Holiday Tour of Historic Homes Dec. 8 1-4 p.m.
All homes and chapel are new to this year’s tour and will be decorated for the holidays. Three historic homes on West Water Street in Lock Haven will welcome you and just a very short drive from the historic district and the Heisey Museum you’ll tour a lock tender’s house, an 1869 farmhouse and an 1893 chapel. The Heisey Museum, 362 East Water Street, Lock Haven, an 1831 Gothic Revival Style house which once served as a farmhouse, tavern, doctor’s office and private home, is also a stop on the tour.
Tickets are $10 per person and available for purchase the day of the tour beginning at 12:30 at the Heisey Museum, 362 East Water St., Lock Haven and at 1:00 at 33 Betts Lane, Charlton. Tickets purchased in advance from Sweeney’s Floral Shop, Downtown Lock Haven, Inc., and Lynda’s Upscale Resale may be exchanged the day of the tour for the brochure and map – the brochure serves as your entry ticket to each home. The self-guided tour is at your own pace and the homes/chapel can be toured in any order. Home owners will greet you upon arrival. Unfortunately, the homes are not handicapped accessible (chapel has side door access).
The Heisey Museum is holding its annual Open House the same day and time and the general public is invited to stop by and tour the museum at no charge. Light refreshments will be served. The wonderfully decorated East Parlor of the Museum is compliments of Inspirations Floral Studio & Gift Boutique of downtown Lock Haven.
The three historic district homes are:
The Aida Furst House at 47 West Water Street. This two story wood and stucco home is an example of Spanish Colonial Revival architecture built circa 1925 and is reported to be a complete remodeling of the 1885 Frederick Kreamer, Sr. House. The low-pitched hip roof, front window arches, front door transom and portico are architectural features of importance. Inside is a beautiful center entry staircase, marbled floor, coal fireplaces, crown moldings, arched doorways, ceiling medallions, wood paneling and a unique hardwood floor. The first floor is open for the tour.
The Allison White/P.P. Griffin House at 104 West Water Street was originally built in 1853 by Congressman Allison White. At this time the house was a twin gothic gable style which was later converted to a Neo-classical Revival by PP Griffin in 1893. The original four over four room design remained, the staircase was relocated and an addition built over the existing house. The current owners have spent the last three years lovingly restoring this grand house, both inside and outside, with the goal of making this home a cornerstone of the Lock Haven community. The first floor is open for the tour.
The Kinsloe House at 420 West Water Street is a frame and brick structure built in 1888 and most nearly approximates a Queen Anne building. With the exception of the front porch, the house is very much intact. The entrance to the house has an interesting door, which survived the five feet of water during the 1972 flood. The original crown molding remains throughout the house. Two of the second floor bedrooms are themed – one is Alice in Wonderland; the other, Charlie Chaplin. The house remained in the Kinsloe family until purchased by the current owner in 1982. Both first and second floors are open for the tour.
Just across the Jay Street Bridge in Lockport, on Route 664, house #354, you’ll tour the Lock Tender’s Canal House. Although severely deteriorated, the original, last existing lock house on the West Branch of the Susquehanna River was saved and moved 18’ to its current location in 2000 by the current owners. For the house to remain standing it required extensive renovation. The house was jacked up and the foundation totally rebuilt using stones from the Clinton County jail. The original locks, neglected for years, also had to be rebuilt and stones from another lock were salvaged and used here. Tour the two floors of this wonderful historic structure. Parking is available in the adjacent river parking lot.
As you drive along the Island Road to the Betts House and Charlton Chapel, look for remnants of the canal and try to imagine you are in the mid to late 1800’s and mules are trudging along Island Road with canal barges in tow.
The Betts House at 33 Betts Lane, Charlton Village (just off of Island Road) is a Victorian Vernacular, with Greek Revival styling at the front entry. Many architectural features of this charming farmhouse remain unchanged, both inside and out. You’ll see original interior doors and hardware as well as original glass in the windows. The house was built in 1869 by Thomas Condon, a farmer, for his daughter Frances Agnes upon her marriage to George Betts, a canal boat pilot. As you come up the lane you will cross the remains of the West Branch Canal where ferries once crossed the Susquehanna River and landed on this property. First floor is open for the tour.
The Charlton Chapel at 46 Church Hill Road, Charlton Village (couple minute drive from the Betts House) is a Gothic Revival Style structure, established in 1893, following the destruction of the original chapel by the flood of 1889. The current chapel was built on donated land and sits up on a hill, where the congregation at that time, hoped would be out of the destructive path of the river. The original chapel steeple was toppled by the storm of 1916; chimneys came down in the storm of 1921. Over the years the chapel has undergone many restorations and architectural changes that only helped to enhance this wonderful piece of history. Chapel is only open for the tour.
