Nancy Robinson and Guis Siniard are honorary chairs for the June 21 “Celebrating Silvermont: A Family Festival” event.
Both Robinson and Siniard have been long-time advocates for Silvermont.
“I knew Mrs. Dorothy Silversteen Berg when I was a young man,” says Siniard. “When the rest of her family had all passed, I wrote and asked her about giving the estate to the county.”
Siniard, who was a county commissioner at the time, says that he received a letter from Mrs. Berg stating that she would give it some consideration.
“On Sunday afternoon, Mrs. Bill Hill, her mother-in-law called and said to go ahead with my plans and Mrs. Berg would agree to them, says Siniard. “She changed her will and died shortly thereafter. So that’s how Transylvania County got Silvermont, the grounds and mansion.”
Siniard is also a past-president of the Friends of Silvermont.
Robinson became interested in the Silvermont Mansion in the early 1980s, with the encouragement of Guis Siniard and the late Harry Ashworth.
She was chosen to oversee the first renovation of the home, as it had fallen into marked disrepair.
After the renovation was complete, she served as president of the Friends of Silvermont for a number of years.
Robinson designed the gazebo that stands on the property. She was instrumental in developing “Christmas at Silvermont,” and incorporating the mansion and grounds into other community-based events.
In February 1990, Robinson and her husband, Frank, were married in the mansion, as it had become a special place for them both.