On September 21, Minden partnered with Simply Southern Cottage to host Cottages & Bungalows magazine for a one-day event celebrating the town’s historic charm. The event, titled “The Colorful Cottages of Minden,” drew visitors from across the country, including attendees from California, South Dakota, and Florida, to tour local properties and shop.
Fans of Sara McDaniel, owner of Simply Southern Cottage, were able to meet Wendy from Chair Whimsy and interact with the editor-in-chief of Cottages & Bungalows. The event featured a vintage market at Academy Park and a curated market at The Villas at Spanish Court, along with food trucks stationed along West Union Street.
Highlighting the event were tours of iconic Minden properties, including the Fuller-White House, The Villas at Spanish Court, Phillip’s Cottage, and McDaniel’s own home. McDaniel shared her excitement for the event and noted that part of the proceeds will support Phillip’s Cottage, a newly established 501(c)(3) nonprofit providing transitional housing for women graduating from the Adult & Teen Challenge (ATC) program.
Named in honor of McDaniel’s father, Phillip Carroll, a longtime educator and pastor in Springhill, Phillip’s Cottage will offer housing for up to three women and their children after completing the faith-based recovery program. The craftsman-style home, located across from the Fuller-White House, once belonged to piano teacher Kuma Shealy.
“This is a stepping stone between rehabilitation and independence,” said McDaniel. She aims to have six bedrooms and three bathrooms in the home, providing each woman with a private bedroom—a resource not available in the ATC program.
McDaniel is currently accepting donations to support the project, which can be made at PhillipsCottage.org. All contributions are tax-deductible. Renovation work will begin soon, with tree work and foundation repair planned first. McDaniel hopes to make significant progress by year’s end, using her regular team. “All local people,” she said.
Through her series of restoration projects in Minden, McDaniel has bolstered tourism and the local economy. With Phillip’s Cottage, she hopes to further support the well-being and independence of individuals in the community.