Gray oversees the committees for the holiday event — among them marketing, costumes, guides, gift shop, homeowners’ liaison, and the “nuts and bolts” committee. “They do anything that doesn’t fit into another committee’s duties.
“We’ve made small changes, primarily to make the route more compact. The tour used to take three-and-a-half hours; now, the homeowners’ liaison gets together a list of willing people, and we sit down and make the route work so it won’t be so scattered, taking an hour off the tour time.”
This year, seven decorated homes will be open. “We begin at High Street Gallery, and costumed guides take visitors to the homes, ending at the Bossler Mansion, where they’re served a Victorian dessert. There’s a gift shop upstairs, with all items made by residents or friends of the neighborhood.
“Half of the homes on this year’s tour have never been open — we vary the homes for repeat visitors.
“A sandstone church in the neighborhood, built by the stonemason who built Steele High School, will be open for the first time, and the house across the street from the Bossler Mansion, built in 1869, will be open. The man who built that house went bankrupt building for the Philadelphia World’s Fair in 1876.
“Guides share neighborhood history, and each homeowner gives a talk on the home’s background.”
Since this is the 1913 flood anniversary year, guides will point out Bomberger Park’s role during the flood. “Many people were brought to the site and boats docked there, but most people don’t know that part of our history.
“This is our biggest fundraiser, and the money goes for everything we do in the neighborhood. It also markets the neighborhood — we have people who’ve been on the tours later buy and restore homes here.”
Tickets for the Dec. 13-15 tours, which begin every half-hour from 3-8 p.m. Friday, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, and noon- 5 p.m. Sunday, are $20. They can be ordered online at www.stanneshill.org or by calling 224-4455.
About the Author