For many area residents, Chester County Day, one of the longest running house tours in the country, represents a fall ritual, a not-to-be-missed chance to tour some of the area’s most beautiful homes.
On Saturday, the festivities kicked off at 9 a.m. with the pomp and pageantry of the Kimberton Hunt, which assembled in front of an appreciative audience in the west meadow of Historic Yellow Springs Village. Both horses and hounds appeared oblivious to the drizzle, and although some spectators popped their umbrellas, others insisted the rain would stop, which it did about an hour later.
Once the equestrian entourage galloped from view, ticket-holders faced a variety of options. Some elected to follow the hunt while others stayed in the village to enjoy breakfast confections from the Marshallton Auxiliary, make lists of the venues they wanted to visit, or share some elaborate tailgate feasts.
“Should I take a photo of this so that we know what to do next year?” one woman asked her friends as they passed the eye-catching spread prepared by Sofia Clinger, the owner of Countryside Coiffures in Concordville.
Held annually on the first Saturday of October, the popular fund-raiser for Chester County Hospital started in 1936. For most years since then – it wasn’t held during World War II - it has offered an array of impressive homes that lead visitors through covered bridges, exposed beams, brick archways, cottage gardens, and breathtaking vistas.
The tour, which focused this year on Chester County’s northeast quadrant, included nearly 30 private and public properties ranging from a home converted from an 1866 stone schoolhouse to one converted from a 1798 barn. A host of historic farmhouses, many of which had charming outbuildings included in the tour, ranged from the early 1700s to the mid-1800s.
And to prove that modern can be captivating, too, a 2008 Phoenixville residence boasted architectural detail reminiscent of an older property as well as a panoramic view of French Creek.
Those who opted for VIP tickets were treated to lunch at Casa di Tutto Sorrisi (House of All Smiles), the Malvern estate of Cindy McClure, chef of Tutto Sorrisi Catering. Guests were invited to watch as McClure and fellow chef Peter Gilmore, a Le Bec Fin alum and former proprietor of Gilmore’s restaurant in West Chester, prepared sandwiches that included salmon with wasabi mayonnaise, capers, sprouts, and red onion confit.
Some participants have experienced Chester County Day from multiple perspectives. Chris Hannafin said her East Bradford Township home has been on the tour several times, including the first Chester County Day. As a result, she has already been asked to participate in next year’s 75th anniversary.
Hannafin said she hoped that she could decline – but not because she doesn’t enjoy showcasing the historic residence that was once part of Bala Farm. Her home is currently for sale, she said; with luck, a new owner will want to continue the tradition.
Frank and Cathy Hoffmann of East Goshen Township have also served as hosts -twice. And, like Hannafin, when their own home isn’t on display, they enjoy learning about others.
About a decade ago, Cathy Hoffmann said she had been trying to persuade her husband to lighten up a room in their house that had exposed beams against a dark ceiling. He was reluctant to paint the ceiling white so she said she was delighted when a Chadds Ford home they visited on Chester County Day had the same dark beams against a white ceiling.
Frank Hoffmann said they chatted with the owner, who had shared Frank Hoffmann’s hesitation to paint the wood - despite his friend Andy’s repeated insistences that it would look better. One day Andy walked into the house with a paintbrush and flung white paint onto the ceiling. “Now you’ll have to paint it,” he reportedly told his friend.
Cathy Hoffmann said she was pleased to have her decorating idea reinforced; however, she admitted that she probably would have left every bit of white splatter in place. Why? The friend with the paintbrush was none other than Andrew Wyeth.
Such anecdotes are part of what makes Chester County Day special, organizers said. Before the 2014 event, the Women’s Auxiliary to Chester County Hospital reported that nearly $4 million had been raised to support the hospital and its programs.
(3 votes, average: 3.67 out of 5)
Loading...
Comments