Preservation Weekend Tour of Homes

There is still time to purchase tickets for the Gillespie County Historical Society’s 2010 Holiday Home Tour on Saturday, December 11, 2010, from noon until 6 p.m. Seven select homes will be open to the public for the first time, from historic properties that have been restored, to modern structures designed to capture Fredericksburg’s architectural heritage.

Tickets for the Home Tour are $25 per person and include tour booklet and access to all properties. Tickets may be purchased online at www.pioneermuseum.net, or by calling 830-997-2835. You can also purchase tickets at Gästehaus Schmidt, 231 West Main Street.

Featured properties include:

The Larry and Deanna Corn home, built in 1995 and enlarged in 2009. This is a fine example of Fredericksburg’s “built new to look old” architecture.

The Marsha and Jerry Bane home is filled with antiques, accent pieces, and - during Christmas - will include antique glass Christmas ball ornaments that have been collected over the years.

The Cydney Donnell and Robert Lotito home was restored by well-known local architect Albert Keidel in 1939. The current owners have kept the footprint true to the original, with remodeling and decoration touches that add style and function.

The David and Ruth Lusk home and guesthouse provide stunning Hill Country views from hilltop settings. Vibrant wall color helps to showcase the owners’ collection of Blue Ridge Pottery.

The Jim and Carol McCrae home is one they built themselves in 1995. This original home was small and efficient, and built of reclaimed materials, and filled with antiques.

The Walter and Judith Skinner Fredericksburg Sunday house was in the Weidenfeller family. In its later years it was a B&B, and is now filled with treasured collections.

The Pete and Alice Jensen rock home has a lively interior that features Alice’s sewing hobby and Pete’s woodworking. The roomy kitchen leads to a beautiful yard and porch. The downstairs serves as a workshop and the upstairs is a B&B. (A Star in the Hills)

This event is the largest fundraiser for the nonprofit Society that was formed in 1934 to preserve and share the area’s cultural heritage. Details and tickets may be purchased by contacting the Gillespie County Historical Society, 312 West San Antonio Street, Fredericksburg, Texas 78624, 830-997-2835, or by visiting the web site.