Heritage Home Association hosts 18th annual Christmas tour
The nine homes selected for this year's tour date from 1830 to the present. The sites include elegant, beautiful, historic, and unusual homes to tour. In this drive-it-yourself tour, the properties will be trimmed with glimmering lights, greenery, and holiday décor sure to give pleasure and enjoyment.
One special church is included for this year's tour. The Sharon Moravian Church, just outside the town of Tuscarawas, will be decorated to welcome guests and, as a special bonus, they will present their fabulous Putz. The Putz shows a depiction of the story of the birth of Christ in miniature through lights and story. For those who have never seen this story it is well worth the time. Showings will be every half hour throughout the day of the tour.
The historic Richard Burrell House, at 2740 N. Wooster Ave., Dover, was built circa 1830 and exemplifies the then popular Classical or Greek Revival style. This stately brick structure is located on a remnant of the once 158-acre Burrell Farm. (Today this home sits next to the Dover National Guard Armory). Craftsmen using old growth native white oak trees felled on the farm and bricks made at the home site made a sturdy home. Almost all of the woodwork, windows, floors and plaster are original to 1830. The current owners, Jeff and Susan Miller, did a three-year restoration starting in 2006 and Jeff made many of the replacement parts that were handcrafted exactly as the originals. The ground floor once contained five fireplaces, of which only two remain. This magnificent home will take guests back to an era of long ago. This is a Plaqued Heritage Home.
The next home on the tour, at 530 North Wooster Ave., Dover, is a grand pre-Civil War home built in 1855, and it has been in the Hardesty family since 1879 when it was purchased by Alonzo and Mary Baker Hardesty. Alonzo and his brother, William, were known as the Hardesty Brothers, proprietors of Hardesty Flour Mills in Canal Dover. That mill was the third largest milling establishment in the United States. The house remains largely as it was at the turn of the century. The first floor, with 11-foot ceilings, features a center hall with lovely open stairway, living room and large parlor, each having a fireplace, and a formal dining room. The upstairs features a large center hall, four bedrooms, bathroom and maid's quarters accessible to the kitchen by a back stairway. This home is currently in the process of being lovingly restored by Allison and Lee Bechtol. Allison is a great-granddaughter of the Hardesty family.
The home of James, Kimberly, and Alexandra Gray, at 940 Fourth St. NW, New Philadelphia, is a lovely brick Neo-Federal style home that has been part of New Philadelphia's Fourth Street landscape since 1926. Outstanding exterior features are the beautiful front door and side porch with double French door access and a second floor balcony. When entering through the front foyer, notice the home's original walnut woodwork. The main floor of the home is decorated in frosted red roses and a second floor bedroom was designed by 9-year-old Alexandra and features her current love for Monster High.
The next home is just over a block away, at 1039 Fourth St., New Philadelphia. Ed and Linda Harper own this fairytale cottage-style home, built in 1927. "It has a cozy charm that I felt the moment I walked inside," said Linda. After many hours of work, she noted, the house is "coming back into its own," and hopefully it looks more like the house that Jon and May Pyle moved into in 1927. The Harpers purchased the home in 2006 and have been working on it ever since. Linda loves decorating and she and her husband enjoy dressing up their home for the holidays. In the den Linda has recreated her past with decorations and toys from her childhood.
Owned by Sharon and Randy Feemster, My Fair Lady, at 552 Fair Ave. NW, New Philadelphia, is an impressive 1870s Queen Anne home. This stately brick home has enjoyed a rebirth of holiday festivities since the Feemsters first bought the home in 1996. As lovers of Victorian and Edwardian antiques and collectibles, they hope visitors also will enjoy the many rooms with their various holiday themes. Known by many in town as the Halloween house, the Feemsters are happy to enjoy the different holidays and seasons with the community they live in and love so dearly. This is a Plaqued Heritage Home.
John and Linda Welfley searched several years for an open concept home. In 2004 they decided to take on the monumental task of converting a 1930s era post and beam barn at 2960 Boltz Road SE, New Philadelphia, into their home. John enjoyed working full time on the structure, with some help from close friends and family. The Welfleys were able to move into their spacious home after two years of hard work. Linda loves decorating for Christmas. Her trees include the themes of snowmen, patriotism, birds, the Salvation Army, and a special silver and red tree that is 12 feet tall. Linda also likes decorating with old trunks, wagons, and Raggedy Ann and Andy. John also has his touches throughout this home and one in particular is his climbing wall--inside the house. This is a very interesting and unusual home visitors are sure to enjoy.
The next site, at 3042 Boltz Road SE, New Philadelphia, is just a few houses past the Welfley home. This historic two-story brick Italianate home, owned by Donna Vacca, was the original Boltz Family Farmstead, which was built in 1856. According to a Boltz family member, Mrs. Boltz had a restaurant called the River Biscuit Inn close by on Route 416. With this restaurant she was able to successfully send two of her sons to college. Donna's son, Edward Vacca Jr., who has done all of the work himself, is currently renovating the home. This beautiful historic home has five fireplaces, three of which were discovered during the renovation. Future plans include opening the home as a tearoom, which will be called Antoinette's Tea House after her mother. Take a step back into time when wandering through this lovely home.
The Sharon Moravian Church, located at 4776 Moravian Church Road SE, New Philadelphia, is about 1/2 mile from the Vacca home. This church was organized by settlers from the Bethlehem, Pa. area in 1815 and has been a presence in the community since then. The first Sharon church building was erected and dedicated in 1817. This was replaced by a larger facility made of bricks manufactured near the site in 1857. The Sharon congregation supports the missions of the worldwide denomination as well as local service projects. This denomination is known for their love of music, especially the brass, and the miniature depiction of the birth of Christ known as a Putz. The Putz, with numerous carved figures from a noted German sculptor, will be shown on the tour for all to enjoy. The Putz showings are every 1/2-hour. This is a very special display, which takes about 20 minutes to view.
The next home on the tour is at 5749 Greer Drive SE, Uhrichsville, and belongs to Derrick and Lauren Castello. This quaint, country-style ranch was built in 1985 by the Greer family and was purchased in 2008 by the current owners. Set on a beautiful country lot with approximately two acres, the home boasts an open concept family area and kitchen, three bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a lower-level family room. Primitive Christmas décor is displayed throughout the main level of the home with many Christmas trees, snowmen, and Santas. The home's lower level displays the owner's love for the Ohio State Buckeyes with a festive touch.
The last stop is a beautiful Victorian home at 804 North Water St., Uhrichsville, built around 1915, purchased by John and Kelly Chapman in 1994. After a complete restoration, the home boasts 10-foot-tall ceilings, original oak hardwood floors and oak wood trim throughout the house. For the holiday Christmas season, the home is lavishly decorated with 14 Christmas trees. Each tree is tastefully decorated with a different theme to showcase the treasured memories of the family. Also on display is their Santa collection, both in portrait and large figurines, along with their large nutcrackers. Step back in time when entering this beautifully decorated Victorian home.
The homes may be visited in any order. Tickets are available presale at the Geib Funeral Homes of both Dover and New Philadelphia and the First National Bank--at the Dennison office only. (Tickets on Saturday, Dec. 10 will only be on sale at the New Philadelphia Geib office). Tickets on the day of the tour will be available at the doors of any of the sites. The tour is not recommended for small children. Everyone must have a ticket to enter.
There is some walking involved and visitors are encouraged to start early on the tour if they intend to see all the sites:
1. Jeff and Susan Miller home, 2740 N. Wooster Ave., Dover
2. The Hardesty House, 530 North Wooster Avenue, Dover
3. Home of James, Kimberly, and Alexandra Gray, 940 Fourth St. NW, New Philadelphia
4. Home of Ed and Linda Harper, 1039 Fourth St. NW, New Philadelphia
5. My Fair Lady- Home of Randy and Sharon Feemster, 552 Fair Ave. NW, New Philadelphia
6. Home of John and Linda Welfley, 2960 Boltz Road SE, New Philadelphia
7. Home of Donna Vacca, 3042 Boltz Road SE, New Philadelphia
8. Sharon Moravian Church, 4776 Moravian Church Road SE, New Philadelphia
9. Home of Derrick and Lauren Castello, 5749 Greer Drive SE, Uhrichsville
10. Home of John and Kelly Chapman, 804 North Water St., Uhrichsville
For more information, go to http://www.tuschha.org. For ticket information, email tickets@tuschha.org.
Published: December 6, 2011
