PATSY CLINE'S HOME ON THE STATE REGISTRY

The home of a Winchester woman, who made country music history, has been named a state historic landmark.

On Wednesday, the State Review Board of the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, meeting in Lynchburg, agreed to designate Patsy Cline’s home to the state register.

The house will now be considered for listing on the national Historic Landmarks register.

The white frame house at 608 S. Kent St., probably built in the mid-19th century, sheltered Cline from 1948, when she was 16, to 1953, when she married her first husband, Gerald Cline. It was also her home intermittently until 1957.

Cline was born Virginia Patterson Hensley on Sept. 8, 1932. Her father, Samuel Hensley, was a transient laborer, who moved from job to job and town to town. Cline reportedly lived in 18 different houses before her move to 608 S. Kent St., when her parents separated and then divorced.

The property was deemed historic because of its association with this performing artist, during the decisive years of her early career. Here, with her close relationship to her mother, Hilda Hensley, Cline lived and struggled to get her singing career under way. Her mother sewed her famous cowgirl dresses and night club outfits in its dining room.

In the living room, Wally Fowler, a gospel legend, offered to launch her career.

She signed her first record contract with 4 Star Records in 1954. A year later, she fulfilled her lifelong dream and debuted on the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville.

In 1957, she traveled with her mother to New York City, where she won the Arthur Godfrey Talent Contest.

Cline’s career continued to blossom, with several top 10 recordings, including another signature song, “Crazy,” until it was tragically cut short, by a plane crash on March 5, 1963, in Camden, Tenn.

The historic designation, which is strictly honorary and does not put any limitations on the property, proves that Cline’s legend endures.

The house is now owned by the Adams Companies of Winchester.