Mayhew-Thomas Home, Eustis Street

This delightful residence on Eustis Street with its wooden lace trim smiles at its neighbors. It was built ca. 1843, and its longtime residents were the Mayhew family. It was sold to the Balch family in 1941. The present owners are Mr. and Mrs. Ronold B. Thomas. Mrs. Thomas is descended from the Balch family. The painting was done by Albert Lane in 1954.

Years ago when the Mayhews lived here, they delighted in serving afternoon tea to friends and neighbors. Mrs. Shelby White told me some years ago of having tea with Mrs. Mayhew shortly after she came as a young bride to live in Huntsville. She described Miss Fannie as a petite person wearing a lace cap and pouring tea for her in front of a roaring fire in the middle living room. Three generations of my family living in the Mayhew house since 1941 have continued to enjoy this pleasant afternoon tradition.

Mother's favorite way to make tea, of course, was to pour freshly boiled water over loose tea using a china teapot. The tea was then served with lemon wedges or with milk, adding sugar if desired. Typically, bread and butter sandwiches, cinnamon toast, cookies and cake are served at tea time. Cake we are particularly fond of today is the one my mother served in our home in Ireland. It is sponge cake sliced horizontally and filled with a thick layer of freshly whipped cream sweetened with almond flavoring and topped with powdered sugar or slivers of semi-sweet or milk chocolate.

Sylvia Balch Thomas