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34th annual Delta Theta Tau Holiday Home Tour Sunday
The 34th annual Theta Chapter, Delta Theta Tau Sorority Holiday Home Tour will be staged 1-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 20.
Admission is $8 per person and tickets are available at Eitel’s, Myers’ Market, Almost Home and Completely Nuts & Candy.
Locations on this year’s home tour are:
-- The Valentine House, owned by Bruce Wong and Margaret Kenton, 733 E. Washington St.
-- The Brick, owned by Diana Surfus, 1540 Bloomington St. (just north of Putnam County Hospital).
-- The home of Matt and Bev Land, 4344 E. U.S. 40 (Mt. Meridian area).
-- The home of Brad and Kathie Skeel, 931 Deerfield Ct.
-- The new Miller Asbury Apartments, located in the old Miller School building at 522 Anderson St., feature the apartments of Christine Morlan (Apartment 105) in the new wing and those of Darla Zeis (Apartment 214) and Susan Hirt (Apartment 212) in the original school building.
Tour attendees can also explore DePauw’s new student dining facility, Hoover Hall, 602 S. College Ave., and enjoy some light refreshments.
The Valentine House was recently renovated after a long history beginning in 1894, which included stints as apartments and also a bed and breakfast. After being unoccupied for a period of time, the main building, summer kitchen, barn and gardens were in dire need of repair. When a couple new to town purchased the property in 2013 it was uninhabitable; there was no working plumbing, heating or cooling, the electric was outdated and the roof leaked. In other words, it was a dream come true. The new owners gutted parts of the house as necessary back to the old rafters and beams and then updated while respecting the sensibility of the original time period.
This Queen Anne Victorian embodies many of the classic components of that rarified architectural style including a tower, gingerbread detailing, patterned shingles, stained glass, balcony and extensive front porch. Decorative tracery-leaded glass windows and intricate parquet-patterned oak floors are found throughout the home. The turret contains both with the added feature of the glass and wood actually curving to follow the shape of the room.
The owners decorate for the holidays with a classic, restrained style. Look for green boughs festooned with red bows, and a tree in the front hall which the stairway wraps around. In addition, a “gingerbread” style miniature replica of the home will be on display.
Construction of “The Brick” began in 1832 by Rev. Benjamin Jones on his farm south of Greencastle. Not long after the project began, Rev. Jones changed his mind and bought a farm in Mt. Meridian, deciding instead to build his home there. A cousin, William Peck, bought The Brick and completed it in 1833.
The bricks were fired on site and all lumber for framing and interior woodwork was cut and milled on the Jones farm. The original structure was of red brick with a one-story front porch painted to match the ivory trim color on the rest of the house. The Peck family lived there until the 1890s when The Brick was sold to a Mr. Durham.
In 1904 Mack Jones, grandson of Rev. Benjamin Jones, bought The Brick and moved his wife, Lottie Allee Jones, and six children from the Jones home in Mt. Meridian. Mack wanted his children to attend Greencastle schools and DePauw University. It was during this time the house was wired for electricity and indoor plumbing plus central heating were installed. A second-floor addition brought the rear up to a full two stories.
In 1918 The Brick passed to Mack’s son, Thad Jones, and his wife, Clara Sharp Jones. In 1921 their only child, Charles, was born in the north bedroom on the second floor. In 1942 Thad and Clara sold The Brick to John Fobes of Indianapolis. His wife, Helen, envisioned a southern colonial home and so it was painted white and the two-story columns were added. Since the Fobes ownership there have been no structural changes as The Brick passed to several more owners, one of whom made it into a bed and breakfast for a few years during the late 1980s.
Meanwhile, the three-bedroom, three-bath Skeel home on Deerfield Court features Amish-made hickory cabinets in the kitchen, baths and laundry as well as cathedral and tray ceilings. A handmade nativity scene adorns the roll-top desk while the spare bedrooms feature sports memorabilia and collections from their travels abroad. The master suite offers a glimpse back in time with its pre-Civil War era Rococo Revival solid walnut bed, mirror and chest with marble top.
The 8 ½-foot tall headboard and the footboard each has burled walnut insets. Since during that time period mirrors were hung from the ceiling rather than the home’s walls, the mirror has the original pieces for attaching ropes (which are also displayed). The finished and open basement offers a distinct adult area (complete with bar and TV) and a kid-friendly game zone with air hockey and TV games.
The cozy country cabin of Matt and Bev Land at 4344 E. U.S. 40 is bursting with charm and handmade delights. Bev’s elaborate handmade Christmas stockings invite one to curl up in front of the crackling fireplace while her grandmother’s Christmas quilt is proudly displayed. The tree is filled with her handmade beaded ornaments and more than 100 nutcrackers keep a careful watch.
The rich, dark wood of grandmother’s dining set (including drop-leaf table, hutch, and tea cart) contrasts beautifully against the stained concrete floor. Many works of local artist Barb Fuson are also found throughout this home and can be enjoyed alongside the view of the valley below.
Proceeds from the home tour are used exclusively to support the Delta Theta Tau Scholarship Fund and philanthropy donations to Putnam County programs.