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HOMES FOR THE HOLIDAY: Newtown historians…

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Bucks County Bucks County News Yardley Area

Homes for the holiday: newtown historians present 58th annual holiday house tour.

127 South Sycamore Street

240 South Chancellor Street

32 South Chancellor Street

The Old Presbyterian Church on Sycamore Street.

The Court Inn, Newtown. (BucksLocalNews.com photo)

The Newtown Fire Association is located at Liberty Street and Washington Avenue in Newtown Borough.

“Knowing the homeowners, I know that each of the houses will have their own very unique decorations. The one house on Sycamore is owned by a decorator so I’m sure that will be spectacular,” said King. “Over on Chancellor, some have more contemporary modern furniture while maintaining the older architecture. One of the houses is a little more eclectic. It has some amazing artwork that’s really going to be a centerpiece of the tour.”

Another highlight of the tour will be the newly-renovated Newtown Theatre. Since August, the historic theatre has undergone a major interior renovation, the first in more than 50 years.

“There will be people talking there about the renovation and the history of the building,” said King of the exclusive sneak peek inside the movie theatre. “It’s  really exciting for us to have the theatre on the tour.”

The tour also includes a stop at another community treasure – the historic Presbyterian Church on Sycamore Street. “That hasn’t been on the tour for years.”

That’s just a taste of what this years tour has in store for the public, said King who encourages everyone to take this year’s tour.

“We are thrilled to be able to bring back a wonderful holiday tradition that people look forward to and enjoy,” said King. “It’s an exciting day to be out and about exploring beautiful homes, getting in the spirit of the season and enjoying the decorations. This is one of the highlights of Newtown. And it all benefits the Newtown Historic Association, an organization dedicated to documenting and preserving the history of Newtown.”

King noted that putting together this year’s tour did have its challenges with regard to the pandemic and supply chain issues, which limited the number of houses on this years tour.

“We will be following the proper guidelines from the CDC,” said King. “We will be requiring that people wear masks inside the buildings. We will also have fewer people going through at a time to allow for social distancing.”

Tickets for the tour are $30 each and can be purchased at Newtown Book & Record Exchange, 102 S. State Street and on-line at the Association’s website, www.newtownhistoric.org/housetour.  On tour day, tickets can be purchased at the Half-Moon Inn, 105 Court Street and at the Stocking Works, 301 South State Street, Newtown.

In the event of major snow, the tour will be held on Sunday, December 8. Photography and high-heeled shoes will not be permitted inside the houses.

For additional information, call the Newtown Historic Association at 215-968-4004. Proceeds will benefit the Newtown Historic Association and its programs dedicated to the preservation of Newtown’s historical heritage.

Featured on this year’s tour are the following homes:

• Horace Fenton House (circa 1893), 240 S. Chancellor Street, owned by Michael and Christine Franko. This is the fourth house erected by Horace Fenton. It is a vernacular Queen Anne style house with an offset, rather than the more typical central cross gable providing space on the third floor. The cross gable has several large straight brackets. A dormer provides additional light to the top floor. Adding to the style of the house is a two story bay window on the side elevation. The first floor level of the bay window has clipped corners while the second floor is rectangular. The second floor of the bay window has fish scale shingles matching those in the main gable. The entrance door has several interesting aspects. It is not located directly below the corresponding second floor window and has a sidelight on only one side.
• Josiah S. Worstall House (circa 1874), 121 S. Chancellor Street, owned by Kati Sowiak. As one of the owners of the Newtown brick yard, it is perfectly logical that Worstall would have a brick house. Mr. Worstall bought the lot in 1869 and moved into the house in 1874. Later his estate sold the property to Sarah F. Worthington for $3,100 in 1899. This house is Victorian Gothic in style. It is crowned by a central cross gable with Gothic arch window. The cross gable had ornate perforated barge board at its apex and carved brackets which are also found on the main cornice and gables. The front porch has turned columns with perforated brackets that are connected with ball and dowel spandrels.
• Wisteria/Blackfan House (circa 1880), 32 South Chancellor Street, owned by Lou and Lee Ann Fancher. Built by John Blackfan in 1874, this 2 ½ story Second Empire style brownstone features a 3 story tower with dormer windows set into the mansard roof which is covered with hexagonal design slates. The main part of the house is nearly square with a T addition to the rear. Doric columns support the porch on the front façade. The main entrance to the house is on the first floor of the tower where double doors are surmounted by a single light semi-elliptical fanlight. The plaster moldings and plaster ceiling medallion in the foyer are original to the house. The original side porch was converted to a garden room in 1927. A renovation to the kitchen in 2019 combined the original butler’s pantry and kitchen, original cabinets from the butler’s pantry were incorporated into new design. Exiting to the rear of the house, note the 2 ½ story brick carriage house.
• Newtown Fire Association (circa 1901), 14 Liberty Street. In 1824, the first Newtown area fire brigade was initiated as the Washington Fire Company. This was replaced by the Winona Fire Company and, finally, by the current association in 1889. The present building, erected in 1901, is home to “Old Washy”, a water pumper built in 1796 and a relic of the original company. The tour will feature two new additions to the Newtown Fire Association. The style of the building echoes the Colonial Revival style of the older building. Note the arches with ball pendants and the ball finials on the roof above the corbelled cornice trim. On the south side of the building is a newly built display area for various pieces of equipment. This was just completed in the fall of 2008. Please note the arches doorways on the north side of the building also just finished in 2008. Newtown Fire Association took delivery of a new 2008 Pierce Velocity Ladder Fire Truck at the end of September 2008.
• Newtown Theatre, 120 North State Street. Built in 1831, re-built in 1883, renovated 2021. Owned by the Community Welfare Council of Newtown. The present Newtown Theatre, a two story Romanesque Revival building, was originally built as a lecture hall for town gatherings and a non-sectarian church for traveling preachers. Newtown High School held graduation ceremonies in the theatre and civic organizations put on fund raising entertainments on its stage – it became a center of entertainment in Newtown. In the early l850’s “Newtown Hall” (as it was then called) was used regularly for social dances, concerts, theatrical productions and major lantern shows. In 1883 the building was reconstructed, larger than the first and designed for stage performances in mind. In 1906 the first movie was shown, making the Newtown Theatre the oldest theatre in the United States and it is owned and governed by the non-profit Community Welfare Council of Newtown. This is the same organization that owns and operates Pickering Manor Home and Apartments. The theatre had additional renovations done in 1936. For the past few years the Theatre Restoration Committee of the Community Welfare Council has been hard at work raising money to maintain and repair the historic building. The goal of the committee is to totally renovate the theatre and restore it to the condition and appearance of 1936 for future generations to enjoy. Now all this work has come to fruition. The interior of the first floor of the theatre has been totally renovated with new seats, handicapped area and a sprinkler systems installed. A handicapped lift was installed out front. The interior has been restored without losing the ambiance of a bygone era.
• Old Presbyterian Church & Session House (circa 1769), 76 N. Sycamore Street. Although Presbyterian Worship in the Newtown area antedates 1734, this church was not erected until 1769. The southern and eastern walls were built of dressed stone, in contrast to the other two walls constructed of rough stone. The church once boasted a high pulpit on the north side and has 59 high box pews standing on a brick floor. The gallery along the southern side was presumably occupied by the servants and slaves owned by the members. These walls served as shelter for General Washington’s Hessian prisoners following the Battle of Trenton in the Revolutionary War. The Old Presbyterian Church is on the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The graveyard behind the church is of historical importance also. Of the nine cemeteries in Newtown borough and township, this is the only one containing the remains of Revolutionary War soldiers. It is the resting place of 22 veterans of the Revolution, as well as two soldiers of the French and Indian War. The Session House – This one room stone building, located on the southwest side of the Old Presbyterian Church, was originally used by the church elders for meetings. Because most early session members were farmers and did not get to town except on Sunday, a quiet place was needed to conduct church business. It was also utilized as a Sunday School and a regular school until about 1860. It has been refurbished by the sanctioning of the church trustees and is an example of the preservation of local history and heritage. Parking is available off of South Eagle Rd. across from the Farmers Market.
• Milnor House (1760), 127 S. Sycamore Street, owned by Nancy Jane Gracia. This house was part of the Newtown Commons which was subdivided into lots in 1826. Records indicate that at the time of the sale John Milnor, a stone mason erected a dwelling house on the lot at the time of the purchase. The property was sold at sheriff’s sale three years later. In 1858, this house was purchased by Gideon Davis, a house carpenter who may have constructed the frame addition. The core of this house is a small stone structure to which a taller stuccoed covered section was added in 1900. The original stone house was a bank house. The side of the house facing the creek has a three-story exterior while the elevation facing Sycamore Street appears to be a single story in height. New sections added in 2012 and 2019 feature timber frame construction in keeping with the historic feel of the home. The original portion of the home has been recently restored by the current owner who has designed and overseen the upgrades since its purchase in 2009.
• Newtown Library Company, founded 1760, built 1912, 114 East Centre Avenue. Owner: Newtown Library Company. This Colonial Revival brick building features a front gable with a broken pediment and large cornice modillions. A fanlight is set above the front entrance flanked by massive pilasters. The front door is surmounted by an elliptical fanlight and flanked by sidelights. The third oldest library in Pennsylvania was founded in 1760 and incorporated on March 27, 1789. The collection of books was kept at the homes of the librarians until after the county seat was moved to Doylestown in 1813. At that time, the books were housed in various buildings until 1912 when the Company dedicated this building. The 1979 addition allowed for the expansion of the library’s collection with dual level stacks. The Library is staffed by 30 volunteers and is open over 45 hours per week. Newtown Library invites the community to join in on our many programs and events. On display are books bought directly from Benjamin Franklin, 2 chairs owned by William Penn, the original library sign painted by Edward Hicks in 1824 and other library artifacts. A Jonathan Laidacker mural in the Children’s nook is a more recent addition to the library attractions.
• NHA Research Center – Repository of Newtown History, 100 Mercer Street. There will be a display of antique quilts in the Research Center this year. The Newtown Historic Association’s Mercer Street Research Center is a repository of records focusing on Newtown history from its founding to the present time. The collection includes deeds, wills, diaries, genealogies, photographs, directories, inventories and maps dealing with Newtown people, land, houses, farms, schools, service organizations, events and many other topics of interest. The collections are strong in the period 1725 to 1813, when the village served as the county seat. Edward Hicks, America’s foremost primitive painter, is also well represented. The collections are of particular value to persons interested in genealogical information of former Newtown residents, and the maps and deeds are of assistance to those studying land history or dating historic houses in the Newtown area. The original Research Center was opened in 1982 and the core of the collection was a gift from Edward R. Barnsley, a long time Newtown resident, collector and preservationist. The new Research Center, opened in August 2019, is located at 100 Mercer Street, Newtown – just around the corner from the Newtown Historic Association headquarters. The Research Center is open to the public without charge on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Thursdays from 7 to 9 p.m., and by appointment. Copying facilities are available. Research is also done by request. Newtown Historic Association Research Center 100 Mercer Street Newtown 18940
• The Half Moon Inn (Court Inn) (circa 1733), 105 Court Street. Owner: Newtown Historic Association. The Half Moon Inn (Court Inn) is one of the oldest and most historic buildings in Newtown. The south portion of the Half Moon Inn (Court Inn) was the original cottage of Margaret and Joseph Thornton built in the 1730s. The large cooking fireplace with bake oven opening in the east jamb and handhewn exposed framing members are the original remaining evidence of this early one and one-half story frame building. Joseph Thornton built the Half Moon Inn in 1733 as a tavern. It was a popular gathering place during court sessions when Newtown was the County Seat (1725-1813). The Half Moon Inn has served as the headquarters of the Newtown Historic Association since 1962 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Tickets for the tour and gift items may be purchased in the Museum Shop.05 Court
• The Stocking Works (originally built 1889), 301 South State Street. Ticket Sales and Free parking for tour guests, Ground was broken for a brick knitting mill, two stories high with 20-inch thick brick walls — all for $5,200 — in June 1889.  After the tenure of the stocking manufacturer, the building was used by a stained glass company, a bobbin factory and then, during and after World War II, by the Lavelle Aircraft Corporations.  Recent years have seen a renovated, creatively developed building emerge that retains the flavor and style of the old, but is updated to provide for today’s needs.  The new design has brought gratifying awards as well as being an honored asset to the community.

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To purchase photos visit http://photos.newtownbee.com

Holiday Festival House Tour Previews

One of the attractions of the Annual Holiday Festival in Newtown is the house tour. For one day each year, five private homes are open for visits by the public. Four of the homes on the tour this year have never before been included in the Holiday Festival, which runs from 11 am to 5 pm Sunday, December 5 this year.

Residence Of Ellen & George Whalen

65 Main Street

Decorated by Lexington Gardens

A well-executed example of a restrained but high-style Italianate residence, this charmer holds a prominent position at the head of Main Street’s west side and is now proudly owned by George and Ellen Whalen. A marker in the cellar in a granite block dates the house to 1867.

Upon entering this home there is a feeling of grandeur. There are nine-foot ceilings, beautifully detailed crown moldings, wonderful four over four rounded long windows, and spacious sun-filled rooms. Mr and Mrs Whalen have been carefully restoring the house to its original beauty.

Graced by a fine old pegged barn, the property was once a small active farm owned by George Mayer. Although he had mostly retired as a farmer and had moved into town, people would stop at the Mayer house for milk and, from here, milk was transported to Bridgeport. Perhaps it was the Mayer family who built the large wheel and trap doors that could raise and lower the cows in the barn.

Residence of Judith & Ronald Benson

42 Mount Pleasant Road

Decorated By Newtown Florist

This grand old house at 42 Mount Pleasant Road is the home of Judy and Ronald Benson. In the Queen Anne style, it was built circa 1898. It is a three-bay, symmetrical house with a side-gabled roof and two chimneys; one off the west side, the other off-center to the east.

There are decorative cut trusses under the eaves, while the front porch is flat roofed with four supporting columns and exhibits a decorative balustrade. The front door is obscured but the top one-third is one pane of beveled-cut glass.

The gracious Queen Anne-style home – with its decorative cut detailing, abundance of windows, crown moldings and almost ten-foot ceilings – is a significant contribution to the historic character of the area. It is important as a conservative example of the changing stylistic tastes evident in the late 19th Century.

A well-known story concerning 42 Mount Pleasant is of Jack Diamond, a wealthy Newtown farmer who resided in the house. Seems one day he was stung by a bee and soon died. His property was then divided and sold, some of it becoming the genesis of Diamond Drive nearby.

Residence of Kim & Palmer Chiapetta

6 Main Street

Decorated By The Homeowners

& The House Tour Committee

Built between 1760 and 1780, Thankeful House is part of the original town lot allocated to Abraham Kimberly, which extended all the way down Glover Street to Queen Street. The house was originally built as a farmhouse and the lot was not subdivided until the early 1800s.

Thankeful House is a typical center-chimney Colonial, varying from what might be thought of as the standard only in not having a staircase to the second floor just inside the front door. Instead, the stone and timbers of the central chimney are exposed, making a striking entrance.

Owners Kim and Palmer Chiapetta are currently restoring the house to its original beauty. The Georgian front porch is a 20th Century addition, probably built during a major remodeling in 1926, and which replaced long Victorian porches.

It is believed that the ell at the rear of the house was also added during this 1926 remodeling, making room for a separate kitchen and bathroom downstairs, and an enlarged master bedroom upstairs.

The house is of post and beam construction, with the “gunstock” corner post (tops wider than the bottoms) exposed.

Residence Of Tammara & Ian McMahon

4 West Street

Decorated By Burr Farm Garden Center

Built in the early to mid-19th Century, the house at 4 West Street is noteworthy as an example of a simple three-quarter Colonial and for its contribution to the historic character of Newtown during that time.

Town records show that the property was transferred to Bennett Blackman for the purchase price of $3,100 sometime in 1872 for use as an inn or tavern, and bore the name The Colonial Knight Place.

Current owners Tammara and Ian McMahon state that numerous horseshoes have been found in and around the large barn on the rear of the property. This may suggest that horses were regularly re-shod here at one time and thus it is thought that the building was used as a stopover for early travelers en route to Danbury or Waterbury.

The barn actually predates the house, according to the mapping of John Boyle for the period of 1709-1758, and is estimated to be approximately 200 years old.

Residence of Meghan Rice

1 Schoolhouse Hill Road

Decorated by Newtown Country Mill & Garden Center

This home is a charming early example of the bungalow-style dwelling built during the first half of the 20th Century, and represents the architectural style of houses constructed during that time on Schoolhouse Hill Road along Hanover Road to Hall Lane.

Owned and being lovingly restored by Meghan Rice, the house was built on a rubblestone foundation almost at the top of the rise as Schoolhouse Hill Road approaches Main Street. It was constructed in 1901. Characteristic of the style, a shed-roofed dormer, with paired, three-over-one sash and exposed rafters opens from the front roof-face.

The house is best known for its delightful and spacious front porch, which extends the length of the first floor level. Local artist Kira Van Deusen was recently commissioned to paint the wonderful murals on the risers of the steps leading up to the porch, which depict some of the homeowner’s favorite Newtown landmarks.

In addition to the homes on the house tour, the public will be welcomed into a number of familiar buildings during the festival. Among these locations are Newtown Meeting House, at 31 Main Street (after 2 pm); the Matthew Curtiss House, 44 Main Street; the offices of The Bee Publishing Co, at 5 Church Hill Road; Newtown General Store, 43 Main Street; and Trinity Church (the sanctuary will be open after 12:30).

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Local News | Annual Newtown Holiday Open House…

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Local News | Annual Newtown Holiday Open House Tour benefits historic association

The Newtown Historic Association’s Holiday House Tour returns for its 59th year on Saturday, December 3rd.

An anticipated winter tradition, make it yours and take this self-guided walking tour of the 6 private residences and the 6 public buildings featured this year.

Houses on the tour are 254 S. Chancellor St., 219 E. Washington Ave., 191 N. Chancellor St., 141 Liberty St., 123 Liberty St., and 239 Court St.

Public Buildings – Newtown Presbyterian Church, Newtown Fire Assn., Newtown Library Co., NHA Research Center – textile display, and NHA Court Inn.

The cost of a tour ticket is $30 for members or $35 for non-members and also includes entry into the Half-Moon Inn, home to the Newtown Historic Association.  Once inside this beautifully restored 18th-century building, tour-goers will enjoy period musical entertainment, hearthside colonial cooking demonstrations and refreshments of mulled cider and cheese.

Midway through the tour, respite can be found at several of the borough churches hosting lunches at a reasonable cost – St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Newtown Presbyterian Church. Or dine at one of the restaurants and get a head start on holiday shopping by visiting the shops along State Street.

Tour hours are from 10:00AM to 4:00PM.  Advance tickets can be purchased at Newtown Book & Record Exchange, 102 S. State Street beginning November 15th and on-line at the Association’s website, www.newtownhistoric.org/housetour.  On the day of the tour, purchase tour tickets at the Half-Moon Inn, 105 Court Street and at the Stocking Works, 301 South State Street, Newtown.

Please, no picture taking or high-heeled shoes permitted in the houses.

For additional information, call the Newtown Historic Association at 215-968-4004 or visit our website.

All proceeds from the tour benefit the Newtown Historic Association and its programs dedicated to the preservation of Newtown’s historical heritage.

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Seasonal & Holidays

Newtown holiday house tour set for dec. 1, take a look inside some of newtown's most festive holiday homes on dec. 1, during the 56th annual annual open house tour..

Kara Seymour , Patch Staff

NEWTOWN, PA — Take a look inside some of Newtown's most festive holiday homes on Dec. 1, during the 56th annual Annual Open House Tour.

The event, organized by the Newtown Historic Association, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The snow date is Dec. 2.

This year, there will be six private homes and six public buildings on the tour.

Find out what's happening in Newtown with free, real-time updates from Patch.

Tour sites include:

• The Parsonage, 203 Washington Avenue
• Garrett B. Girton House, 117 S. Congress Street
• The Briggs House, 319 E. Washington Avenue
• Minno House, 428 E. Washington Avenue
• Carver and Stapler Double House, 314 E. Washington Avenue
• Stenton & Congress Hall, 35 S. Congress Street

PUBLIC BUILDINGS

• The Stocking Works, 301 S. State Street
• Newtown Fire Association, 14 Liberty Street
• Paxon Hall, 50 S. Congress Street
• Newtown Library Company, E. Centre Avenue and Congress Street
• Saint Luke's Episcopal Church, 100 E. Washington Avenue
• Half Moon Inn, Centre Avenue and Court Street

Tickets are $30 and can be purchased online or at The Newtown Book & Record Exchange, 102 S. State St., Newtown. Children under 12 are free.

On the day of the tour, tickets will be available for purchase at the Half-Moon Inn, Court Street and Centre Avenue, and at the Stocking Works, 301 South State Street, Newtown.

If you buy your tickets online, stop over to The Stocking Works on the day of the tour to pick up your tour booklet, which gets you into the houses.

Click here for more details.

Patch photo, David Allen

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Plan Your Visit

Calendar of events, welcome to newtown.

Come and explore the history of Newtown and Bucks County with friends and family! The Newtown Historic Association has exhibits of local artifacts, hosts a variety of events, and also provides an active research facility to discover your roots. HOURS [/one_half][one_half_last] DIRECTIONS & PARKING [/one_half_last] [one_half] GROUP VISITS [/one_half][one_half_last] EVENTS [/one_half_last] [one_half] WALKING TOURS [/one_half][one_half_last] LOCAL INFO [/one_half_last] -->

Callahan Research Center 100 Mercer St. Newtown, PA 18940

Tuesdays 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Thursdays 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM And by Appointment

DRIVING DIRECTIONS AND PARKING

The Newtown Historic Association’s Half Moon Inn (Court Inn) and Callahan Research Center are located in historic Newtown PA and approximately 35 minutes north of Philadelphia.

Parking is available on the streets in and around the Half Moon Inn and also next to the Callahan Research Center. Municipal parking lots are available within 2 blocks, behind the Starbucks and also behind the First National Bank of Newtown.

Google Maps: Half Moon Inn Google Maps: Callahan Research Center

GROUP VISITS

Please contact the Newtown Historic Association for group visits. Call 215.968.4004.

Check out the event listing to see what’s happening at the Newtown Historic Association. For Market Day information, click here . For Annual Holiday House Tour information, click here .

WALKING TOURS

Come and explore Newtown in a whole new way by taking one of our walking tours. LEARN MORE…

VISIT NEWTOWN & BUCKS COUNTY

Tucked neatly within Philadelphia’s Countryside amidst rolling hillsides, working farms and picturesque towns, the 622 square mile area of Bucks County is a particularly inviting place. Visitors in search of historical or artistic treasures, charming accommodations, and eclectic shops will find that Bucks County offers it all and is conveniently located 25 miles from Philadelphia and 75 miles from New York City. LEARN MORE…

Upcoming Events

Annual Spring Clean-Up

April 27, 8:30am - 11:00am

Every year, in the Spring, we take a day to clean the Half Moon Inn, and it’s a time to put the Inn back to “right” while seeing neighbors and making new friends

NHA's Spring Garden Cocktail Party

May 18, 5:00pm - 8:00pm

Enjoy a beautiful evening wandering among the gardens, sipping a glass of wine, and having the opportunity to bid on a Craig Hackett painting.

Memorial Day Tribute to Local Veterans at the Callahan Research Center

May 27, 10:00am - 2:00pm

The one-day-only “Tribute to Local Veterans” is the NHA’s annual Memorial Day event to honor local soldiers.

The Edward Hicks Room

The Newtown Historic Association invites you back in time to experience the life of Newtown's most famous artist, Edward Hicks. The Edward Hicks Room displays many of the treasures owned by Hicks during his lifetime. These items include a double-faced swinging sign portraying William Penn's Treaty with the Indians and Penn's Landing at Chester in 1844 ...learn more

We invite you to sign up to stay informed of upcoming events, educational programs and community activities. Most are held in our historic Half Moon Inn, a tavern in the early days of Newtown, and are open to the public.

Join the celebration of our past and help ensure the preservation of our future.

What does Membership Mean?

It means playing an active role in preserving our community.

It means exploring the history of Newtown and Bucks County with friends and family.

It offers an active research facility to help me discover my roots

It provides opportunities to learn more about the colonial way of life.

It’s a way to celebrate and share our unique history

Newtown Historic Association, Inc. 105 Court Street P.O. Box 303 Newtown, PA 18940 USA

Callahan Research Center 100 Mercer St. Currently by appointment only, please call 215.805.8772

Callahan Research Center 100 Mercer St. Tuesdays 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Thursdays 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM and by appointment. Phone: 215.805.8772

Callahan Research Center 100 Mercer St. Tuesdays 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Thursdays 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM and by appointment. Phone: 267.685.0501

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Historic Staunton Foundation's 48th annual Holiday House Tour

STAUNTON — Historic Staunton Foundation's renowned and eagerly awaited holiday event returns and will showcase renovation, restoration, and preservation of historic architecture richly decorated for the season.

This year's 48th annual Holiday House Tour highlights the Newtown Historic District and features six historic homes and a storefront. Get a rare glimpse inside stunning landmark homes decorated for the holidays. Discover the history of Staunton and experience the results of thoughtful restoration in our community.

Newtown Historic District sprung from the expansion of the downtown hub in the late 1800s. This year’s tour includes properties on Fayette Street, Church Street and North Washington Street.

Frank Strassler, executive director of Historic Staunton Foundation, says this year’s tour is special; you will see historic homes with holiday luster open only for this event. Each property is a celebration of architectural design, community growth, and a sustainable future.

See homes and a commercial building illustrating the beauty of rehabilitation and adaptability for today’s lifestyle. See American architectural Italianate and Federal styles.

Italianate style houses constructed in the late 19th-century are features of this year’s tour. The Italianate style is the most prevalent historic style found in Staunton’s historic districts. Stylistic elements are side gable or shallow hip roofs, scroll sawn brackets supporting overhanging eves and porch roofs, paired windows, and segmental arched openings. Italianate houses come in a few varieties.

48th annual Holiday House Tour details

• Newtown Historic District
• Saturday, Dec. 9, 4-7 p.m.
• Sunday, Dec. 10, 1-5 p.m.
• Tickets: $45 available for purchase online at www.eventbrite.com
• On-street parking is available throughout the neighborhood
• Expect stairs, hills and uneven surfaces

Homes on tour

15 n. washington st..

Built in 1895 on lots created after the 1893 demolition of the Mozart Hotel, number 15 and its next-door twin joined a row of Italianate-style houses lining North Washington Street. A characteristic example of the Staunton three bay Italianate houses, Kevin and Heather Fusing's house has a side hall entry with two parlor windows. Bracketed eaves at the cornice are a hallmark of the style. The restored porch includes Victorian details such as square chamfered columns with sunray brackets and a balustrade of molded handrail with incised square pickets.

401 W. Beverley St.

A review of Sanborn Maps and Staunton Directories indicates a construction date between 1934 and 1938 for 401 W. Beverley, associated storefront, and upstairs apartments. Familiar to Staunton natives, 401 housed a branch of Reid Grocery Stores. Staunton had many independent groceries throughout the community before the big box stores took over. Libby Hartman purchased the building in 2008 and began a series of improvements to the upstairs apartments and storefronts.

204 Church St.

Majestically sited above the stone walls lining Church and Federal streets, 204 Church St. is a combination of its original Italianate style with a later Tuscan columned Colonial Revival porch. As noted in the Vindicator on Aug. 28, 1868, house construction was underway and owned by prominent businessman R.W. Burke and his wife, Fannie Alice. When purchased in 2020 by Chip and Rae Milbourn, the house required complete rehabilitation. Their worked included reconstructing of the large stone retaining walls, chimneys, and windows. The quarter-acre property includes a CA 1920 brick garage with a coal room.

26 Fayette St.

John Grove purchased the property from Alexander St. Clair in 1811 and, by 1839, had constructed the house. A.J. Turner owned the home in 1858 when he became the professor of music at the Wesleyan Female Institute. Professor Turner was locally famous as the leader of the Mountain Sax Horn Band. As with most buildings, the house evolved with a Victorian bay added by 1894 and a new full-width porch (removed in the 1980s) by 1909.

208 Fayette St.

Built in 1870, 208 S. Fayette is a two-story plus raised basement, three-baby, brick residence with a hip and central gable roof. Note the massive, corbelled brick-end chimneys. Synonymous with the Italianate style, the wide overhanging eaves include ornate Victorian brackets. Centered on the facade is a Palladian window about the first-floor entry with sidelights and transom. Six over six, double hung wood sash windows flank the central bay. Raised above the exposed basement, is the full width front porch with bracketed even, square columns, and balustrade. A beautiful entry stair rises to the porch from the brick walk.

212 Fayette St.

The Staunton Vindicator in June 1870 noted the purchase of Rev. J.A. Latane's property for the establishment of a female seminary for the Lutheran Church. The article mentions additions made to an existing building to accommodate students. Historically, a two-story Italianate-style hyphen connected and provided ground-level access to the flanking buildings. Drawings of the seminary indicate the center hyphen was a High Victorian Italianate with a central cupola, including a cross-gabled roof. A centered gable is above the single-story front porch with a flat roof, including a balustrade. The construction of the current house at 212 S. Fayette correlates with the opening of the Dunsmore Business College's new home in fall 1896.

214 Fayette St.

Sited above the street, 214 Fayette was the southern wing of the Staunton Female Seminary. With property purchased in June of 1870, quick construction allowed the school to open in September of the same year. This grand Italianate style house is the twin of 208 Fayette with its raised basement, commanding front porch, bracketed eave, and a signature central gable with Palladian window.

Descriptions provided by Historic Staunton Foundation.

HSF's office is located in the R.R. Smith Center for History and Art at 20 S. New St., open 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday–Friday.

The Newtown Historical Society invites you to participate in creating a historical record of Newtown’s local experience dealing with the COVID-19 global pandemic. Your contributions will be archived with those of other Newtowners and accessed in the future by scholars, townspeople, students and others who study and look back on this historic time in our modern life.

We have all been touched by COVID-19 in very different and personal ways. Children and parents, seniors and students, merchants, highly educated professionals...all creatively finding new ways to work and play safely. Every kind of individual and family has been forced to adopt new habits almost overnight.

Select the link below and enter your observations on the form that will appear. Don’t be concerned about style or grammar because the facts are what matter.

The Newtown Historical Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Newtown's history through programs, events, and the maintenance of the Matthew Curtiss House Museum and Little Red Schoolhouse.

We currently need volunteers for the following positions: Social Media Coordinator, Bookkeeper, Fundraiser Committee Chair, and Docents

Upcoming Events

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Open House at the Matthew Curtiss House Museum

Sunday, June 24, 2018 12:00 - 4:00 pm Matthew Curtiss House Museum

Step back in time with a tour of Newtown’s very own house museum. Being built in the mid-1700s, the house witnessed, as a private residence, more than 250 years of Newtown’s history.

Walking Tour - Main St

Sunday, June 24, 2018 1:00 pm Matthew Curtiss House Museum

In conjunction with our June open house, Dan Cruson will conduct an hour long walking tour of Newtown’s beautiful and historic Main Street or “Newtown Street” as it was originally known. Meet in front of the Matthew Curtiss House Museum at 1:00 pm with comfortable shoes, and Dan will regale you with stories of the Street’s more interesting citizens and the architecturally distinct houses that they inhabited.

February 2019

No February Program due to Winter Break

Summer History Week

It is with great reluctance and regret that we announce that this year's history camp has had to be cancelled. If you are still interested you can contact Gordon Williams by phone at (203)405-6392 or email at [email protected] to be added to our contact list for next year's camp.

July 13th - 17th, 2018 9:00 am - 12:00 pm 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (2 Sessions) Matthew Curtiss House Museum

This unique camp is designed for children ages 8, 9 & 10 and each session is limited to 12 campers to guarantee a rich, hands-on experience. Cost is $150 for members and $175 for non-members. Please contact Gordon Williams for further information or to register at 203-405-6392.

There Are No Programs Currently Scheduled

May Open House “Digging up the Past”

Metal detector hobbyist and enthusiast Dave Wise will join us at the Matthew Curtiss House to share some of his historical findings over the years. He will share through his artifact findings what he has learned about early American life that may not be something you would read in a book. He will also be able to provide guidance and share advice if you are looking to dive into this hobby, yourself! Regardless of what part of American history interests you the most, you can be sure that Dave will have an artifact and a story to share!

This is a free event for the public, but donations are accepted and appreciated in order to continue offering events such as this.

Tag Sale Fundraiser

Please No Early Birds!

This fundraiser, which will benefit the upkeep and maintenance of the Matthew Curtiss House, will be held on the front lawn of the historical society's house museum.

Items available for purchase will include housewares, books, toys, knickknacks, furniture, etc.

Open House & Colonial Games

June 11th, 2023 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm Matthew Curtiss House Museum 44 Main St, Newtown

Please join us for this family friendly event. Colonial games will be available in the backyard for all to play, or take a tour of the house with one of our docents. Event is rain or shine. If it is raining, inside games will be available for all to enjoy.

This is a free event, however, donations are welcomed and appreciated.

Please email, or call with any suggestions for programs, etc. See contact info in the banner at top of page.

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Newtown Historic District - Salisbury, Maryland

Newtown—salisbury’s first historic neighborhood.

Salisbury began in 1732 as a landing at the head of navigation on the Wicomico River with 15 acres of building lots. The Eastern Shore, laid open by numerous rivers flowing to the Bay, depended on water rather than roads to move bulk cargoes: first of tobacco, then of lumber, grain, and flour, and later, of other vegetables and seafood.  By the early 19 th century, Salisbury had mills, boatyards, taverns, churches, and tradesmen, and by 1830 it began to be visited by the new steamboats that linked its people and commerce to the wider world.  By 1847 the town had outgrown its original boundaries and the area south of town, known as Camden, and the area to the north, known as Newtown, became part of Salisbury. Newtown, although it had some houses, such as the circa 1795 Poplar Hill Mansion* at 117 Elizabeth Street, was still largely undeveloped.  In 1850, 118 years after its founding, Salisbury was incorporated.

Poplar Hill Mansion

By 1860 Salisbury was a town of frame buildings with a population of 2,000. Lumber, a major industry, was piled high on wharves waiting for shipment. Future prospects were brightened when the railroad reached the town in April, 1860 and provided a faster and cheaper connection to Wilmington and Philadelphia.

Four months later, a fire wiped out virtually all of the original town.  Some of the buildings that bordered the town escaped. On Broad Street, Newtown’s southern boundary, Park Hall (115 Broad Street) built by General Humphrey Humphreys in 1856  and the John Wesley M. E. Church (321 Broad Street), built 1838 (renovated in 1880 and today known as the Charles H. Chipman Cultural Center) are notable. Rebuilding Salisbury was hampered when the Civil War began the year after the fire. Salisbury became a major camp for Union troops on the Eastern Shore.

Dr. Cathell Humphreys House (1860-70) at 325 N. Division

With the end of the war, the rebuilding of Salisbury was completed and the town became the seat of Wicomico County, fashioned from parts of Somerset and Worcester counties.  Rail service expanded, and the town saw new prosperity.  Newtown by now was dotted with houses. Surviving examples include the Dr. Cathell Humphreys House (1860-70)  at 325 N. Division and the Alexander D. Toadvine House at 105 E. Isabella.

Alexander D. Toadvine House at 105 E. Isabella

In 1886, fire again devastated Salisbury’s downtown. Residents in Newtown spread wet blankets on house roofs to save their homes from windblown flaming debris.  As Salisbury set about to rebuild yet again, construction in Newtown accelerated. E. E. Jackson, with his brother the owner of a large lumber company, constructed a sprawling Queen Anne-style mansion he called The Oaks on the northern end of Newtown. Although the house does not survive, this area of Newtown, north of Isabella Street and west of Division, retains the name, The Oaks.  Jackson would go on to serve as the governor of Maryland.

Gillis-Grier House,* an 1887 Queen Anne

In the years between the 1886 fire and onset of the Great Depression, Newtown became, along with the Camden area, the neighborhood in which Salisbury’s elite lived.  Income from lumber, seafood and produce packing, hardware, and clothing manufacturing paid for houses built in Italianate, Greek Revival, Queen Anne and Colonial Revival styles. The Gillis-Grier House,* an 1887 Queen Anne, is on the National Register. Built about the same time nearby on Gay Street is the mansard-roofed Perry-Cooper House.*

Dickerson House, c. 1912

On Division Street, the Grier-Lawry House, a Queen Anne built in 1897, incorporates the c. 1828 Federal-style Hooper House as its rear wing. Next to it, the Dulany House (c. 1921) is a Colonial Revival built by Dr. Edgar W. Smith and purchased in 1970 by a member of a local family who prospered as purveyors of canned and frozen produce.

Further up Division, on the corner of Isabella, the Dickerson House, a massive Colonial Revival meticulously built with pressed brick laid in narrow butter joints, was erected in 1912. Newtown is full of wonderful houses that reward a visitor on foot with an eye for architecture.

Dulany House, c. 1921

Newtown remains a prestigious neighborhood, but the fortunes of Salisbury, and Newtown with it, declined after World War II.  By the early 1970s, the neighborhood was obviously suffering.  New residents, some employed at the expanding medical and academic sectors, saw potential. They bought and began restoring houses. Forty years later, many still live in the houses they bought and restored.  The Newtown Neighborhood Association was formed, and Newtown became Salisbury’s first historic district. Newtown was again an elite address.

Perry-Cooper House, c. 1897

  Nothing remains the same, however. A job market in decline, suburban development, and the Great Recession are once again challenging Newtown, and once again the Neighborhood Association has mobilized, determined to write a new and glowing chapter in this, Newtown’s fourth century.

*These houses are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.        

Where are Salisbury and Newtown?

Driving Directions:

• From east : Route 50 (Business), right on N. Division, right on Isabella, left on Poplar Hill. Poplar Hill Mansion straight ahead.
• From west: Route 50 (Business), left on N. Division, right on Isabella, left on Poplar Hill. Poplar Hill Mansion straight ahead.
• From north or south: Route 13 (Business), heading south on 13, turn right at the light on Isabella, then right at Poplar Hill. Poplar Hill Mansion straight ahead on Elizabeth.

Things to Do

• Local Things to Do
• Things to do in Wicomico County, MD
• Wicomico Parks and Recreation

Let’s Get Social

Neighborhood News Real Estate

91st georgetown house tour shows off unique renovations, designs, by peggy sands • april 22, 2024 0 266.

You would think after 91 years, seeing a multitude of mainly brick-facade Georgetown town houses, many dating over 100 years old, many with steep front steps, would get old despite the wonderful stories they contained of their often renowned past owners.

tags Georgetown House Tour Historic Preservation home design springtime tradition St. John's Church Georgetown

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