The 2012 Holiday Tour of Historic Homes, an annual community event sponsored by the Bigelow House Preservation Association, will be held on Sunday, December 2nd, from noon to 4:00 p.m. This year’s tour will feature six properties built between 1890 and 1940 on the west side of Olympia, as well as the pioneer Bigelow House. Tickets are $15 and include refreshments at the Bigelow House on the day of the tour.
Among the featured properties on this year’s tour is the elegant French Eclectic style home on Percival Street known as Westhillsyde, a 1920s residence designed by noted Olympia architect Elizabeth Ayer. Other stops include the charming Sherwood Press shop, tucked in the trees on Fifth Avenue; the landmark Queen Anne-style Percival House on Fourth Avenue; houses featuring spectacular views on Percival Street and the Schnably/Buckner House on Brawne Avenue, which combines modern energy-efficient features with historic details.
Tickets are available in advance, starting November 17th, at Drees (524 Washington St. SE), Popinjay (414 Capitol Way S.), the State Capital Museum (211 21st Ave SW), and Thompson Furniture (5407 Capitol Boulevard). On tour day tickets will be sold at the Bigelow House, 918 Glass Ave NE and at Sherwood Press 811 5thAvenue SW.
Proceeds from the tour will benefit preservation and programming at the Bigelow House, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in the 1850s, it is one of the oldest surviving houses in Olympia. The non-profit Bigelow House Preservation Association owns and maintains the pioneer home as a historic house museum.
The properties on the tour:
Percival House, 811 4thAvenue SW
Sherwood Press 811 5thAvenue SW
Allen/Beals House—Westhillsyde 726 Percival Street SW
808 Percival Street SW House
Meeker/Bean House 834 Percival Street SW
Schnably/Buckner House 1307 Brawne Avenue NW
Bigelow House, 918 Glass Avenue NE
