| The Penn House: A Touch of Southern Charm
On the National Register of Historic Places, the Penn House is a magnificent 12,500-square-foot home located on three beautifully landscaped acres. The original home was built by Charles and Stella Penn around 1908. Charles was the Vice President of American Tobacco, which was the leading employer in Rockingham County. The home burned in 1931 and was rebuilt in 1932 in the Colonial Revival Style.
Donated to the City of Reidsville in 1980, the home is open to the community and public for special events, weddings, business meetings and other functions. Furnished in antiques, the home offers an ambiance not found in most meeting facilities. Each room has unique character.
The library at the Penn House, shown at left, features Charles Penn's antique leather top desk as a focal point for the room. Charles Penn (1868-1931) was an important figure in Reidsville's tobacco industry and is largely responsible for developing the popular "Lucky Strikes" brand of cigarettes for American Tobacco. Danville, Va. architect Bryant Hurd designed the home. |
