Ten years has brought a lot of change to Glencoe Mill Village. The once derelict 1880s mill and housing complex is now a vibrant community of proud homeowners. 

That pride was on display May 16 as Preservation NC sponsored a Tenth Anniversary Open Village Tour at Glencoe, along the Haw River near Burlington.

The day began in Haw River, with a visit to the C.T. Holt House, built in 1897.  The 6,000-square-foot Victorian in near-original condition is soon to be restored by its new owners, who purchased the property from PNC in late 2008.

From there, the ramble continued toward Historic Providence Christian Church in Graham, where PNC President Myrick Howard provided an overview of Glencoe’s history and the rehabilitation work that has been completed there since PNC purchased the property in the late 1990s.

After a break for lunch, the tour continued with the opportunity to visit several restored mill homes and the Glencoe Textile Museum, as well as some new infill houses designed to blend in with the 19th century village

Though the day held brief periods of rain showers, the compensation was a chance to take shelter on one of many welcoming front porches at Glencoe, enjoying conversations with residents and playing with the neighborhood cats.

Sunshine and warmer temperatures ended the day happily, as did the beer tasting provided by Natty Greene’s Brewing Co. based in Greensboro.

Kate Zylstra is a graduate assistant for Preservation NC. She will graduate from the master's program in Historic Preservation at UNCG's Department of Interior Architecture in 2009.