2009 GWHS Christmas House Tour - Description and Picture Preview

Home # 1

Bath, PA

Just a few short years ago, we purchased our home.  This lovely Victorian has a front veranda to sit and enjoy the spacious yard and Monocacy Creek, a barn and gazebo. The gable-end triple windows have unusual “willow” glass. Our home features much original woodwork, floors, staircase, trim, plaster walls, ceilings, etc. 

As you enter the front door, notice the fluted newel post that has a wreath design topped with an urn.  Pocket doors join the parlor to the living room. The dining room features a wooden ceiling and a fireplace complete with a two-shelf, beveled mirror mantel.

We are currently renovating the kitchen. We will eventually remove the linoleum flooring and restore the original pine floors beneath to match the rest of the home.

Home # 4

Magnificent, stone, Keeping Room, Tavern Room are all words to describe this local beauty!  So much local history relates to this home, built in 1813 by James H. Horner.

Present owners have lovingly restored this home by repointing the exterior stone walls, building two new chimneys, replastering, painting with colonial era colors, etc.

Home # 6

Bath

Decorations by: Hayes Flowers, 251 E. Main St., Bath

             Built in 1910 by Lil and Edwin Herd, this grand Victorian home is a combination of modern convenience and turn of the century architectural grandeur. Home to the Herd’s and their 10 children, the house was nestled on 30 acres of farmland owned by Lil’s parents, Grace and Hamblie George, who immigrated to the United States in the 1880’s.

            Currently surrounded by a half acre lot, the home features many original appointments, with updates to modern standards of comfort and convenience. Especially lovely are the original pocket doors connecting the two spacious living rooms. The sturdy hardwood floors remain throughout the downstairs, while a new hardwood floor and carpeting were installed on the second floor. The plaster and lathe walls have stood the test of time. In the kitchen, the high cherry wood cabinets and vinyl floor invoke visions of the many meals cooked within over the past century. Outside, a charming porch wraps around the entire front of the house. The original slate roof remains in wonderful condition. A tasteful brick patio was added to the backyard, adding versatility to the space and the vinyl siding which was once stucco adds a finishing touch to the exterior.

            After leaving the Herd family in 1990 and seeing a few families pass through this soon to be 100 year old house is a place Matthew and I call home. As first time home buyers in October of 2008, we have updated with a more contemporary paint and color scheme, added a few modern appliances, and simply have made it our own.

Home # 7:  .

PIC

Home # 8

(Cherry Hill) Nazareth

Decorations by: Stone Cottage Gardens, 1022 Pennsylvania Ave. (Route 512), Pen Argyl, PA

 This old stone farmhouse was built by Matthaeus Alleman about 1780 as a store and home for his big family.  The roof dentil trim, the exterior symmetry and the interior ceiling height are typical of homes built in this time period.  Over its 220 years, this great old lady has acquired quite a reputation.  According to Jacobsburg by Charles Sandwick, Sr., she was known as the Asylum because temporary haven was given to young couples dismissed from the Nazareth Moravian church for dating without consent.  In 1815, the Asylum became the permanent home to a brother-in-law of the builder when his daughter became pregnant out of wedlock, requiring them to leave Nazareth.  Since the baby was born and raised here, the Asylum has also been known as a Home for Wayward Girls.

 There are four working fireplaces – the original cooking fireplace in the basement, fireplaces in the dining room and living room and one in a bedroom.  The floors, for the most part, are the original random width plank floors.  Note the original staircase – its construction typical of the late 1700s and early 1800s. 

 The home was purchased in 2006 after Joe found it on the internet.  Nancy fell in love with the house while Joe appreciated the fact that it had air conditioning and some land.  Joe has fulfilled a long time dream by creating the Old Stone House Winery.  Besides planting 216 grape vines, there have been plumbing repairs, air-conditioning and heat pump installations, furnace work and well/water pump repairs.  Future plans include kitchen improvement; restoration work, interior and exterior; and replacing the roof. 

Home #9

Nazareth

Decorations by: Valley Herb Guild, meeting at the Wolf Academy, 6630 Jacksonville Rd., Bath

In 1996, Susan purchased this circa 1867, 2 unit brick home from Evelyn Cooley- Weiss. Evelyn, a school teacher in Nazareth, lived in the house for 77 years. At the time of the sale, she lived in the 1st floor apartment and did not want to move. Susan, her 3 children and 2 dogs moved in and occupied the 2nd and 3rd floor while Evelyn continued to live on the 1st floor for the next 3 years. Much of the home's history, including the original deeds which are on display in the home, were passed to Susan from Evelyn.

Susan and her husband, Rich, have begun converting the home back to a single family home by renovating the 1st floor last year, doing most of the work themselves. Walls were taken down, paint and wallpaper were stripped, and treasures were uncovered. The most spectacular is the living room ceiling fresco which has been preserved but not yet restored. The slate top on the kitchen wine bar is from a cupboard in the original kitchen. All of the woodwork on the 1st floor is original and has been sanded and repainted. Plans are to remodel the 2nd floor next year, making it a master bedroom/ master bath suite with walk-in closet and sitting room. The 3rd floor addition, added somewhere around 1930, consists of 3 bedrooms and a full bath with claw-foot tub. As you enjoy your tour of the 1st floor only, be sure to take notice of the refinished, original pumpkin pine floors, living room ceiling, side chimney cupboards and hardware on the kitchen door.

Home # 10

Nazareth,  PA 

Decorations by: The Posey Peddler, 323 Cattell St., College Hill, Easton

 Our Victorian home was built in 1890 by Andrew and MaryAnn Dennis.  Bob and Susan purchased the home in 1970.  Because we are only the third owners of this wonderful home, extensive renovations were never needed.  But over the years we have made a few changes to make it our own.

 The living room, dining room and music room have decorative oak floors.  These rooms also feature pocket doors, French doors and a window seat.  We have updated the kitchen with tiled counter tops, an island and a large window with a shelf above so that special items can be displayed.  We are fortunate to have a tintype of the house from the early 1900’s.  The stained glass windows in the dining room were made by Susan’s uncle, Bobby Edwards; the buffet and table belonged to Susan’s great grandparents.

 We removed a hallway from the second floor which allows us to have a quiet den.  Two bedrooms, an office and a laundry are also on this floor.  A second floor balcony opens from our bath which now has a heated ceramic floor – very nice on chilly days!

 Our attic is now a lovely retreat. The heart pine floors were refinished and a window seat was built in the “tower” area.  Also, a small but very functional full bath was added.   A baby cupboard, which was built in 1920, and belonged to Susan’s father, is still being used.  This is a wonderful “suite” when visitors stay overnight.

 Some future plans include expanding our perennial gardens and adding an additional bay to the garage.

Chapman Borough Hall

1401 Main St, (Chapman Borough) Bath  18014

       The Borough of Chapman was incorporated in 1850. Council meetings were held in "the storeroom" until 1909 when plans and specifications were proposed for a Lockup and Council Chamber to be constructed. By October of 1909 Chapman Borough Hall was completed. The building was constructed by Charles D. Ruth, contractor from Bethlehem, Pa. It was constructed of standard rock face cement block and consisted of a Council Chamber and three jail cells. The total cost for the construction, furnishings, and the fees was $934.85. 

Chapman Quarries United Methodist Church

1443 Main St, (Chapman Borough) Bath  18014

       The church was founded March 1868 as Chapman Quarries Methodist Episcopal Church and was located next to the old cemetery on the south end of Main Street. The current church building was dedicated November 29, 1891 and is located about two blocks from the site of the original building. The original church was dismantled and the materials were used to build the present edifice. A large segment of the residents are members of the church. The church is the focal point for community activities and meetings, and is active in historical events.

Governor Wolf Historical Society Park

Ralston-McKeen House (House #1)

Wolf Academy (1) (Site # 2)

Richard Nye Memorial Garden (behind the Wolf Academy)

School House (Site # 3)

Siegfried Log Cabin (House #5)