In the details

Topeka Capital-Journal, The, Sep 21, 2002 by Ann Marie Bush Capital-Journal

Garrity has her front door bedecked with fall colors.

Garlands bring rich fall colors into the entryway at Mary Carol Garrity's home. She says many fall decorations can blend right into Christmas themes because their colors are similar.

A screened porch gives Dan and Mary Carol Garrity a place to relax and enjoy the outdoors.

Drapes of netting add interest to the patio and table where Mary Carol Garrity sits.

The Garritys' cat takes a longing look out the decorative screen door.

Gourds bring fall colors to the yard.

Dried grasses add drama to this fall collection.

Shops, food and directions

Mary Carol Garrity is the owner of three shops in Atchison:

- Nell Hill's was established in 1990 in an old bank building in downtown Atchison. The store is named after Garrity's maternal grandmother. The shop houses European antiques, home furnishings and accessories. Customers travel from Kansas City and St. Joseph, Mo., Topeka and Wichita and Omaha, Neb. Free delivery service is offered to those cities. The shop's two floors are redecorated and restocked all of the time. Address: 501 N. Commercial. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Phone: (913) 367-1086. Web site: www.nellhills.com.

- G. Diebolts was established in March 1998. It is named after Garrity's father. G. Diebolts is a specialty store that carries bedroom furniture, European antiques, custom bedding and linens and accessories. Address: 608 N. Commercial. Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Phone: (913) 367-2395. Web site: www.gdiebolts.com.

- Nell Hill's Encore is a European antique and art shop opened in May 2002. Address: 121 N. 5th, located next to Nell Hill's. Phone: (913) 367-1523. Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Many people stop in at Jerry's Again, located in the same building as Nell Hill's Encore, for a bite to eat after visiting Mary Carol Garrity's shops.

- Jerry's Again was opened April 24 by Liz and Terry Wagner. The original Jerry's Restaurant was opened in 1964 at 112 S. 6th by Jerry and Virginia Kuckelman. It was in business for 31 years. In 1976, the Kuckelmans opened a second restaurant, Jerry's Two, a delicatessen. In 1995, the couple sold the original Jerry's. Their daughter, Liz, decided to open Jerry's Again at 125 N. 5th. The restaurant is open six days a week and closed on Sunday because "Mom and Dad raised six kids out of a restaurant, and it was never opened on a Sunday. Sundays are our day; you get the other six." The restaurant is famous for its pies. Phone: (913) 367-0577. Hours: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Getting there

- Take the US-24 E. highway/K-4 East ramp toward Kansas City and merge onto US-24 East, go 3.7 miles. Turn left onto K-4. Go 44 miles. K-4 becomes US-59. After approximately 2 miles, turn left onto South 5th Street.

Dual roles: Shop owner who writes decorating books takes her own advice at home

By Ann Marie Bush

Photographs by Anthony S. Bush

The Capital-Journal

ATCHISON --- As Mary Carol Garrity strolls through each room in her house, she points out little surprises tucked here and there.

A fairy statue doubles as a sugar holder. Small ornaments hold placards at her table. A silver pitcher holds fall foliage and berries that hangs on her back door.

"Sometimes, it's nice to tuck little surprises all over," she said. "I just like little, tiny touches."

Garrity, the proprietor of Nell Hill's, G. Diebolts and Garrity's Encore in Atchison, smiles as she talks about her house. There is pride in her voice as she shares information about her home, her life and her businesses.

She recently released her second book, "Nell Hill's Christmas at Home" (Andrews McMeel Publishing, August 2002, $29.95).

When Garrity isn't at her shops or traveling to find ideas and items to fill them, she loves to spend time at her home.

"It's my priority and my passion," she said. "I'm a homebody."

Garrity and her husband, Dan, bought their home at 420 N. 3rd. in 1990.

The 4,000-square foot, 126-year-old home has quite a history behind it, Dan Garrity said.

It was built in 1876 by Major Downs.

"He was a railroad developer," Dan Garrity said. "Downs, Kansas, was named after him."

Downs lived in the house only a short time. It then was purchased by a local banker. In 1910, it was sold again. This time, it was turned into Atchison City Hospital.

After serving as a hospital for seven or eight years, Dan Garrity said, another family purchased it and remodeled it. In 1917 or 1918, the home's current facade of stucco was completed.

"Then, the house went through a couple of different hands," Dan Garrity said. "We bought it from the Jim Jeffries family in 1990." The late Jeffries represented the 2nd Congressional District for two terms in the late 1970s.

The Garritys have done a lot of remodeling in the 12 years that they have owned it.

"Basically, what we tried to do was return it back to the way it was originally built," Dan Garrity said. "With one or two exceptions, we've been able to do that."

While remodeling, the couple came across several interesting items, including canceled checks from when the home was a hospital, old newspapers used for insulation and some really old toys. They also found the site of an outhouse while they were doing some digging.