot was named Siler Station in recognition of Samuel Siler, who donated the land on which it stood.
Is Siler City a City?
The town of Siler City, North Carolina.
Is Siler City growing?
Siler City is a city in Chatham County, North Carolina. Siler City has a population of 7,666 in 2022. Currently, Siler City is shrinking at a rate of -0.23% annually and its population has decreased since the last census, with a population of 7,702 in 2020.
What was Aunt B’s cause of death?
SILER CITY, N.C. — America’s favorite aunt, Frances ‘Aunt Bee’ Bavier, who nursed Andy and Opiez for eight years on ‘The Andy Griffith Show,’ died of heart failure Wednesday night and will be laid to rest Sunday in Siler City.
What is Aunt Bren’s real name? Aunt Bee is a fictional character from the 1960s American television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show. Played by Frances Bavier, the character Mayberry R.F.D. migrated to spinoff. (1968â1971) When The Andy Griffith Show ended its run in 1968, it ran for two years.
How old was Aunt Bee when she died?
SILER CITY, N.C. (AP) _ Frances Bavier, the Emmy-winning actress remembered by millions of fans for her role in â³The Andy Griffith Show,’ died Wednesday night at her home. He was 86 years old.
What year did Aunt Bee pass away?
How old was Aunt Bee in the show?
Frances Elizabeth Bavier (December 14, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was 58-68 on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. From 1960 to 1970.
What was Aunt B’s net worth?
When he died in 1989, his estate was worth about 700,000. Even today the money left for the municipal police to receive bonuses still exists.
How much money did Aunt Bee make on The Andy Griffith Show?
In episode 10 of the sixth season, Aunt Bee won $4,800 in prizes on a game show. His good fortune included a dishwasher and a long mink coat, which he did not hesitate to show off to the residents of Mayberry.
Was Francis Bavier ever married?
Of choosing to live in North Carolina instead of her native New York, Bavier said, “I fell in love with North Carolina, the nice roads and the trees.” Bavier was briefly married to Russell Carpenter early in her career, but never had any children.
What was Frances Bavier cause of death?
Immediate causes of death were congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis, and contributing factors were breast cancer, arthritis and COPD. Bavier is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Siler City.
How old was Frances Bavier when she died?
How much was Frances Bavier worth at the time of her death?
For approximately $700,000, Miss Bavier bequeathed the house and its obsolete contents to a hospital foundation to public television. An appraisal put the value of Miss Bavier’s belongings, excluding the Studebaker, at $31,683, the last time she took a trip to the grocery store in 1983.
Did Andy Griffith get along with Aunt?
Aunt Bee and Andy Griffith didn’t get along But real life Andy (Griffith), didn’t get along with Bavier. The two were locked in a feud until just before Bavier died of heart failure.
What was Aunt Bee’s relationship with Andy? Black and White Seasons (1960â1965) Aunt Bee, full name Beatrice Taylor, is the paternal aunt of the widowed sheriff Andy Taylor and the great-aunt of his son Opie Taylor.
Did Elinor Donahue like Andy Griffith?
Elinor Donahue was Andy Griffith’s first love interest. The actor told the Television Academy Foundation how he starred on The Andy Griffith Show in 1960. “I was called to the office to meet with the producers, that evening I went home and found out I had the role.
Why did Ellie Walker leave Andy Griffith?
After twelve appearances in the first season, Ellie disappeared without explanation to the audience. Behind the scenes, Donahue decided that he and Griffith didn’t have the chemistry for a believable on-screen romantic relationship and decided to leave. Griffith later admitted it was his fault.
Did Thelma Lou have a crush on Andy Griffith?
In the quaint town of Mayberry from The Andy Griffith Show, the townspeople sure loved each other. There was even more fun behind the scenes of the popular TV comedy classic. In fact, Barney’s sweetheart on the show, Thelma Lou, played by Betty Lynn, was in love with the show’s star, Andy Griffith.
Did Aunt Bee and Andy like each other?
Aunt Bee and Andy showed their love for each other on screen and it was one of the most endearing parts of the show. But real life Andy (Griffith), didn’t get along well with Bavier. The two were locked in a feud until just before Bavier died of heart failure.
Did Opie and Andy get along?
Ron Howard’s father revealed that he and Andy Griffith were close friends: ‘We Were Not Buddy Buddies’ As a child actor, Ron Howard played Opie Taylor’s son to Sheriff Andy Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show in 1960.
Who does Aunt Bee marry?
| Aunt Bee Taylor | |
|---|---|
| The family | Andy Taylor (nephew), Opie Taylor (great-grandson), Nora (sister) Bradford J. Taylor (cousin), Ollie (brother-in-law), Roger & Bruce (nephews) Edgar (cousin) Martha (nephew) Seth Taylor (great-grandfather) Barney Fife (nephew) |
| Spouse | N/A |
| The romances | St. Hubert John, Roger Hanover, John Canfield |
What happened to Andy Griffith’s wife?
Andy said in one episode that Opie’s “maws” died when Opie was “the tiniest baby”. It has never been determined how he died.
What happened to Opie’s mom 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 “just a little baby”. Opie, his turtle died when someone stepped on it, “Who stepped on Ma?” he asked. Andy was referred to as a widow several times on the show which made Opie’s …
Who was Andy Griffith’s wife in real life?
What episode did Andy Griffith real wife appear in?
The only episode in which Barbara appeared in a single episode occurred in the fourth season of The Andy Griffith Show. The episode was called “The Song Festers†. In this story, Barney was trying – and failing – to get the tenor part of the Mayberry Choir.
Did Andy Griffith’s real wife ever appear on the show?
Helen Crump is a fictional dramatic character from the American television program The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968). Helen made her debut in the third season episode “Andy Discovers America” (1963).
What happened to Andy Griffith’s first wife Barbara?
Clair, shortly after Griffith married his second wife, Solica Cassuto. In 1980, Barbara Bray Edwards St. Clair died in Beverly Hills. He was 53 years old.
Who did Barbara Griffith play on Andy Griffith Show?
Barbara played Sharon, and her performance in the choir was a reminder of the singing days when they were both in college, when she won the heart of the charming Griffith and helped set him on the road to success. Unfortunately, the couple divorced in 1972, after 23 years of marriage.
Did Andy Griffith’s wife appear on the show?
Helen Crump is a fictional dramatic character from the American television program The Andy Griffith Show (1960-1968). Helen made her debut in the third season episode “Andy Discovers America” (1963).
Was Andy Griffith buried in a casket?
Where is Andy Griffith’s grave? Grave Marker- Andy Griffith, American actor. Griffith died of a heart attack around 7 am. At his coastal home in Manteo, Roanoke Island in Dare County, North Carolina. Five hours after his death he was buried in the island’s Griffith Family Cemetery.
Was Andy Griffith cremated or buried?
Highlights stories. At the request of his family, his body was lowered into a grave on the island around 11:30. The body of Andy Griffith, the North Carolina native and actor who won audiences over the years with his popular appeal, was laid to rest Tuesday morning. less than five hours after his death.
Why was Andy Griffith buried within 5 hours of his death?
He asked a small group of trusted friends to bury him immediately after his death, de Visé wrote, “before the Parazzi storm Roanoke Island, so that his remains could be captured on film.
Was Andy Griffith buried on his property?
Andy Griffith, who died in his sleep on Tuesday at the age of 86, was buried at his farm in North Carolina a few hours after his death. Cindi Griffith, the actor’s wife since 1983, was by his side when he died, the family told the Charlotte Observer.
Who is Andy Griffith buried with?
His last film was in 2009. It is true that there was no funeral, according to Griffith’s wishes. After he died of a heart attack in 2012, his third wife, Cindi Knight, buried him five hours after his death on the Manteo property.
Who inherited Andy Griffith estate?
Before his death, Andy Griffith has accumulated a fortune of 60 million dollars, which was inherited by Dixie Griffith and Cindi Knight.
Why was Andy Griffith buried within 5 hours of his death?
He asked a small group of trusted friends to bury him immediately after his death, de Visé wrote, “before the Parazzi storm Roanoke Island, so that his remains could be captured on film.
Is Andy Griffith buried on his property?
Andy Griffith, who died in his sleep on Tuesday at the age of 86, was buried at his farm in North Carolina a few hours after his death. Cindi Griffith, the actor’s wife since 1983, was by his side when he died, the family told the Charlotte Observer.
How soon was Andy Griffith buried after his death?
At the request of his family, his body was lowered into a grave on the island around 11:30. The body of Andy Griffith, the North Carolina native and actor who won audiences over the years with his popular appeal, was laid to rest Tuesday morning. less than five hours after his death.
Why was Andy Griffith buried within five hours of his death?
He asked a small group of trusted friends to bury him immediately after his death, de Visé wrote, “before the Parazzi storm Roanoke Island, so that his remains could be captured on film.
How is Aunt Bee related to Andy and Opie?
The Mynah Bird (Mayberry R.F.D.) Mayberry R.F.D., Gomer Pyle U.S.M.C. Beatrice Taylor, better known as Aunt Bee, is the paternal aunt of widowed Sheriff Andy Taylor and the great-aunt of his son Opie Taylor. She was on every season of The Andy Griffith Show and was portrayed by Frances Bavier.
Were Andy Griffith and Aunt Bee accepted? Trivia (145) Andy Griffith and Frances Bavier did not get along well in the series. According to Griffith and Howard Morris, Bavier was very sensitive, and resented the role of Aunt Bee. In 1972 Griffith and Ron Howard paid her a visit at her home in Siler City, NC, but she turned them away.
When did Aunt Bee join Andy Griffith?
Originally from New York theater, he worked in film and television from the 1950s to the 1970s. She is best known for her role as Ant Bee on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. From 1960 to 1970. Aunt Bee logged more Mayberry years (ten) than any other character.
Did Frances Bavier and Andy Griffith get along in real life?
Aunt Bee and Andy showed their love for each other on screen and it was one of the most endearing parts of the show. But real life Andy (Griffith), didn’t get along well with Bavier. The two were locked in a feud until just before Bavier died of heart failure.
How old was Aunt Bee when she was on Andy Griffith?
Frances Elizabeth Bavier (December 14, 1902 – December 6, 1989) was 58-68 on The Andy Griffith Show and Mayberry R.F.D. From 1960 to 1970.
What was Aunt Bee’s real name?
This is a portrait of actress Frances Bavier (1902-1989), who played Aunt Bee in Mayberry RFD in 1968 and The Andy Griffith Show in 1960.
How old was Aunt Bee in real life?
SILER CITY, N.C. (AP) _ Frances Bavier, the Emmy-winning actress remembered by millions of fans for her role in â³The Andy Griffith Show,’ died Wednesday night at her home. He was 86 years old.
Who does Aunt Bee marry?
| Aunt Bee Taylor | |
|---|---|
| The family | Andy Taylor (nephew), Opie Taylor (great-grandson), Nora (sister) Bradford J. Taylor (cousin), Ollie (brother-in-law), Roger & Bruce (nephews) Edgar (cousin) Martha (nephew) Seth Taylor (great-grandfather) Barney Fife (nephew) |
| Spouse | N/A |
| The romances | St. Hubert John, Roger Hanover, John Canfield |