by MADELEINE M. KEEHN

The Chestnut Hill Holiday House Tour, presented jointly by the Chestnut Hill Historical Society and the Chestnut Hill Community Association, will be held on Saturday, December 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. All proceeds will benefit both of these nonprofit organizations.

There will also be a preview party at the Sugarloaf Conference Center, 9230 Germantown Ave., that includes a candlelight tour of three of the houses, on Friday, December 5, from 6 to 9 p.m. Music during the cocktail party and a special holiday market place with unique decorative items will complete the evening’s festivities. Jennifer Tilley is chairing this event. On Saturday, those with preview party tickets may return for the complete daytime tour.

Patricia Cove, president of the CHHS, says the house tour is a first-ever for their group. “We’re very excited to be able to share these beautiful historical homes with the community because history is such an important aspect of Chestnut Hill,” she told the Local recently. “All of the houses on the tour are listed as ‘significant’ within our Chestnut Hill National Historic District.”

Most of the homes date from the 1860s and 1880s. “There are 25 participating florists and designers who have been very supportive of this event,” Cove explained. “They will be creating their own vision within their assigned rooms. The five homes they are decorating will give visitors a firsthand feel for the rich history of the architecture in our community.”

The tour itinerary includes an Italianate Victorian with high ceilings and large rooms; a Classic Revival recently updated with state-of-the-art wine cellar, gym, saunas and more; a Queen Anne Victorian with its parlors and fireplaces; as well as an early Victorian with Arts and Crafts detailing, painted frescos and a richly decorated plaster ceiling. The last one is a Colonial Revival home built in 1910.

“After the public sees these beautiful homes, I hope they will consider becoming members of the Chestnut Hill Historical Society and thereby help preserve the community’s historic character,” Cove said.

Both Cove and Chestnut Hill Community Association president Maxine Dornemann are excited about the house tour and heartily agree that it’s bound to be a crowd-pleaser. With no named chair of this event, these two women are representing their organizations and are working with a committee of volunteers. “The level of cooperation is great,” Cove said. “It’s been a wonderful learning experience for all of us.”

According to Dornemann, the two groups have been working together almost seamlessly. “We’ve been meeting since June,” she said, noting that the fruits of the committee members’ labors are now falling into place. “It’s been a privilege working with the CHHS members,” she continued. “Community resident and committee member Andrea Imperatore brings a lot of ideas and energies to the table and blends the two organizations into a cohesive force. It’s difficult to know the boundaries between the two groups. There is a very good feeling. When I started calling for helpers, everyone said ‘yes’.”

Each residence has a house captain who will be in charge of volunteers there. Cove is grateful Bob Bacino was willing to be in charge of the captains and to oversee the coordination of each florist and designer.

“Not only will these local residences on the tour be dressed up in their holiday finery, but they will give the public the opportunity to learn some history about our area and see the interiors of houses they have probably driven by for years,” continued Dornemann. “It’s also a time for getting out and greeting each other at this exciting time of year. And, of course, you’ll be helping the CHHS and the CHCA.”

According to Cove, the CHHS will use their portion of the house tour proceeds to help develop a resource center in their headquarters where community members can research their homes and learn how to repair them in an historically correct manner. Also, several ongoing programs will benefit. “Our collections need to be maintained,” she said, “and we can continue to offer a lecture series that is open to the public.”

The CHCA will use their share of the proceeds to enhance the operations of the association.

The preview party package entrance fees on December 5, and the House Tour on December 6, are $80 per person; patron, $100; benefactor, $150. Tickets for the December 6 house tour only are: $20 per person in advance for CHHS and CHCA members; $25 per person in advance for non-members; $30 per person at the door for all; and $20 per person for groups of ten or more. Tickets and maps will be available on the day of the tour at Sugarloaf Conference Center. The program will give some history of the area as well as descriptions of the houses.

For reservations, further information or volunteer opportunities, call the CHCA at 215-248-8810 or the CHHS at 215-247-0417.