Tovey House at the Hill

03/20/2024

Thank you to the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas for recognizing our amazing contractor Pete Pendley with a 2023 Award for his dedication, extensive work and craftsmanship to rehabilitate the historic Tovey House at the Hill. We are pleased that by preserving this home, we may be able to share the legacy of Professor Henry D. Tovey with the community for another one hundred years! 👏

The City of Fayetteville is seeking nominations for its 2024 Historic Preservation Awards, which celebrate the community’s rich cultural heritage and those committed to historic preservation in Fayetteville.

Learn more: https://cvcpl.us/HYxPT0G

Pictured: Renovations to the Henry Tovey House, for which Pete Pendley won the 2023 Historic Rehabilitation Award. Tovey was a gifted pianist, University of Arkansas professor and served as head of the Department of Fine Arts for 25 years, beginning in 1908. He wrote the music for the university's alma mater.

03/03/2024

Spring is on its way in Fayetteville! We’re eager to fill the Tovey House planters with fresh spring plantings 🌺💚🩵💜💗.
In the meantime, sharing some “roots” in the early growth of U of A and the institution’s connections with Henry D. Tovey, our home’s namesake.

Henry Doughty Tovey, was the founder of the University of Arkansas Music Department. He was born on January 26, 1884, in New Boston, Illinois. After graduating from the Knox College Conservatory of Music in Galesburg, Illinois in 1904, he was hired as a professor of music at Ouachita College (now Ouachita Baptist University). In 1908, he came to the University of Arkansas, where he developed and served as chair of the music department until his death in 1933.

In 1909, Tovey composed the University of Arkansas Alma Mater (You can hear a recording of Tovey playing the Alma Mater on the organ in the Rockefeller Chapel at the University of Chicago that is currently housed in the Arkansas Alumni Center).

In 1913, Tovey composed the music & arrangements for the Arkansas Fight Song (Lyrics written by Edwin Douglas, student).

While at the university, Tovey directed the Glee Club, performed on the first U of A radio broadcast, and developed The Musical Coffee Hour, a program held in the Arkansas Union in which participants listened to and discussed Tovey's recordings of selected music. In 1919, he established the Kappa Kappa Psi National Honorary Band Fraternity and was advisor to Kappa Sigma fraternity.

A renowned musicologist and a talented pianist, Tovey was ranked as a top 70 national performer. During semester breaks, he traveled worldwide serving as an accompanist to opera singers Mary Gardner and Ernestine Roessler Schumann-Heink.

Tovey worked to establish and standardize the music education programs of Arkansas high schools, sending them selected sets of records, articles, and photos of performers loaned from his personal collections.

Tovey founded the Arkansas State Music Teachers Association, was vice-president of the National Association of Presidents of State Music Teachers Associations, and served as a member of the National Board of Music.
🎶 https://uark.as.atlas-sys.com/repositories/2/resources/1359

01/15/2024

Brrr! It’s a very cold 2* in Fayetteville today. It’s hard to imagine Professor Henry Tovey & beloved sidekick 🐾 Mike Bryan on Jan 14,1925 making the (back then) hours long freezing journey in his 1920’s Hudson! ❄️😱
Hopefully you and yours are warm, dry and healthy wherever you go this week.

On this Day in Fayetteville History - January 14, 1925 - 99 Years Ago - UA Music Professor Henry Tovey (and his dog) visited Gayeta Lodge near the western edge of the city. Tovey was head of the Department of Fine Arts from 1908 until his death in 1933. He composed the music for the University's Alma Mater and he was one of the founders of the Arkansas State Music Teachers Association. An accomplished pianist, Tovey also served as organist at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.

12/24/2023

Wishing you and yours a very Happy Holiday Season from the Tonymon Family in Fayetteville, Arkansas!

12/08/2023

Getting ready to welcome Tovey House family, friends, & guests for the holidays… Fayetteville & places throughout our special Northwest Arkansas community are lit up for all to get in the holiday spirit. Love this beautiful time of year! ✨🎄🕊️

11/25/2023

Professor Henry D. Tovey composed the music for the University of Arkansas "Fight Song" with the words written by engineering student William Douglass, a member of the UofA band and Tovey's newly formed Glee Club; making it a uniquely Arkansas tradition.
Here's a video from 2013 commemorating the 100 year anniversary of "Arkansas Fight". This instantly recognizable song has inspired many generations of Razorbacks. Singing along while watching this video is encouraged:

“Hit that line! Hit that line!
Keep on going...."

The Arkansas Fight Song was created 100 years ago by a U of A student and his professor. The tune has helped connect generations of alumni and Razorback fans...

11/07/2023

The Tovey House is oh so close to several awesome coffee shops, with lots of tasty options to grab and go or for a healthy breakfast and meet ups with friends! Here’s their delicious avocado toast! ☕️🤩

09/10/2023

Celebrating a lovely, peaceful September morning in Fayetteville after an exciting Razorbacks victory over Kent State! Go Hogs! 🐗🏈♥️🙌
Savoring the last days of summer flowers at the Tovey House… Fall temps will be here soon!

07/18/2023

In late 1908, the Tovey House was lovingly dubbed the "Gold Fishbowl" by new owner Henry D. Tovey. The home's close proximity to the vibrant U of A campus life, as well as the marvelous soirees Tovey hosted honoring visiting national and world respected music and fine arts performers, it often drew community and press attention. Tovey, tongue-in-cheek, installed a little fishbowl sign on the front porch for all to see. We found a photo of the original sign in the Shiloh Museum of Ozark History records. So, now a replica hangs in the same spot today!
Here's a bit of entertaining and informative 1900's era Fayetteville music history by D Campbell including some of Tovey's you may enjoy: https://denelecampbell.com/tag/fayetteville-arkansas/page/2/
Here's an overview of the historic Fayetteville neighborhood, along with a timeline highlighting notable events involving the illustrious Henry Doughty Tovey :) ...

07/16/2023

1913: “Arkansas Fight”🎵 was written for Arkansas Razorback fans to cheer at all athletic events. The inspirational lyrics were written by William Douglass. The rousing music 🎼 composed by Henry D. Tovey, Music Chair at the University of Arkansas. Douglass was a student of Tovey’s.
Backstory: Douglass & Edward Claire Tovey (Tovey’s young brother) were friends from their childhood days back in Galesburg, IL. Douglass lived in the Tovey household for a time while both young men earned graduate degrees in engineering. (Room & board included performing in Tovey’s newly constructed Air dome theater on the Square, the Episcopal church & UA Glee Club). We can just imagine Tovey & Douglass at the pair of baby grand pianos in the small front room at the Tovey House at the Hill - ringing out their new Fight Song 🎶!

The University of Arkansas didn't always have a fight song. What better time to review the tune's history than a few days before a battle with the Texas…

07/14/2023

We're excited to announce the Tovey House at the Hill is now accepting reservations! Please check out our new listing on Cohobhb. Here you can see the latest photos, amenities, location and booking details. Reach out if you have any questions! We look forward to hosting you on your next visit to NWA! Feel free to share this link with your friends and family to book the property at any time: https://book.cohobnb.com/properties/6495c6670a24d6002b65ba7f?_ga=2.150667262.913372198.1687892750-1214699293.1666650106&_gl=1*3qbc81*_ga*MTIxNDY5OTI5My4xNjY2NjUwMTA2*_ga_DDNX667DXV*MTY4Nzg5Mjc1MC4yMy4wLjE2ODc4OTI3NTAuMC4wLjA.&city=Fayetteville&country=United+States.

06/06/2023

Here’s a few “before” & “during” progress photos (2020-2022) on the rear elevation at the Tovey House.

04/22/2023

It’s a beautiful spring day in Fayetteville, Arkansas 🌷🌷🌷

03/29/2023

University of Arkansas alumnus and prominent regional artist Stevie Petet reimagined old photos to create these wonderful pieces to hang at the Tovey House. We’re thrilled with her work and want to share them with you! We feel it’s important to return a little of Professor Henry Tovey’s delightful character to his namesake, don’t you agree?

03/29/2023

We’re so happy to welcome old and friends to our recently completed renovation. Whew! Beyond words grateful to the entire reno team & especially GC Pete Pendley.

08/10/2022

Adding heat (and lots of elbow grease) helps to remove about 6 layers of paint from the original baseboards! Thanks Megan. You’re awesome!

03/21/2021

An interesting “find” in the cellar this week! A 1910 perfume bottle. 👏👏

02/10/2021

The Tovey House at the Hill is a hidden gem located just over a stone's throw from Old Main at the University of Arkansas and the Arts & Entertainment District on Dickson Street. Prominent historic figure Henry D Tovey built, lived and entertained prominent visitors in this home in the early 1900's. The home was purchased in 2020 and is being restored and revitalized to serve as a comfortable respite for guests visiting the Fayetteville area. Owners Ken and Susan Tonymon's goal is to preserve the legacy of Professor Tovey, described as a beloved "renaissance" man during that early time period in Fayetteville's history. Tovey founded and chaired the University of Arkansas' fine arts program, where he also composed the music for Alma Mater, Razorback Fight Song, performed on the first KMFQ radio broadcast; instrumental in establishing music education to Arkansas's schools, as well as a prominent civic leader and many more contributions.

01/17/2021

01/16/2021

It's understandable that in the early 1920's, Professor Tovey chose to live within easy walking distance to his office in Old Main and to Dickson Street's arts and entertainment district. In the 2020's, the Tovey House is still one of the most convenient places to get to and from the hill area... 🏠

01/16/2021

01/16/2021

01/16/2021

Tovey-isms: It's said that a dog is man's best friend. Henry Tovey's best friend (Boston terrier) was especially talented (like his owner) at entertaining a U of A crowd by playing a tune on an upright piano!
Photo Source: Allen, A. L., & Nutt, T. G. (2015). 2/People. In University of Arkansas (p. 44). Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing.

01/16/2021

Sharing some "before" photos of the Tovey House taken in early Fall 2020. 🏠

01/16/2021

Welcome to the Tovey House at the Hill! Don't forget to like or follow us so you can stay up to date on our exciting progress and happenings. Thanks for visiting the Tovey House FB page and we hope to see you soon!🏠🤝