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The Long-Awaited Grand Opening of The Bonaparte Castle

  Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, Mayor Karen Alexander, and Historical Salisbury Foundation gave a warm welcome to the owners of the Bonaparte Castle as they celebrated the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony   Salisbury, NC  – November 15, ­­2022 - Bonaparte Castle Events, Inc., a special events venue, today held their ribbon cutting ceremony to inaugurate the completion of the tavern, the first of a multi-phased rehabilitation project. Following more than a year long process of permits, architectural and engineering reviews, and local/state/federal historical agency approvals, the Bonaparte Castle has finally completed its initial phase of renovations to a granite structure originally used as the kitchen to service the main house, now a new event tavern. The space will now become a central focal point of the wedding and events venue but will only be open during special or reserved events. Landscaping improvements are also underway, which presents opportunities for tented and outdoor eve
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Work Underway

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Work underway to turn historic McCanless House into wedding, events venue Published 12:05 am Wednesday, June 1, 2022 - Salisbury Post By  Ben Stansell The Historic Salisbury Foundation purchased the circa 1896 Napoleon Bonaparte McCanless House at 619 South Main Street from Livingstone College in July 2019. After giving the house a thorough cleaning and repairing portion of the slate roof and columns, it sold the property to Sandra Toscano for reuse as a wedding venue in July 2021. Photo by Pete Prunkl SALISBURY — Relief. That’s what Sandra Toscano feels now that work is underway on the historic Napoleon Bonaparte McCanless House at 619 S. Main St. Built around 1896 by prominent Salisbury entrepreneur Napoleon B. McCanless, the building has changed hands and uses several times over the years. At one point, it was a restaurant. For some time, it housed a local nonprofit. More recently, after plans for Livingstone College to use the building for its culinary program never materialized, t
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Bonaparte Castle to Commence Massive Renovation Project

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  Purchase of the historic Napoleon Bonaparte McCanless House by local authors empowers the City of Salisbury to generate enthusiasm for continued growth by tapping into the  $57 billion  wedding and events industry, making Salisbury a contender against surrounding cities. Salisbury, NC  – February17, 2022 - Bonaparte Castle, LLC, a proposed weddings, events, and hospitality venue, today announced it has received approval from the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to commence massive renovation project at 619 S. Main Street. According to a market research report published on December 7, 2021 by IBISWorld , the wedding services industry is currently a $57 billion industry. As noted in the chart below, the industry fell from $96 billion in 2016 to $45 billion during the COVID pandemic shutdowns in 2020. It is exciting to see increased projections for coming years and more exciting still is the fact that the City of Salisbury is investing into the revitalization
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Historic Salisbury Foundation’s 46th OctoberTour offers lessons in resilience, peek into history

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Salisbury Post Published 1:19 am Monday, October 11, 2021 By Ben Stansell SALISBURY — Several of Salisbury’s most-storied homes were filled with awestruck observers Saturday and Sunday afternoon during the Historic Salisbury Foundation’s 46th annual OctoberTour. The tour returned from its virtual format last year to offer participants a walk through six historic sites built between 1820-1925.  “I’m super impressed with not only our volunteers and planners and staff who made sure the event went smoothly, but with all of the attendees,” said Sada Stewart Troutman, executive director of the Historic Salisbury Foundation. “We had an enthusiastic group of attendees who made sure they rolled with all of the requirements and changes this year. Everybody was happy to not just support the Historic Salisbury Foundation, but to enjoy the tour again.” A virtual component was offered for those unable or not comfortable with attending in person. Patrons were required to show proof of vaccination or
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Historic McCanless House sold, buyers plan on converting home into events venue

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SALISBURY POST Published 12:00 am Sunday, July 25, 2021 By Ben Stansell SALISBURY — From the moment she laid eyes on the Napoleon Bonaparte McCanless House, Sandra Toscano was enchanted by its exterior.  With a facade covered in gray ashlar-cut rusticated granite blocks, the outside of the three-story home at 619 S. Main St. could pass for a medieval fortress. “What bride wouldn’t want a fairy tale wedding and to get married in a castle?” Toscano said. Toscano, who is in the process of planning her own wedding, is hoping her thinking is shared by other brides. The Mexico-born, Charlotte-based real estate developer recently purchased the McCanless House for $180,000 from the Historic Salisbury Foundation. Toscano and her fiancé, C.P. Edgar, plan to convert the home and the grounds around it into an events and wedding venue. The couple eventually plans on making a portion of the third floor their retirement residence as well. Built around 1896 by a prominent Rowan County resident named a
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