VCOM View Vol 9-1

NEWS AND EVENTS

to life. The home’s unique features include ten fireplaces, five chimneys, a mosaic tile porch and impressive interior detailing. It also is credited with being the first home in Spartanburg with indoor plumbing. The trustees of the Balmer Foundation, who helped kick- off early fundraising for interior renovations, also understand the importance of preserving the history of the home for future generations. The foundation recently partnered with VCOM to create a documentary about the history of the home and those who lived there. The film captures wonderful stories from Wallace DuPre Jr. and also MacFarlane Cates, both in their early 90s and great grandsons of William Wallace Duncan Dupre. The documentary will be made available soon to all the schools and libraries in the Spartanburg area. There is still much work to be done to complete the renovations to the Dupre House. Several significant naming opportunities are still available to honor family members, community leaders and benefactors. ■ For more information on ways to partner with VCOM to preserve this important home, please contact Tyler Corvin at 864-327-9914 or ctcorvin@vcom.edu.

Top: Monty Mullen, Chair of the Balmer Foundation, (center left) reviews progress on interior renovations with staff from VCOM. Above: The historic Dupre house located on the VCOM-Carolinas campus in Spartanburg, South Carolina. Far Left : MacFarlane and Marguerite Cates, along with Wallace DuPre Jr. are interviewed for the documentary.

summer 2018 | VCOM V iew M agazine 49