3rd Annual Falls Village Holiday House Tour

The Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society is hosting the 3rd Annual Holiday Historic House Tour on Saturday, December 7 in Falls Village (snow date Sunday, December 8). Tickets can be purchased to benefit the Falls Village-Canaan Historical Society at the advance price of $25 or $30 on the day of the tour. Children ages 8 to 16 are free.

Sammuel Robbins House

The tour will begin with a brief welcome and introduction to the five houses on the tour at P.D. Walsh's Country Store (107 Main Street) at 10:30 a.m. and at 11:00 a.m. ticket holders may begin their self-guided tour.  Four of the five locations on the tour will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.  Houses on the tour are not wheelchair accessible and strollers are not permitted in the houses.

There will be a Musical Review by the Children’s Theater at 2 pm (tickets for that event are $12) at the Center on Main located on 103 Main Street in a former Methodist Church.  The Center will be open from 11am to 1pm on the day of the tour.

A superbly maintained single story Cape Cod style house known as “Twin Chimneys,” that was probably built by Charles Belden, Jr. in 1778  is a stop on the tour.

Another stop is the Samuel Robbins House built in 1790 that was once the main house at Robbins Farm that originally comprised more than 1000 acres. Ten direct descendants of the original Samuel Robbins have lived here including one Samuel Robbins that helped form the Robbins Burrall Trust Company that later merged to become the Salisbury Bank and Trust.

On Point of Rocks Road, leading out of the village center, is an 1840 barn at the home of Bunny Williams and John Rosselli.  Repurposed with Mr. Roselli’s keen eye, it has become a relaxing space for entertaining while keeping a rural rustic feeling. An ongoing shopping quest for accessories that fit that goal goes on to this day.

On the day of the tour the Toymaker's Cafe (7 AM-4 PM) and The Falls Village Inn will be serving guests and tour goers.  The Falls Village Inn will be donating $5 to the Historical Society per meal for tour guests (Brunch 11 AM-3 PM, Dinner 5-10 PM).  Be sure to show your tour ticket at either venue.  There will also be a bake sale benefitting the Historical Society at P.D. Walsh’s Country Store.

Tickets: $25 in advance; $30 day of tour. Children 8 to 16 are free.  Tickets may be purchased at the following locations:  P.D. Walsh's Country Store, Toymaker's Cafe, The Falls Village Inn, Jacob's Garage, D.M. Hunt Library, Falls Village Town Hall and at the Douglas Library and Stadium Systems in North Canaan or by calling the Historical Society at 860-824-8226.  Cash or checks only.

Proceeds from the tour will help the Society renovate the museum at the Falls Village Railroad Depot.

Kitchen Tour of Litchfield Hills

The 11th annual Litchfield Hills Kitchen Tour to benefit the Housatonic Musical Theatre Society will be held Saturday, November 2, 2013 from 10 am – 4 pm.  This year’s tour will feature six kitchens in the towns of Kent and Cornwall.  

Kitchens on the tour will range in style and size to inspire a variety of approaches to the “heart of the home.”   This year's homes include a barn designed for entertaining with a large kitchen island and table with cherry wood from a backyard tree; an Early Modern House finished in 1939 for Pulitzer Prize winner Hatcher Hughes, recently restored by the present owners to its original splendor; a restored barn with two storybook cottages; a house built for large crowds and family get-togethers featuring a beautiful screened-in detached room with a massive stone fireplace; a center hall colonial that is a complete renovation featuring a large center kitchen island, a bar area and a traditional dining room.

To enhance the experience of Kitchen Tourists, local caters and restaurants will be offering a sampling of delicacies at each kitchen on the tour.  There will also be a number of raffle prizes offered. Advance Kitchen Tour ticket buyers will receive two complimentary raffle tickets for the various raffle prize drawings.

Tickets for the Kitchen Tour are $35 in advance and $40 the day of the Tour.  For information, go to hmts.org or call (860) 364-6022 or email hmtsct@gmail.com.

For  information on Litchifeld Hills visit www.litchifieldhills.com

8th Annual Watertown House Tour September 28

The 8th Annual Watertown House Tour will take place on Saturday September 28 from 11a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine. Five fabulous homes will be featured in this year's tour.

The Mailhot House at 26 Sunset Avenue was built in 1900 and was originally going to be a barn.  Today, this quaint house with its’ split rail fence and lovely front porch has beautiful woodwork throughout and is appointed with furniture made by the current owner.  Outside there is a display of classic cars.

The Guernseytown Schoolhouse at 1121 Guernseytown Road was built in 1848 and served as a school for 84 years until it was closed in 1932.  The current living room was the original classroom area.

Hotchkiss House at 237 Skilton Road built around 1800 has a modern addition. Entering the old section of the house visitors will notice wide chestnut floors, horsehair walls and low sloping ceilings.  Interesting collections from the owners’ travels are displayed though out the house.

The Silo at 25 Caruso Drive overlooks Lake Winnemaug, a man-made lake that was created as a feeder pond for the Oakville Company, also known as the Pin Shop. This house, with its distinctive silo and cobblestone driveway, was designed to look like a barn by the homeowners in collaboration with Litchfield architect Clifford Cooper in 2010.

The Wasilauskas House at 89 Maple Avenue built in 1910 has the distinction of being in the same family for nearly one hundred years. This arts and crafts style bungalow with its columned wraparound porch recently went through a major facelift, but it remains on the original footprint. Before you leave don’t miss the beautiful grounds and fieldstone barn.

The Watertown Historical Society Museum and the Nova Scotia Schoolhouse at 22 DeForest Street will also be open for viewing.

The Watertown House Tour is a benefit for the Watertown Historical Society Museum in Watertown, CT. The Watertown Historical Society is a private, nonprofit, all volunteer organization dedicated to collecting, preserving, and sharing Watertown and Oakville's history through the Museum.

Advance tickets are $25 per person, and will be $30 the day of the tour. Tickets for this self-guided house tour are non-refundable & can be purchased by mailing a check or money order to:

Watertown House Tour

22 DeForest Street

Watertown, CT 06795

Checks should be made payable to the "Watertown Historical Society". Tickets can also be purchased online with a credit card or Paypal at: www.watertownhistoricalsociety.org

Tickets and maps will be mailed to those that make advance purchases. Advance orders must be received no later than Friday September 20th. Requests for tickets after this date will be held for pick-up on the day of the tour at the Museum.

Tickets are available at the following retail locations: LaBonne's Market in Watertown, Chubba's in Watertown, the Health Complex, The Watertown Library, Hosking's Nursery, Depot Square Farm Shoppe, and Jimmy's of Watertown. On the day of the tour tickets will be available at all of the businesses, all of the houses and at the Museum, which will be tour headquarters. Call the Museum at 860-274-1050 or view www.watertownhistoricalsociety.org for more information.

Artist: Lorraine DeRoyal

For area information www.litchfieldhills.com

Open House Tour in Litchfield CT

The 66^th Annual Open House Day Tour of Litchfield to benefit the Connecticut Junior Republic (CJR) will be held on Saturday, July 13, 2013 from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM, rain or shine.  This year’s tour features five homes of historic and architectural interest and a lovely garden in the quaint community of Milton.

Hidden away among Litchfield’s country lanes and back roads, this storybook village features many fine homes, as well as the charming Milton Center Historic District, which flourished on waterpower until the middle of the 19^th Century.  Surrounded by farmland and woods, Milton is a lovely destination often missed by visitors to Litchfield.

In addition to the featured homes, the self-guided tour will also include additional points of interest in Milton and Litchfield, including the Milton Congregational Church, Trinity Episcopal Church and Milton Hall, as well as the beautiful churches in the center of Litchfield, the Litchfield History Museum, Tapping Reeve Law School and Lourdes of Litchfield. 

The following homes are featured on this year’s tour:

Deacon Peter Buell House

The Deacon Peter Buell House

This remarkable 1723 center-chimney, chestnut framed Georgian farmhouse was constructed by Captain/Deacon John Buell near a place commonly called “Watch Tower.”  The dwelling was passed on to his son, Peter, in 1734, and a “lean-to” was added.  The house was held by the Buell family until 1863, when it was sold, and then reclaimed again in 1923, and finally sold in 1958.  In 1961, the house narrowly escaped demolition and was rescued and moved to Milton.  Here, the home was restored to reflect domestic life as it existed during Peter and his heirs’ fifty-year tenure.  Today, the Buell House stands as a document to 18^th century rural family life in Litchfield.  Highlights of the home include transverse summer beams, a pine sheathed ceiling, six-over-four sash above entry and wide board chestnut and pine flooring.  Extensive renovations recently completed by the home’s current owner include a new rear addition with all the amenities and comforts of modern day living.

Dickinson Farm

Dickinson Farm

In 1726, Benjamin Boardman was granted the land on which this house stands to work as a farm.  Today, the Dickinson Farm is one of the few remaining intact farms in Litchfield, dating back to the 18^th century.  The existing Colonial house was constructed circa 1760 and was designed as a five bay central chimney residence.  During the 19^th century, a two bay extension was added, and for a period of time, served as a cobbler’s shop.  In 1849, Edwin P. Dickinson bought the house and surrounding farm land.  This property remained in his family for the next 110 years.  The current owner added on a great room in the back of the house for use as an art studio and to display family art.  The fabulous wall mural in the dining room, illustrating Litchfield history, is a continuing work in progress.

Fox Ridge Cottage

Fox Ridge Cottage

Built in 1996, this stunning Adirondack-style Cape home was sited on a granite ridge overlooking a small stream and fox den.  The interior features include nine-foot ceilings, wide plank hardwood flooring, two fireplaces and a state-of-the-art kitchen.  Attached to the back of the house is a screened three season porch, and an outdoor hot tub and shower, with undisturbed views of the woods.  Towards the back of the home is a new outdoor retreat center.  This enchanting section of the garden features unique stump seating around an open fire pit.  The grounds on the south side of the home include a heart-shaped herb garden and a crescent moon-shaped perennial garden.

White Bridge Farm

White Bridge Farm

The oldest part of this home was built by Levi Coe, Sr., circa 1787, on twelve acres.  In 1832, Levi Coe, Jr. inherited the home and enlarged the property to 300 acres, added the Greek Revival elements to the house and named it Cloverdale Farm.  The notable Greek Revival details include recessed panels on the pilasters, double fascia board with stringcourse molding, and the trabeated (horizon beams or lintels), in the entry.  The south parlor displays distinctive door surrounds with eared architraves (moldings surrounding doors), and splayed (oblique angled or beveled) frames.  The newel post is

original to the house.  Also of historic significance are the maple trees lining the front of the house, which are said to have been planted by Civil War veterans.  The glass greenhouse on the south elevation is a modern addition.  An in-ground pool, bath house, tennis courts, livestock arena, two barns and a 1920’s office building are located on the property.

William Sprat(s) House

William Sprat(s) House

William Sprat(s), a British soldier of Scottish decent, came to Hartford and Litchfield as a paroled war prisoner following the defeat of General Burgoyne, prior to 1779.  Sprat(s) bought five acres of land in Milton in 1786 and as a trained architect and builder, built his own small gambrel dwelling.  The house, erected in 1787 with a chimney and front entry on the original North-end, was typically called a “half-house.”  A shoemaker’s shop operated in the residence from 1814-1834.  In the 20^th century, the present north side and gambrel roof were joined to the original house.  Dormers were added in the 1920’s.  Highlights of the original house include the well in the kitchen, the raised panel doors throughout the house, Litchfield hardware on some doors and a five light transom above the door.  Of interest outside are a vintage three seat outhouse and various sheds.

Starr and Ziehl Garden

At the end of this delightful formal garden, an Adirondack-style pergola overlooks a small brook with a large granite slab set in the earth to serve as a bridge.  Gravel paths lead to an impressive sized millstone centered within the courtyard and an Adirondack-style bench sits on the opposite side of the pergola to take in a view of the entire garden.  The north side of the garden includes shade perennials and decorative stone work.  Ornamental pear and cherry trees in stone lined ovals, lead your eye to a stone bench, anchoring the South side of the garden.  Other plants in the garden include hornbeams – a small hardwood tree, as well as boxwoods, blueberry bushes and honeysuckle growing on a trellis.

Stonecroft-Montfort

The site of the 2013 Celebrate CJR Cocktail Reception, Stonecroft-Montfort was built in 1926-27, on a 170-acre estate by Richard and Lura Liggett to serve as a seasonal home.  In 1947, Stonecroft was sold to the Montfort Missionaries, a Roman Catholic religious order.  The Order purchased the property as a Seminary for training missionary priests.  This monumental two-and-one-half story, Tudor house of native fieldstone was designed by the noted Colonial Revival architect Richard Henry Dana.  Impressive and superbly sited, Stonecroft is one of two Cotswold cottage-inspired houses that Dana designed on the east side of Litchfield, the other being Topsmead.  NOTE:  Stonecroft-Montfort is not a part of the tour from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  General admission tickets for the Saturday tour do not include the evening tour and cocktail reception.  

TICKETS

Tickets and information about the evening tour and cocktail reception may be obtained by calling the Connecticut Junior Republic (860) 567-9423, ext. 278.  Advance tickets for the general tour on Saturday are $30.00 and may be ordered by contacting the Litchfield Aid of CJR, P.O. Box 214, Litchfield, Connecticut 06759.  Please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope with your credit card information, or check or money order, made payable to:  Litchfield Aid of CJR.

Those using credit cards (American Express, MasterCard and Visa) for payment should provide account name, number, security code and expiration date.  Discover Card is NOT accepted.  Advance orders are non-refundable and must be received no later than Friday, June 28.  Requests for tickets after this date will be held for pick-up on the day of the tour at the ticket tent on the Green.  Special rates are available for tour groups that reserve a minimum of 20 tickets in advance.

Tickets for the Saturday Tour from 10: AM to 4:00 PM will be sold on the date of the event for $35.00 for adults and children on the Litchfield Green.  (No charge for infants.)  Further information about the House Tour and ticket sales may be accessed online:  www.litchfieldhousetour.org.

 Luncheon

Visitors may enjoy lunch at the Connecticut Junior Republic for $7.00 from 11:30 AM to 2:30 PM.  A choice of a seafood salad or smoked turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich plate, including pasta salad, brownie, and iced tea, will be offered by CJR students.  The luncheon may be viewed on the House Tour website:  www.litchfieldhousetour.org. 

For area information www.litchifeldhills.com