This day in history: Korner's Folly was added to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) on this day in 1973. It was built in 1880 by Jule Gilmer Körner, and is a 6,000 square foot eccentric brick dwelling with a shingled, cross-gable roof. Körner made his fortune by spearheading one of the first national advertising campaigns by painting murals of Bull Durham Smoking tobacco bulls on buildings and barns across the American east coast. In the 1870s he moved back to his hometown Kernersville, NC, to build Körner's Folly and start an interior decorating and design business. After marrying Polly Alice Masten and having two children, Gilmer and Dore, Körner renovated the house to its present floor plan. The 22-room interior features unusual architecture and many examples of Victorian furniture and interior decoration since Körner used the house to showcase his business. Also on the property is a brick outbuilding – a small-scale version of the main house – which functioned as the "privy."
Korners Folly has been called The Strangest House in the World and has often been compared to the Winchester Mystery House. It has 15 different fireplaces, ceilings ranging from 5.5 to 25 feet, pivoting windows, cubbyholes and trap doors throughout the building. No two doors or windows are the same, and it has 8 different sizes of bricks. The house has 22 total rooms spread out over three floors and seven levels, and on the third level you will find Cupid's Park Theatre - a private theatre (the oldest private theater in America).
"Korner’s Folly has a whimsical feel about it, reminiscent of a Victorian Willa Wonka mansion. Jule Korner began building on the house in 1878 to display his art, furniture, and interior design collection. Mr. Korner designed the house to be a visual feast!...A relative mocked the odd design, dubbing it “Korner’s Folly” in an attempt to offend. Jule, a brilliant man with a sense of humor, enjoyed the jab and named it after it. Polly Alice, his wife, urged that they stay in the gorgeous house after they married." Source
The house is located at 413 S Main St, Kernersville, NC 27284, and they offers tours if you want to visit the house.
Korner's Folly is also said to be haunted.
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