Mabel
The author, Patricia L. Woodard, with Mr. Gracie.
Patricia L. Woodard Illustration Kathryn Caine Ogden & PHOTOS Grant Merritt STORY
W
ithout a doubt, one of Whiteville’s most colorful characters for butterfly wings. This piano would be a major part of her legacy after a major part of the 20th century was Mabel Chestnutt. Forever she bought one for her home in Whiteville, where she would entertain linked to the brick and mortar of her unique home, she had an exuber- guests while playing by ear (her preferred way of playing) in front of ant spirit that left an indelible mark on the small town in southeastern the tall Palladian windows overlooking the front yard of her Spanish North Carolina. People who knew her still laugh and grin when telling style house. stories about this Columbus County treasure who spread her fairy dust Before she bought that piano and settled into small town domesticover the house that became my home. The many smiles she brought ity, however, she graduated from college and joined an all-girls band to the people who lived that traveled up and down in this little community, the Eastern seacoast – in MABEL AGUSTA CHINNIS CHESTNUTT and the stories that crethe style of the movie February 16, 1902 - Brunswick County, North Carolina ated those smiles, should starring Marilyn Monroe, always entertain us and be January 15, 1987 - Charlotte, Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, “Some Like it Hot.” They available to everyone who played in bars, clubs, and thinks they grew up in a just about any place that small town where not too many exciting people live. needed lively party music. Little is known about Mabel’s early childhood before she left BrunsMabel had an ebullient personality and enjoyed the attention of wick County to attend Salem College in Winston Salem, N.C. In ad- many suitors. While in Miami on one of her tours, one of the men most dition to majoring in science education, she also found time to enjoy taken with her was an architect of the Spanish style houses so prevalent her considerable musical talents. She played the clarinet, saxophone, in the area. He escorted her around the city when they were not workpiano and probably other instruments, and had her first experience ing and had long-term honorable intentions. He even went so far as to with the Art Deco-styled butterfly baby grand piano that was popular in design a small house for her with brick patios, arches inside and out, the 20s and 30s. Originally produced by the Wurlitzer Piano Company white plaster walls, black wrought iron railings, a terra-cotta roof, and for small apartments in New York City, it had 77 keys instead of the sketches for gardens, which he knew she adored. Giving her the plans traditional 88 and had a double-winged slope design which mimicked 54 | 954 | Spring & Summer 2020
