The 2014 Kutztown Holiday House Tour offered attendees a glimpse into the architectural past of Kutztown on Dec. 7.
Kutztown Borough was formed in 1815 and has begun the celebration of its bicentennial beginning with the annual Holiday House Tour held Sunday, and hosted by Friends of the Kutztown Community Library.
“The Friends of the Library were very pleased with the turnout for the Holiday House Tour. We had to go to Business Link on Friday and place a rush order for 70 more tickets so we wouldn’t run out,” said Kutztown Community Library Director Janet Yost.
Yost reported that 239 tickets were sold.
“We were so fortunate to be blessed with wonderful sunny weather. We can’t thank the building owners enough for sharing their homes with the library and community.”
Seven home owners opened their homes for the tour.
“It takes a lot of devoted volunteers greeting, baking, planning, and sharing to pull off the Holiday House Tour, the library’s very special fundraiser,” said Yost.
There were 31 greeters at the homes and 14 Friends of the Library working on the committee.
Carm Sosik and Barb Stolz, Friends of the Library, helped serve refreshments at the Main Street Inn.
“We raise money to support the library in addition to what the board does. What they can’t do, we do,” said Sosik.
“At one time we paid to put that big room at the back of the library,” said Barb Stolz.
“And now we’re paying for cabinets and sink and things like that to add to that room,” added Sosik.
Some of the programs that has benefitted from the fundraising include summer school, books, and computers.
The Holiday House Tour began with one of the oldest establishments in the borough known today as The Yoga House and historically known as Kemp Hotel.
“The Yoga House is on the tour because its part of the Kutztown Bicentennial. The theme of this year’s house tour is the bicentennial and all the houses are from different eras,” said Yost. “The Yoga House is where the founding fathers got together and thought about starting Kutztown. This is where the seed was planted.”
1700sThe Yoga House was built in 1740 by Daniel Levan as a private residence. By 1765 it became known as Levan’s Tavern – a place acknowledged in various historical writings as a meetinghouse for American revolutionaries including the Declaration of Independence’s biggest advocate, John Adams. After many years of service as a restaurant, Levan’s Tavern fell into a state of vacancy and disrepair. It was in 2012 when Brandi Woodard purchased the National Historic Landmark and restored the building to be used as The Yoga House.
“It’s just really nice to have people come and appreciate what the building has become. It’s a historic tour so you get the history, which Joann [Yoder] is providing, but it’s kind of awesome, I think, to see something preserved rather than let go falling apart,” said Woodard, owner.
“My impressions are the beautiful architecture of the building. I noticed the stonework when I walked through. I certainly appreciate this beautiful wood and it’s hard to believe that it’s original and I definitely can appreciate all the hard work that this owner put into this building. It’s beautiful,” said Kathy Fitzpatrick.
1800sEleanor and Dick ShanerIn 1810, according to the tour booklet, Conrad Cupp, the town crier, bought an 1804 home with many architectural features of the grand Hottensein and Gideon Grim mansions. The home, now owned by Richard and Eleanor Shaner had been restored to a grand example of magnificent architecture with an expertise they both possessed. The Shaners had removed stucco and layers of paint, exposed the walk-in fireplace in the kitchen and restored many of the original fireplaces, mantels, and trim work. Richard’s favorite parts of the home are the five original working fireplaces.
“It was built about 1804 when the Georgian architecture was at its premium time. Georgian architecture was named for King George of England,” said Richard.
“My favorite part of the house is this room because I can sit here and I can read. We’ve got different reference books here. I can see what’s going on in the front of the house. I like to look at all the different things and think about where we got them or how we collected or who gave them to us,” said Eleanor.
“I always loved driving up Main Street and seeing the front and wondering how it was inside so I thought I’m going on this tour and I find it extremely beautiful and fascinating,” said Jacqueline Landis-Garcia, Kutztown.
Harry Eshleman and Barbara Peters
Also built in the 1800s, The Holiday House Tour Booklet stated that Harry Eshleman and Barbara Peters’ home, known as the Franklin Academy, was started in 1835 and designed to produce the first generation of scholars. It ultimately encouraged the formation of Kutztown’s 1862 public school. The Franklin Academy was Kutztown’s first attempt at a pay school that would educate children outside the confines of the church and secular studies.
“I remember St. Johns that one of the Pastor’s lived here and he started Franklin Academy, which grew into Kutztown University. Everything started out preparing ministers and then it grew and became more open to everybody,” said Nancy Graczyk, West Lawn, with heritage rooted in Kutztown.
Main Street InnThe Main Street Inn is an example of Victorian architecture built in 1865. Current owners, Pam and Angelo Corrado, bought the property in 2007 and renovated it while keeping the character and charm. The tour booklet indicated that the bed and breakfast features eight bedrooms with private baths, stenciling, and stained glass windows. Each room was named after former owners of the property. There were also fireplaces in different bedrooms and bathrooms.
“This is lovely in here. I’d love to spend a weekend away,” said Debbie Valinoto, Fleetwood.
Valinoto said the decor, the personalization, and the attention to detail were elements she thought were very nice. Her friend, Gladys Adam, Lenhartsville, said the hand paintings on the walls were tastefully done.
1900sLinda and Bob MackPocket doors, built in bookcases and benches, a fireplace with a post-revolutionary rifle above it, and hardwood floors were features of a circa 1927 one-of-a-kind craftsman home owned by Linda and Bob Mack. Bob, a skilled wood craftsman, had restored much of the wood furniture built by prior generations. Linda’s collections of antique dolls and toys, family quilts, and Bob’s family birth certificates including a Fraktur baptismal announcement were on display throughout their home.
“It’s very impressive that it’s the old mission style with all the oak and the oak looks like it’s original. It hasn’t been painted over like so many old places. It’s beautiful. That old style in such good repair is just gorgeous,” said Peg Rahn, Topton. “It’s a style of house that I haven’t seen around here. I didn’t know there were any here in Kutztown like this.”
“I think that’s amazing just hearing the appreciation of the people for the woodwork for the house itself,” said Linda Mack. “The fact that it’s a craftsman home and there aren’t very many of them. So I think it’s just kind of proving a little bit of information about that and what makes it a craftsman, what makes it different.
It took the Mack’s four years to restore their home.
Martin Smith and Sandra GreenA 1957 ranch-style home built by Howard Deisher, but designed by Martin Smith’s parents. The tour booklet stated that the home bears the hallmark of hardwood floors, cast iron baseboard heat, and tiled windowsills. One of the more recent features is a retro kitchen and outdoor spacious patio area. According to Sandra Green, the cabinets and countertop are original to the era.
“So we said, 50s, hmmm, let’s play on that. We’re not going to rip out this kitchen. We’re just going to go and roll with the 50s look,” said Green.
She had found new furnishings to give that vintage look and then added artwork from both local and her travels. Green included many elements of Kutztown in that room. Her favorite room, though, is her office where she has pictures of her family close by and mementos of her travels. It is where she draws comfort; it is where her heart is. Meeting the people and talking about her home is what Green enjoyed the most from the Holiday House Tour.
Yost reported that Friends of the Library served 150 fruit picks, 4 pounds of cheese cubes, 6 pounds summer sausage, 2 pounds of pretzels, as well as 163 cups of cider.
“Many beautiful and tasty cookies, delicious coffee and spiced tea… 199 years and 9 months since the founding of Kutztown,” said Yost. “One wonderful day.”
The plans are in the works for the 2015 Holiday House Tour to be held on Sunday, Dec. 6.
“The locations are currently top secret but they are sure to be a crowd pleaser,” said Yost.
