Author: PHW

201 South Braddock Street
John Chesson and Anne Schempp
House Chairman Sandra Bosley

Constructed circa 1810 with a Federal-style form, the building was altered in the 1840s to reflect the fashionable Greek Revival style. Samuel Noakes purchased the house and property in 1857. The house was altered again in the twentieth century for commercial use as the Peoples Barber Shop. The building is a mixture of limestone and brick covered with a low-pitched, side-gabled roof, covered with standing-seam metal. The house is currently undergoing renovation. Images of the process will be presented during the tour of the space.

211 South Washington Street
Erich and Kristin Bruhn
House Chairman Karen Clay

Historically known as the Richard Byrd Residence, this Federal-style dwelling was constructed in 1832 for the prominent Winchester lawyer and member of the Virginia House of Delegates of the same name. Built of Flemish-bond brick, the home is topped with a hipped roof featuring a central Palladian dormer window. The Federal-style entrance sports a fine elliptical fanlight and moldings. The Queen Anne-style porch embellished with a dentilated cornice and spindlework was added circa 1870. This house was willed to PHW by Mrs. Lucille Lozier, an early president of the organization. It is now owned by the Bruhns.

205 South Washington Street
Ardis Cullers
House Chairman Mark Lore

Constructed circa 1951 by Boyd Hamman, this one-and-one-half-story home was designed in the Colonial Revival style with a Cape Cod form. Two dormers, each with a front-gabled roof, extend from the eastern slope of the roof. The central bay on the façade contains a single-leaf, paneled wood door surrounded by four-light sidelights and a semi-elliptical fanlight. This was the home of Mr. and Mrs. Harold Patton, who established Patton’s Furniture Sales in 1957. The most striking feature of the house’s decoration is the series of eight large and two small original Audubon engravings from the early 1800s, purchased from Arader Galleries in New York. They are from a series of books that James Audubon and Robert Havell created, intended to depict all birds and animals in North America.

103 South Washington Street
Chuck Alton and Judith Omslaer
House Chairman John Barker

This Italianate style home was constructed circa 1880 for the Willis family. The elongated first-story windows, segmental brick arches, and modest detailing typifies domestic architecture in Winchester during this period. A centered, half-hipped bay typical of the Italianate form projects from the façade. Paired scrolled brackets, cornice returns an ogee-molded cornice, and jig-sawn brackets and pendants complete the Italianate styling.

140 West Boscawen Street
Christ Episcopal Church
House Chairman Chris Ferguson

Christ Episcopal Church has been in continuous use as a sacred site in Winchester since its construction in 1828. The Gothic Revival-style building is dominated by the three-story bell tower crowned with finials and quatrefoil balustrades. A pointed-arch accented with a flower motif surrounds the double-leaf paneled wood doors. Of particular interest and beauty are the stained glass windows, installed in the late 19th century by the Gernhart Company of Baltimore.

230 West Boscawen Street
New Lifestyles
House Chairman Lawrence Belkin

Known as the George Seevers Residence or the Holly House, this circa 1854 building was designed in the Greek Revival style with Italianate influences. The brick structure combines Greek Revival-style frieze windows and pedimented doorway surround with Italianate arched windows, brick quoins, and hood molds. Union General Banks used this building as his headquarters in 1862. The building was later owned by the various members of the Conrad family from 1879-1940 before being converted to office space. Today it is the business office for New Lifestyles.

We are in need of a few more volunteers for the 2012 House Tour. Here’s how you can help:

Shop helpers at the Bough and Dough Shop. Helpers are needed indoors as cashiers/gofers both Saturday, December 8 and Sunday, December 9 at the Winchester Little Theatre. Saturday hours are 10AM-5PM; Sunday hours are noon-5PM. We are looking for at least one helper on Saturday and at least two for Sunday.

Docents for Saturday evening, December 8, from 6-9 PM. Docents guide visitors through the homes and point out interesting features using a prepared script. You may also be asked to check tickets. We are looking for approximately six docents for Saturday evening.

Can you help? Contact PHW at 540-667-3577 or phwi@verizon.net to be given an assignment.

Click here to see the Holiday House Tour 2012 brochure (PDF).
Click here for a map of the Holiday House Tour 2012 sites (JPEG).

Today’s post brought to you by

Holiday House Tour sponsor OakCrest Companies. Thank you for your support!