Holiday House Tour – Page 12 – Preservation of Historic Winchester

Holiday House Tour in the Newspaper

If you have access to the Winchester Star online, you can read two articles on the House Tour. The first is PHW’s Holiday House Tour is this weekend.

For this article, please note representatives are planning to be on hand both Saturday and Sunday at the site of the well of Fort Loudoun, 419 N. Loudoun St. This stop is outdoors so may be weather dependent.

The walking tours may also have a guide in the area of the former Conoco gas station at 501 N. Loudoun St. if you would prefer to walk downhill to the Loudoun sites. The Fairmont sidewalks are expected to be walkable by the weekend, but if not we may need to do last minute rearranging.

Carolers from Winchester Little Theatre will be walking the streets in period attire on Sunday. This activity is also weather dependent, but Sunday’s weather forecast looks like this should not be an issue. Look for them starting around 2 p.m.

You can also get a sneak peek at The Fort in the second article, Historic apartment building included on Holiday House Tour before you get to see it yourself this weekend.

And one last minute update from the Shop, Donna Sheets dropped off some candy cane sleighs full of chocolate. You can pick one up from the Hexagon House this week during Shop hours 10-5 Tuesday to Saturday and noon-5 on Sunday.

Bough and Dough Shop Artist: Nina Burke

Nina Burke is a multi-media artist who has been at the Bough and Dough Shop in the past for her polymer clay work. This year, Nina has brought a bevy of painted gourds with embellishments for your home decor needs. Browse her Santas, snowmen, angels, reindeer, and barnyard animals. You are sure to find one that delights you. The Bough and Dough Shop is located at the Hexagon House, 530 Amherst St. in Winchester. The Shop is open Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday noon – 5 p.m.

Bough and Dough Shop Artists: Libba Pendleton

Libba Pendleton is one of our new artists for the shop this year, but her felted work is timeless. Her work, including both sculptural pieces and wearable art, is displayed in the windows in the parlor, and her ornaments are also in the tree in the dining room. The seasonal table is also located in the parlor and holds the pumpkin brigade and the small handcrafted beer journals. Be sure to stop in Friday or Saturday if her pumpkins catch your eye – they will be heading out soon to be swapped with winter themed items.

ShenArts Open House on Nov. 28

We know many people are super curious about the upstairs at the Hexagon House. Our upstairs neighbors, Shenandoah Arts Council, will host an open house upstairs on Nov. 28, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. concurrent with the downstairs shop hours. Take this chance to meet and greet our new neighbors and learn about their programs! You can find more information at their website.

Bough and Dough Shop Artist: Fibergig

Norma Fredrickson is one of our new artists for 2018. Fibergig and Studio Three 17 offers a variety of transformed fiber products, including silk scarves and bow ties, pet collar bandanas, small fabric pouches and goodie bags, tree skirts, ornaments, and matted art. Many of you may know her from her work for stoles, chasubles, and hanging banners for local congregations. Fibergig’s main table is set up in the parlor of the Hexagon House, with some of her tree skirts on display with the Christmas trees set up through the house. Her ornaments are displayed on the Christmas tree in the dining room. Stop by to see her work, and that of many other artists, at the Bough and Dough Shop, open Tuesday-Saturday at the Hexagon House, 530 Amherst St., 10 a.m – 5 p.m. We will be closed for Thanksgiving!

Holiday House Tour: Dining and Libations in Old Town

You might have a full day of tours on December 1 and 2. If you need some ideas for lunch or dinner before or after touring the homes, check out these businesses, courtesy Old Town Winchester. Many are located within easy walking distance of the tour sites and ticket sale locations. Be sure to call ahead or visit oldtownwinchesterva.com for more information on each establishment below – and even more that did not make the printed booklets.

147 North: 147 N. Loudoun St. (540) 313-4084
50/50 Taphouse: 29 W. Cork St. (540)773-4986
Alesation Brewing Co.: 23 N. Loudoun St. (540) 667-2743
Aroma Deli and Coffee Bar: 201 East Boscawen St. (540) 545-4627
Awabi Sushi Bar: 111 S. Loudoun St. (540) 686-7432
The Black Rose Coffee & Tea Lounge: 11 South Loudoun St. (540) 542-6160
Brewbaker’s Restaurant: 168 N. Loudoun St. (540) 535-0111
Chopstick Café: 207 N. Kent St. (540)450-8691
Cork Street Tavern: 8 W. Cork St. (540)667-3777
The German Table: 158 N. Loudoun St. (540) 425-4999
El Centro: 1 N. Loudoun St. (540) 313-4583
Espresso Bar and Café: 165 N. Loudoun St. (540) 686-7209
Fresco Kitchen: 6 S. Loudoun St. (540)664-5541
George’s Food and Spirits: 103 E. Piccadilly St. (540) 678-4700
The Half Note Lounge: 103 E. Piccadilly St. (540) 678-4700
The Hideaway Café: 141 S. Loudoun St. (540) 450-0799
Italian Touch Pizza: 229 S. Loudoun St. (540) 667-0008
La Nicoise Café: 12 S. Braddock St. (540) 722-4557
Lloyd’s Tropical Island Coffee and Café: 39 W. Piccadilly St. (540) 905-8022
Milano’s Ristorante & Bar: 107 W. Boscawen St. (540) 665-9437
Moe’s Donut Shop: 28 E. Piccadilly St. (540) 300-8655
Piccadilly Grill: 46 E. Piccadilly St. (540) 667-4021
Red Fox Creamery: 146 N. Loudoun St. (540) 545-8630
Roma’s Old Town Wood-fired Pizza: 21 N. Loudoun St. (540) 667-2743
Snow White Grill: 159 N. Loudoun St. (540) 722-7141
Steamy’s Café: 38 E. Piccadilly St. (540)664-9415
Thai Winchester: 24 S. Loudoun St. (540) 678-0055
Union Jack Pub & Restaurant: 101 N. Loudoun St. (540) 722-2055
Water Street Kitchen: 2 S. Loudoun St. (540) 313-4680
Village Square and V2: 103 N. Loudoun St. (540) 667-8961
Violino Ristorante Italiano: 181 N. Loudoun St. (540) 667-8006
Winchester Brew Works: 320 N. Cameron St. (540) 692-9242

Holiday House Tour tickets are on sale now at these following locations in Winchester:
The Final Yard, 33 E. Gerrard St.
Kimberly’s, 135 N. Braddock St.
Winchester Book Gallery, 7 N. Loudoun St. (new location from last year!)
Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center, 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Rd.
Bough & Dough Shop at the Hexagon House, 530 Amherst St.
Online order (adult tickets only) or the PHW website (adult and child ticket options)

The Paypal “continue shopping” glitch mentioned previously appears to have been resolved. Make sure to save your receipt from PayPal until you get your tickets in hand! You can always contact us at 540-667-3577 or phwinc.org@gmail.com if you have difficulty checking out.

Holiday House Tour: Walking Tours and Patsy Cline Historic House

The following two items are extra bonuses during Holiday House Tour on December 1 and 2. You do not need to join a group for a walking tour if you do not want to. You can still visit the sites in any order and on your own as you have done for past Holiday House Tours.

Guided Walking Tours
Meet a Guide at:
Centre Meeting House, 203 N. Washington St.
Bank of Clarke County, 202 N. Loudoun St.
Peyton Street Intersections
Last guides leave at 4 p.m.

Explore the history and architecture of the northern end of the Winchester Historic District with guided exterior walking tours. There are two tour routes this year, linked by Peyton Street. In the first route, meet a guide at Centre Meeting House to walk along the 200 and 300 block of Fairmont, ending at the Peyton Street intersection and the home of Jay Smith and Allison Young. From here, you can make a loop from Peyton, Braddock, Fairfax, and back to Centre Meeting (about ½ mile).

In the second route, starting at the Bank of Clarke County, you will head north on Loudoun Street to see a neighborhood beginning its renaissance, passing the Fort and the Well at the Baker-Hardy House and end at 501 North Loudoun Street, the future home of Pizzoco in a former Conoco gas station (about ¼ mile).

Look for guides near the intersections of Peyton Street with Loudoun, Braddock, and Fairmont to join the tour routes and open sites (Peyton Street is about ¼ mile between Fairmont and Loudoun).

Please note the sidewalks are under construction in the Fairmont area and the surfaces may present trip hazards in some locations. The neighborhood is located on a hill and you will ascend and descend at points in your walking tour. There is also one flight of steps at the intersection of Peyton and Loudoun Streets. If the sidewalks are still under construction the weekend of the tour, the Fairmont loop may be shortened or rerouted.

Bonus House Tour:
The Patsy Cline House, 608 South Kent Street
November 30 and December 1: 1-8 p.m.
December 2: 1-5 p.m.

Make the Patsy Cline Historic House a part of your holiday festivity this year! Please enjoy this FREE community holiday open house event (no Holiday House Tour ticket needed!) in a gesture of thanks for the ongoing support of our neighbors and friends. Take a break from the holiday frenzy to relax and enjoy the season with a bit of history and family tradition.

Patsy Cline’s home will be decorated as it was when she lived there in the mid 1950s with her mother and siblings. Browse the house and do some Christmas shopping in the Gift Shop. Register for an opportunity to win a gift basket worth $200.

The house is open for these special tours on Friday, November 30 and Saturday, December 1 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m.; and on Sunday, December 2 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Last tour will begin at 30 minutes before closing, no tickets necessary. House occupancy is limited to 18 persons at a time. Visitors may experience a short wait before admittance.

The complimentary holiday house tours are offered by Celebrating Patsy Cline, Inc., owner and operator of the Patsy Cline Historic House. CPC is a non-profit organization based in Winchester, VA whose mission is to preserve and perpetuate the legacy of Patsy Cline and her music. Be sure to visit them on Facebook for possible updates on this bonus house tour.

Holiday House Tour: The Well

419 North Loudoun Street
The Well at the Baker-Hardy House
French and Indian War Foundation
Saturday only

After exiting the Fort, you will have the chance to see one of the last remaining pieces of Fort Loudoun – the well that once served Fort Loudoun.

The French and Indian War Foundation was formed in 2002 to increase public awareness of the impact of the French and Indian War on colonial America and to preserve the sites, documents and artifacts associated with the conflict on the Virginia frontier. In 2002 the foundation acquired the property at 419 North Loudoun St. in Winchester, which encompasses the site of the northwest quadrant earthworks of Fort Loudoun and the fort’s well. The well, excavated at the order of George Washington, is 103 feet deep and was blasted out of solid rock by John Christopher Heintz from 1757 to 1758.

Several archeological excavations at the site have revealed numerous period artifacts which include bits of glass, ceramics, musket balls, and bayonet parts as well as animal bones, and part of the north barrack’s foundation. Representatives will be on hand Saturday for exterior tours around Washington’s Well at Fort Loudoun in period attire.

Learn more at frenchandindianwarfoundation.org.

Holiday House Tour: The Fort

411 North Loudoun Street
The Fort
Stan and Jan Corneal

In 1756, the Virginia House of Burgesses approved the construction of a chain of forts to defend the colony’s frontier. George Washington oversaw the construction of Fort Loudoun on this prominent hill overlooking the downtown. The fort, built of horizontal logs filled with earth and rubble, never saw action, and much of the lumber was reused in other local buildings.

By 1830, an oyster house had come and gone on Fort Hill, and Joseph Baker started a girl’s school on the site in a rambling, Italianate-influenced structure. It continued as a girl’s boarding school until 1925 when the front part of the building was turned into apartments and the school became a day school for boys and girls. On February 4, 1955, there was a fire at the property, which closed the school permanently. Irvan O’Connell bought the former school and converted it to apartments. During the renovation, he incorporated a double story entry portico, several arched fan windows, and the front entry doors from the recently demolished Hotel Jack on Piccadilly Street. The Fort began a new phase of life in 2016 with a renovation to convert the apartments into luxury condominiums. You can find more information at thefortcondoswinchester.com.

Three floors and multiple units of this expansive building will be open for tours, including the furnished unit of Stan and Jan Corneal. Light refreshments will be hosted in the northwestern wing, along with artifacts discovered during the renovation. The building has an elevator for easier access to the upper floors.

Holiday House Tour: 323 Fairmont Avenue

323 Fairmont Avenue
Jay Smith and Allison Young

The visually unique transitional style from Queen Anne to Colonial Revival found in this home was the product of noted Baltimore-based architect Joseph Evan Sperry in 1895. The home is typical of Sperry’s work, which reflects the changing taste from the end of the Gilded Age to the early Progressive Era of American history (1870s-1920s). In keeping with Sperry’s typical clientele, the home was built for Thomas Jefferson Cooper, a local wholesale grocery businessman. The Cooper family owned the home until 1965.

This prominent dwelling acts as a visual terminus to Peyton Street at its junction with Fairmont Avenue. The paired Queen Anne-style turreted corners flank the Colonial Revival entrance, built about 1965 to replace an earlier rectangular covered porch. Inside, the house has been altered to keep up with the changing times, including removing the butler’s pantry to enlarge the kitchen, a redesign of the central hall, and the installation of stained glass in the central hall inner doors by John Orlich. The current owners purchased the home in 2010.

Be sure to thank our final Holiday House Tour sponsor for 2018, Maral Kalbian. Click the image to view her business card full size, and contact her if you have questions pertaining to architectural history and historic tax credits.