Several years ago, Mike and Diane Long opened their former Grover Street residence to the public for the annual historic homes tour fundraising event for the preservation of the Willard Chapel and the restoration of its Tiffany-designed windows.
They decided to re-wallpaper several rooms just before the event.
Mike Long isn't sure what long-delayed house project they will be spurred to complete before “Historic Preservation Saturday” this week, but he and his wife are once again opening their current residence - 149 North St. - to the public.
The Longs' home since 2000 was the site of a 150-acre farm where whaling captain George Brown Chase resettled from Massachusetts in 1827. The original brick Federal-era home had a wooden frame added in the 1830s and was renovated by Judge Charles Chauncy Dwight with Victorian touches of stained glass windows and the cantilevered oak staircase.
The interior includes eight fireplaces, most with cherry mantels, and cherry bookcases in the library that Dwight, a county judge and a state Supreme Court justice, is believed to have added.
On the home's grounds of two and a half acres, visitors can see the result of gardens designed in past generations to have blossoms of different species from early spring into the late fall. In the spring, there are thousands of daffodils, Mike said.
At this time of year, peonies and fruit trees are blooming. Dahlias that Diane planted are about to bloom as well.
“It's got incredible soil,” Mike said. “There's another flower coming up every week.”
A total of five restored homes will be open to the public during the fundraiser: 113 North St., 149 North St., 40 Grover St., 42 Grover St. and 165 Van Anden St.
As well, tours will be held of Willard Chapel, which will also be the purchasing site of tickets. The Seward House will hold a garden party along with 19th century lawn games. A luncheon will be hosted at the home of Dr. Richard and Diane Stankus at 119 South St.
Two tours each of Fort Hill Cemetery and North Street Cemetery are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The Auburn High School's Living History Players will play the role of 10 famous Auburnians buried in Fort Hill Cemetery and pontificate about the meaning of their lives' accomplishments.
The Living History Players are returning after a hiatus of several years, to re-enacting famous figures during cemetery tours, said Auburn High School English teacher and club advisor Allison Fennessy.
Among the figures making an appearance will be David Osborne, the namesake of Osborne Street and the owner of Osborne and Company, a huge manufacturer of harvesting machinery that employed thousands, and Theodore Case, whose research lab was the site where a method of recording sound on film was developed.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
Mike Long isn't sure what long-delayed house project they will be spurred to complete before “Historic Preservation Saturday” this week, but he and his wife are once again opening their current residence - 149 North St. - to the public.
The Longs' home since 2000 was the site of a 150-acre farm where whaling captain George Brown Chase resettled from Massachusetts in 1827. The original brick Federal-era home had a wooden frame added in the 1830s and was renovated by Judge Charles Chauncy Dwight with Victorian touches of stained glass windows and the cantilevered oak staircase.
The interior includes eight fireplaces, most with cherry mantels, and cherry bookcases in the library that Dwight, a county judge and a state Supreme Court justice, is believed to have added.
On the home's grounds of two and a half acres, visitors can see the result of gardens designed in past generations to have blossoms of different species from early spring into the late fall. In the spring, there are thousands of daffodils, Mike said.
At this time of year, peonies and fruit trees are blooming. Dahlias that Diane planted are about to bloom as well.
“It's got incredible soil,” Mike said. “There's another flower coming up every week.”
A total of five restored homes will be open to the public during the fundraiser: 113 North St., 149 North St., 40 Grover St., 42 Grover St. and 165 Van Anden St.
As well, tours will be held of Willard Chapel, which will also be the purchasing site of tickets. The Seward House will hold a garden party along with 19th century lawn games. A luncheon will be hosted at the home of Dr. Richard and Diane Stankus at 119 South St.
Two tours each of Fort Hill Cemetery and North Street Cemetery are scheduled for 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The Auburn High School's Living History Players will play the role of 10 famous Auburnians buried in Fort Hill Cemetery and pontificate about the meaning of their lives' accomplishments.
The Living History Players are returning after a hiatus of several years, to re-enacting famous figures during cemetery tours, said Auburn High School English teacher and club advisor Allison Fennessy.
Among the figures making an appearance will be David Osborne, the namesake of Osborne Street and the owner of Osborne and Company, a huge manufacturer of harvesting machinery that employed thousands, and Theodore Case, whose research lab was the site where a method of recording sound on film was developed.
Staff writer Amaris Elliott-Engel can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or at amaris.elliot-engel@lee.net
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