Longtime Fans Buy Boyhood Home of ‘Waltons' Creator to Keep It Open to Public in Virginia

Three longtime fans of the popular TV show "The Waltons" have purchased the Virginia childhood home of the show's creator in an effort to keep it open to the public. 

Ray Castro, one of the buyers, told The News & Advance he was worried someone would buy the Schuyler home of Earl Hamner Jr. and use it as a private residence.

The home in Schuyler, in central Virginia, was the basis for the show, which drew upon Hamner's Depression-era upbringing. The house is on the Virginia Landmarks Register. 

The new owners are instituting a few changes, including the hiring of a full-time docent who will conduct guided tours. 

The News & Advance reported: "The three [owners] said a tree near the house will be removed to make room for a 1929 Ford, just like the one seen in the show. Inside, a radio and typewriter from the Depression era will be displayed, and other details like the dining table will mirror the details of 'The Waltons.'"

Hamner, a prolific writer, died in March 2016 at 92. His show aired for nine seasons and won more than a dozen Emmys.

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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