A new look

If you can, stop by the Springs House, 201 W. Gay St., to see the recent landscaping. 

Gregory A. Summers

The landscaping includes paths, plantings, archways and benches.

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Gregory A. Summers

The new front porch rocking chairs at the Springs House offer a peaceful place to relax.

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Gregory A. Summers

Gardens, including this fountain, were added outside of Springs House, 201 W. Gay St. Offices for Lancaster County Council of the Arts and See Lancaster are located there.

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Gregory A. Summers

The cost was about $25,000 and the money came from the city's hospitality tax. It qualified for the funding as a historical structure. It is one of three historical landmarks in the 200 block of West Gay Street.

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The Lancaster County Council of the Arts is so pleased that the gardens around the historic building are now so much more beautiful. 

We would like to thank the city of Lancaster for the wonderful plantings, fountain, pathways, arches and benches that were added, along with an the irrigation system to help care for all of it. 

The addition of ferns and new rocking chairs have also given the front porch a true Southern charm. 

These improvements have made the Springs House so much more attractive and inviting for the public, a fitting representation of the local arts both inside and out.

This transformation of the grounds were inspired two years ago after the gift of six English boxwoods from the Lancaster Garden Club.

We owe a debt of thanks to Mayor Joe Shaw, Lancaster city council members,  Administrator Helen Sowell and support services director Teresa Meeks for all their support. The cost was about $25,000 and the money came from the city’s hospitality tax. It qualified for the funding as a historical structure. 

Regina Butts of Ace Hardware and Garden Center of Lancaster designed the gardens and Russell Catoe of Southern Landscaping supervised the installation of the plantings, paths, and irritation. 

We give a special thanks for their particular arts.

Please stop by anytime and look at the yard, walk through the pathways or just relax, rock and listen to the fountain from the front porch. 

Remember, the Springs House is available for weddings, parties and other events.

With the Christmas season just around the corner, call us soon to book your holiday parties at 285-7451.

Hagins Memorial Art Competition 

The Marion Hagins Art Competition is jointly sponsored by the Hagins Family, the Lancaster County Art League and the Lancaster County Council of the Arts, and is the only juried art show that we have in the Lancaster area.

It was started in the early 1980s to honor the late Hagins.

In the late 1950’s, Hagins, Inez Plyler, Bea Sisson, Mary Wylie Robinson and Essie Williams talked the late Col. Elliott White Springs into starting the Springs Art Show here.

The art show became one of the premier events of its type in the Carolinas, drawing talent from surrounding states.

The Hagins’ competition is open to any Lancaster County resident of high school age or older.

All paintings must be original; copies, pattern paintings, crafts, photographs, stitch work or sculptures are not allowed.

There is no entry fee and you can stop by the Springs House and pick up the guidelines and an entry form.  Each artist may submit two paintings.  We will be accepting entries until Aug. 31. 

The opening reception is 3 to 5 p.m. Sept. 20.  At that time, the awards will be presented. Please call the office for additional details.

– Sam Courtney is executive director of Lancaster County Council of the Arts