Saturday December 7, 2024
On Saturday, December 7th, celebrate the beauty of the season with the Newtown Historic Association’s Holiday Open House Tour. Now in its 61st year, this tour gives visitors the opportunity to peek into several of Newtown’s unique private residences, all dressed for the holidays.
Besides the private homes, there will be multiple public buildings open for visitors. All sites are within easy walking distance from the town center.
Tour hours are from 10:00AM to 4:00PM.
Early-bird ticket prices are $30 for members or $35 for non-members, available online now! Tickets can also be purchased at Newtown Book & Record Exchange, 102 South State Street (beginning November 15). On the day of the tour, December 7, ticket prices will be $40, and can be purchased at the Half-moon Inn, 105 Court Street, and at the Stocking Works, 301 South State Street, Newtown. Children under the age of 12 are free.
The cost of a tour ticket also includes entry into the Half-moon Inn, home to the Newtown Historic Association. Once inside this beautifully restored 18th century building, tour-goers will enjoy period musical entertainment, hearthside colonial cooking demonstrations and more.
Please, no picture taking or high-heeled shoes permitted in the houses.
Private Homes
Crane House — Rose Crane
106 S. Chancellor St.
Brill-Tognini House — Chris Brill and Gina Tognini
212 Washington Ave.
Culleton House — Chris Culleton and Gail Foley
156 N. Lincoln Ave.
Wolfenson House — Linda Wolfenson
207 S. Penn St.
Dick House — Ardelle Dick
100 S. Chancellor St.
Shields House — Kris and Patrick Shields
198 N. Chancellor St.
Public Buildings
Newtown Library Company – 1912 :: E. Centre Ave. and Congress St.
Half-moon Inn – c. 1733 :: Centre Ave and Court St.
First National Bank & Trust Company of Newtown :: 40 S. State S.
Newtown Friends Meetinghouse – 1817 :: 219 Court St.
Newtown Fire Association – c. 1901 :: 14 Liberty St.
Dave & Mary Callahan Research Center :: 100 Mercer St.
The Stocking Works – 1889 :: 301 S. State St.
Historical Notes
The original Open House tour was sponsored by the Newtown Civic and Historic Association and was called “Christmas in Colonial Newtown.” It was held on Saturday December 14, 1963 from 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and the price per person was only $1.50. Seven distinctive homes in Newtown were featured, including the Homestead (1800) at 127 South Sycamore Street; a colonial residence (1740) on South State Street; the Quintin House (1801) at 149 North State Street; the Bird in Hand (1690) at 111 South State Street; the Georgian House (1830) at 111 Court Street; the Schofield House (1837) at 113 Court Street; and a Victorian house (1860) at 219 Washington Avenue. Other buildings included on the tour were the Newtown Presbyterian Church, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Christmas Alley of the Hanging Lamp on North State Street.
A carol and candlelight parade in costume was featured on Friday night starting at Washington and Chancellor Streets and street caroling on Sunday beginning at 5 p.m. at the Bird in Hand. It was noted in the program that the Newtown Civic and Historic Association desired to acquire a historic building and if necessary restore it as a headquarters. The monies derived from the celebration of “Christmas in Colonial Newtown” were to be used toward this goal.
