Holiday House Tour 2015: Preview Party

703 South Stewart Street
The Home of Bill and Katy Wiley

703 South Stewart Street

The spacious porch on this 1943 Colonial Revival brick home invites you to step inside for the Preview Party on Saturday evening. The home of Bill and Katy Wiley is open for its first Holiday House Tour only on Saturday evening from 6-9 p.m.

The dwelling was built on Lot 14 of the Handley Lands. It was sold to Mrs. Jessie I. Butler on March 30, 1936, with the stipulation that no building valued at less than $8,000 would be built upon the land. The clean lines of the brick exterior are subtly accented with a denticulated cornice and fluted porch columns. The windows are framed by panel shutters with crescent moon cutouts. Such silhouettes were common in Colonial Revival architecture in the period between World War I and II. Solid panel shutters with cutouts could be securely closed, with the open patterns still admitting some natural light and ventilation to the home in the days before air conditioning. Home magazines recommended fastening wire screens over the cutouts to prevent intrepid birds from building nests in the inviting nooks.

Buy tickets online at www.phwi.org/hht.php through PayPal or at any of the advance ticket sale locations.


Preview Party and Two-Day Tickets

Tickets valid for Preview Party and Candlelight Tours on Saturday, December 5, and for Daylight Tours on Sunday, December 6.
 




Holiday House Tour 2015: Thank You to Our Sponsors!

PHW is grateful for the community support it takes to pull off this event every year. We are especially indebted to our advertising sponsors, who help us offset some of the expenses associated with hosting an event of this magnitude every year.

We extend our thanks to the following advertising sponsors of the 2015 Holiday House Tour:
Bank of Clarke County
Belle Grove
The Cake Boutique
Colony Realty
Davenport Insulation
Flavor Pourfection
Richard Hampton, United Real Estate
Incredible Flying Objects
Sherri Kitts, OakCrest Builders
Murphy Beverage Co.
OakCrest Companies
Eugene B. Smith Gallery
Shenandoah Valley Electric Cooperative
Summit Community Bank
Union Jack Pub & Restaurant
Village Square Restaurant
Vintage, Inc.
Winchester Foreign & Domestic Automotive Repair
Winchester Little Theatre

We also extend our thanks to the following in-kind supporters and advance ticket sale locations:
The Final Yard
Kimberly’s
Mount Hebron Cemetery
Wilkins’ Shoe Center
Winchester Book Gallery
Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center
Winchester Little Theatre
Winchester Medical Center
Winchester Surgical Clinic

The tour would not be possible without the support of our sponsors.

Holiday House Tour 2015: December Delights Introduction

HHT PineconesJoin us for Preservation of Historic Winchester’s 39th Annual Holiday House Tour, “December Delights.” This year we visit a selection of homes and non-profit organizations in and around Winchester’s newly expanded Virginia Landmarks Register Historic District, spanning the range of Winchester’s architecture and history from the 1780s to the 1940s on December 5 and 6.

Winchester’s western Historic District corridor is the artery to the former Northwestern Turnpike, now Route 50 West. The need for a western road had been recognized by General Daniel Morgan and George Washington as early as 1748. The turnpike, constructed between 1831-1838, connected Winchester to Parkersburg, West Virginia. Toll houses were located at twenty mile intervals along its length. Despite the seemingly impossible task of traversing the hilly terrain, Chief Engineer Captain Claudius Crozet surveyed and connected the most important settlements between Winchester and Parkersburg. The Northwestern Turnpike “bears the earmarks of his engineering genius” and the road was a success. The tolls paid for the road to be macadamized (paved) in the 1840s, shortly after it was completed.

Although the Northwestern Turnpike was supplanted by railroads and canals to the north shortly before the Civil War, it was vital to the westward movement. It remains one of our area’s scenic and historic routes, populated with historic sites and homes along its length.

Can’t wait for more Holiday House tour information? Be sure to visit the main Holiday House Tour page for basic information and online ticket sales, the Featured Artisan page for a sneak peek at the Bough and Dough Shop vendors, and the FAQ page for some frequently asked questions about the Holiday House Tour. These pages are being updated through November.

Holiday House Tour 2015 Map and Tour Locations

We start off our month-long Holiday House Tour informational posts with the maps and addresses of the 2015 sites:

Advance Ticket Sale Locations

Bough and Dough Shop

  • 315 West Boscawen Street, Bough and Dough Shop (open to the public December 5 from 9AM-5PM and December 6 from 11 AM-5PM, no entry fee)

Preview Party

  • 703 South Stewart Street, Preview Party House (open December 5 from 6-9PM only)

House Tour Locations

  • 608 South Stewart Street
  • 226 Amherst Street
  • 530 Amherst Street
  • 220 West Boscawen Street
  • 24 South Washington Street

Parking
Free parking for the event is available at:

  • The Bough & Dough Shop, 315 West Boscawen Street
  • Winchester Surgical Clinic, corner of Stewart and Boscawen Streets
  • The Hexagon House, 530 Amherst Street (limited parking at the top of the driveway)
  • City-operated surface lots
  • On-street along the tour

City Autoparks (Braddock, Court Square, George Washington, and Loudoun) are self-service and open 24 hours a day for $0.50 per hour.

Holiday House Tour 2015: December Delights

It’s that time of the year! PHW is proud to announce the lineup for the 2015 Holiday House Tour on December 5 & 6: Holiday House Tour 2015

  • 315 West Boscawen Street, Bough and Dough Shop (open to the public December 5 from 9AM-5PM and December 6 from 11 AM-5PM, no entry fee)
  • 703 South Stewart Street, Preview Party House (open December 5 from 6-9PM only)
  • 608 South Stewart Street
  • 226 Amherst Street
  • 530 Amherst Street
  • 220 West Boscawen Street
  • 24 South Washington Street

Ticket Information:
Bough and Dough Shop
Open to the public, no ticket required! Please come in and shop for your holiday greenery and gift-giving, and even pick up lunch! Like last year, PHW will donate the 20% proceeds collected from the Shop vendors to the Winchester Little Theatre’s Restoration Campaign.

Two-Day Party & Tour Ticket
Includes access to the Preview Party (includes food and drink) and all the homes for the Candlelight Tour on Saturday, December 5 from 6-9 PM AND access to the homes on Sunday, December 6 from 1-5 PM
Cost: $40/PHW member, $50/nonmember

Sunday Daylight Tour Tickets
Includes access to the homes on Sunday, December 6 from 1-5 PM
Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door
An individual house may be visited on Sunday, December 6 for $5 per stop.

Advance tickets are anticipated to go on sale the week of November 16 at the following locations:
The Final Yard, 33 East Gerrard Street
Kimberly’s, 135 North Braddock Street
Wilkins’ Shoe Center, 7 South Loudoun Street
Winchester Book Gallery, 185 North Loudoun Street
Winchester-Frederick County Visitors Center, 1400 South Pleasant Valley Road

Advance tickets will be sold at the Bough and Dough Shop on December 5 from 9 AM-5 PM and December 6 from 11 AM-5 PM. The Bough and Dough Shop is able to process credit cards in addition to cash and checks.

Stay tuned next week as we begin our coverage of Holiday House Tour with in depth looks at the tour stops and the Bough and Dough Shop.

The Speakeasy Is Tonight! Here’s What You Need to Know.

Memberfest 2015

Time: 6-10 PM

Place: 137 South Loudoun Street. Look for the fence with the PHW banner. The speakeasy will be held in the basement of this building.

Parking: The Palace and Hable lots off Indian Alley and the Cork Street lot at the corner of Cork and Loudoun Streets are the closest public parking lots to the event venue. These lots are FREE to park in after 6 PM. Map of downtown parking lots.

Admission: There will be an outdoor admission table with staff for check ins. If your PHW membership dues are current, you need only give your name (or your business name, if you are a small business/corporate member) to be checked in.
If you need to pay dues:
You may pay your dues on PayPal prior to coming to the event. Bring your receipt from PayPal as proof of purchase for any renewals made today. We will NOT have access to PayPal to verify your purchase at the event venue.
We will be accepting cash or checks only at the door tonight. Exact change is preferred!

Event Capacity: There is room for approximately 50 attendees inside the event. Please feel free to leave the event for a time and have dinner or walk around the downtown.

Entertainment: The Bob Larson Trio will play between 7-10 PM. The stories of Winchester’s time as a dry town will be read in two sections, one at 8 PM and one at 9 PM.

Silent Auction Items: In addition to the three prints (framed Ruth’s Tea Room, 1968 by Jane Caspar, framed George Washington’s Office by Eugene B. Smith, and Winchester Celebrates signed artist proof by Don Black), there will also be four gift baskets, with 1920s themed goodies and snacks, custom items with our attractive flapper poster girl from the event advertising, a Winchester: Limestone, Sycamores & Architecture book, Holiday House Tour Preview Party tickets, and more! You need not be present at the end of the evening for your high bid to win.

Please note: The PHW office will be closing around 4 PM on Friday to begin the event setup. We will not be available to answer emails or phone calls after this time.

PHW’s Silent Auction Items at Memberfest

PHW is pleased to bring you a preview of some of the items which will be available at the silent auction on October 23 as part of PHW’s Memberfest.

A framed Ruth’s Tea Room, 1968 print by Jane Caspar, 41/50
Ruth's Tea Room

A Eugene B. Smith print of George Washington’s Office
George Washington's Office

A signed artist’s proof 5/20 of Winchester Celebrates by Don Black, 1996
Winchester Celebrates

As well as several themed gift baskets for 1920s Christmas gifts and architectural goodies from PHW.

Please note we had reported incorrectly last week the items at Memberfest would be raffled; all items will be sold at silent auction.

National Avenue Gateway Project Engraved Bricks for Sale

As you may have seen in the Summer PHW Newsletter, PHW is assisting Ms. Judy Humbert and Mr. John Hill with the sales of engraved pavers to be utilized along the sidewalks of the new roundabout, in the area where the two African-American heritage markers will later be installed. One marker will focus on the only Black dentist in the city, Dr. Taylor F. Finley, Sr. He was also a Douglas teacher, founder of the Douglas School’s Alumni Association, and proprietor of the Finley Recreation Center located on North Kent Street. The other marker will focus on the Old Stone Church which was the home of the Old School Baptist and Free Will Baptist that held congregations here. Later the building became the first publicly funded school for this city’s Black children.

The proceeds from the brick sales will be split evenly between the Timbrook House and the Boys & Girls Club. Both organizations benefit the lives of youth in our city.

If you are interested in purchasing an engraved brick, PHW is coordinating the orders and processing the funds. Please type or print the text to be engraved on your paver. Bricks may be engraved with up to 3 lines of 16-20 characters. Please make checks payable to PHW, and on the memo line note “National Avenue Gateway Project.” You may mail in your brick orders to the PHW Office at 530 Amherst Street, Winchester, VA 22601, or drop them off in person during office hours. You may wish to call ahead at (540) 667-3577 before stopping by the office, as we are entering the busy fall event season.

Thank you to those who have already ordered, and in advance for those considering a purchase. Your support is deeply appreciated.

Coming This Weekend: Patsy Cline Music Festival

Here’s what’s happening this Friday-Sunday for the Patsy Cline Music Festival here in Winchester:

September 4th (Friday) — At the Apple Blossom Mall…Vocal performances by Fleming, Fleming and Peterson and other singers. Other activities will take place at no cost. This is an acoustic trio made up of Karen Fleming, Mike Fleming and Chuck Peterson. Activities start at 6:30 PM.

September 5th (Saturday) — A free block party will be held Sept. 5 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in front of the Patsy Cline Historic House, 608 S. Kent St. There will be entertainment including the The Evans Sister from central Pennsylvania, vendors including Greenwood Grocery and Deli, and tours of the house at a reduced cost of $5. DJ for the day is Hampton Thomas of Special Occasions Entertainment.

September 5th (Saturday) — A rock ‘n’ roll dance will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. Sept. 5 at Best Western Lee-Jackson with the Robbie Limon Band playing. Cost is $15 for single and $25 a couple with hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar.

September 6th (Sunday) — A Rockin’ in the Park Concert will be held from 4 to 8:30 Sept. 6 at Bridgeforth Field in Jim Barnett Park with music by the Drifters, and Bill Haley’s Comets. The opening band will be the Texas Chainsaw Horns. A free car show will be held before the concert, and food vendor Jordan Springs Market will sell food. General admission is $18 in advance and $22 after Aug. 25. Reserved seats are $20 in advance and $30 after Aug. 25.

One hundred percent of the proceeds from the festival events will be used for continuous operation of the house to honor our native singer, Patsy Cline. Please join in celebrating her legacy with these events to honor her musical career.

Make sure to get your tickets for the dance and the concert in the park! Tickets are available at the house located at 608 S. Kent St., Winchester-Frederick County Visitor Center, 1400 S. Pleasant Valley Road or at G&M Music, 2640 Valley Ave.

Learn more about at celebratingpatsycline.org.

Holiday House Tour 2015 Call for Advertisers

Your friends and neighbors at Preservation of Historic Winchester are busy planning the 39th Annual Holiday House Tour. For many of us this event officially begins the holiday season with its guided tours of the festively decorated historic properties in Winchester. In addition to being a fun holiday tradition, the Holiday House Tour generates the monetary foundation that enables us to continue our mission to improve Winchester by preserving the best of the area’s past.

As part of our promotional materials for the event, PHW will be producing a full color program booklet again this year. I invite you to place an ad in the booklet to show your support for PHW and to promote your business to a demographic interested in Old Town Winchester, history, and architecture. The example ad sheet below shows the size, costs, and benefits of the sponsors’ ads in the program.

Please reserve your spot soon – ads are due by 5 PM on October 30 to ensure inclusion in the program booklet, which will be distributed in mid-November to ticket sale locations and local visitor centers. Include your business name, contact information, and ad size in your reservation. Your print-ready digital ad files may be emailed to phwi@verizon.net or submitted on CD or flash drive at the PHW Office, 530 Amherst Street, Winchester, VA 22601.

I hope you will consider sponsoring and attending the 2015 Holiday House Tour!

Holiday House Tour Ad Size Sheet
Click to view at full size.

First time advertiser in the Holiday House Tour program booklet? Here are some tips for your ad creation. Continue reading Holiday House Tour 2015 Call for Advertisers