Five Monroe Homes and the East Village Barn Hill School House open their doors to visitors on Saturday, December 15th, for the Monroe Historical Society Christmas House Tour.
The five distinctive residences and historical property will be open to ticket-holders from 4pm to 8pm in a benefit for the Monroe Historical Society, which serves as an educational, cultural and social venue to encourage an insight into Monroe’s heritage and spirit of its people.
Since being incorporated in 1959 the society has owned and maintained three historic properties; 1780 Beardsley homestead, the 1811 East Village Meeting House, and the 1790 East Village/Barn Hill Schoolhouse. In addition to its properties the Monroe Historical Society has an extensive collection of letters and diaries, school records, photographs, maps, textiles, books and agricultural equipment.
Houses on this year’s tour include a 1896 Queen Anne Victorian, a newer Colonial, circa 1800’s simple Farm House, 1840 Homestead, a 19th century Colonial and the 1790 One Room School House which is owned and maintained by the Society.
Each stop on the tour will give out a unique and hand-made ornament to every guest that visits the homes, while supplies last. The Society has been working very hard over the last few months designing, creating and putting the finishing touches on these wonderful ornaments.
Tickets for the Monroe Historical Society Christmas House Tour are $20 in advance and $25 day of the tour. Tickets can be purchased at the Edith Wheeler Memorial Library, the Monroe Town Clerks office, Country Hearts (Rt. 25) and during the Society’s Christmas Fair.
The Queen Anne Victorian, originally built by the Johnson family in 1896 was once the site of the “Soundview Dairy Farm”, so named for its former clear views to Long Island Sound. Today, this beautiful home is being lovingly redone-one room at a time by its current owners. The beauty of this home takes center stage at Christmas time with an authentic one-horse open sleigh to greet you on the front lawn, warm lit candles in every window, whimsical decorations throughout the house and the warmth of family both past and present.
The newer Colonial with a contemporary interior was built on the old farm and grist mill of Agur Beardsley circa 1800. Past treasures of playful snowmen and cherished traditions mingle throughout the home with each themed Christmas tree found in every room creating a joyful atmosphere of never ending Yuletide cheer.
The circa 1800 simple farmhouse is lovingly called “Pepper Crossing” by its current owners due to the close proximity of the old “Housatonic Railway” stop that would allow summer residents to disembark here for their summer retreat. The warm and cozy home with the scents of pine boughs and baking eagerly awaits the arrival of Santa and a house full of family and friends for their traditional Christmas brunch.
The big red house at the top of the hill glows with the warmth and festivity of the season. You are sure to find many Christmas treasures in every room along with a few surprise guests. The old Clark homestead has been the home of the current family since 1952 and has always been open to one and all. Aside from all the glitz and theatrics this family is famous for , it is still the family inside that makes this house a home.
The 19th century Colonial home originally owned by the McEwen and Beardsley families boastfully sings of a warm and inviting country home as it opens up its two floors. A grand staircase and beautiful wide plank floors help to tell the stories of the charm of yesteryear. Greens and inviting candles adorn every window outside the home while inside the blending of period details along with modern comforts, conjure up the charm of Christmas past to give this family many memorable seasons.
The 1790 Schoolhouse is home of the Society’s Christmas Fair and originally served the children of the East Village section of Monroe. The schoolhouse when not in use for the Christmas Fair is used as a living museum for classes of school children to spend a day back in time learning about the use of hornbooks, slates and feather pens.
The Christmas House Tour is a benefit for the Monroe Historical Society. It is one of the Society’s largest fundraisers. All funds raised benefit the Society. The Monroe Historical Society is a private, nonprofit, all volunteer organization dedicated to collecting, preserving and sharing Monroe’s history.
More information please visit our web page www.monroehistoricsociety.org or call 203-261-1383
