Yes, Historic Home fans will love all the over 100 period rooms incorporated into Winterthur Museum and love seeing its gardens outside of Wilmington, Delaware,  but on Sunday, I saw the peony collection as it was in full bloom. With the quirky weather, you never know when the perfect day will be, but the end of May was ideal for me. Enjoy some of the pictures from this fantastic garden begun early in the 20th Century by Henry Francis duPont.

Every year on the third Saturday in May, Old New Castle in Delaware holds it's biggest event, Day in Old New Castle.  And this year, as in countless years past, a friend and I will be part of the cadre of volunteer docents greeting visitors to various historic homes.

Not only will you be able to visit shops, museums, and private homes between 10 AM and 5 PM, but some pretty spectacular gardens will also be open (pictures are: Packet Alley on The Strand and flower on the 2010 tour). There will be music, dancing, and change bell ringing (an ancient church bell ringing method). There will be plenty of food available from local restaurants.  And please stop by the Amstel House before 2 PM and say hello!  For more information, see http://dionc.immanuelepiscopal.com/index.html

Sometimes I lose patience with sellers of older and historic homes who have put up with defects for many years and expect buyers to turn a blind eye to them.

Let's face it, buyers (unless they are looking for a fixer-upper at a bargain price) do not want to see the above when they are seeking their "dream" historic home".

You may have gotten away with a home looking like this when listings were more scarce than hen's teeth, but not in this market.

PEOPLE!  Enjoy your house--give mom the nice kitchen she has always wanted--bring the bathroom up to 21st century standards and ENJOY YOUR HOUSE!  You never know when you may get a job transfer, need a bigger house, need to downsize, lose your job, have more kids, WHATEVER!

Then you will be able to say, "We really enjoyed this house to the fullest and it's ready for the next generation of owners."

That's all we ask of you owners of older and historic homes!

Need advice on what to do to your Delaware and Chester County home and how to do it? 

Contact Carolyn Roland

The Tudor Revival style was in its full glory this weekend as the part of West Philadelphia known as Overbrook had its annual house tour. And some houses they are!  We started out at the most unusual residences, which were condos converted from industrial lofts along the railroad tracks that run from Center City out to the Main Line suburbs such as Ardmore and Paoli, Pennsylvania.

Then we visited many of the stone houses which are constructed of what I believe is known as Wissahickon Schist (a type of gray stone), named after the stream which starts in nearby Montgomery County and runs into Northwest Philadelphia.  Most Overbrook homes, built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, have shaded front porches with stone columns. The first home we visited had an area in the front hall where the coachman waited to be called into service. Another home had the original porte cochere outside the house at one end where one could disembark from a coach or an early automobile and avoid inclement weather protected by this covered passageway.

Overbrook owners are very proud of their homes, and rightfully so. We were able to speak to most of them and they graciously explained details of the homes. Since many of the Tudor Revival homes have half-timbering and stucco exteriors (imitating the 15th century heavy structural timbering with non-structural exterior wooden beams) we could see where some of the more run-down homes were getting a stucco re-surfacing or in some cases, replacement.  Maybe when we come back to next year's tour we will get to visit some of these. The people at the ticket table in the Overbrook train station said that many owners wanted to be on the tour this year, but their contractors were running behind schedule, and I know it takes special skills to work on a house 100 or more years old. So, take your time and do it right you contractors!

May 2012 Historic Homes News

Come join in the fun, as this year's Dover Days Festival proves to be bigger and better than ever—and you won't want to miss a minute of the many FREE festivities! Held on The Green and Legislative Mall, two beautiful outdoor parks in the historic downtown district, Dover Days unites heritage, tradition and modern attractions into a festival that attracts thousands of visitors each year. Now in its 78th year, Dover Days is Delaware's longest running festival that celebrates First State history — with more than 25,000 people coming from all over the Mid-Atlantic states to celebrate the weekend's events, May 4-6. http://www.doverdaysfestival.com/

   

Sun., May 13, 2012   3:00PM - 5:00PM at the Hale-Bynes House, Stanton, Delaware there will be a Mother's Day Colonial Tea. $15 per person. Reservations Required. Space is limited to first twenty to sign up. http://www.halebyrnes.org/calendar.html  Hale-Byrnes is open on the first Wednesday of each month, except holidays, from noon until 3:00 p.m. Open at other times by appointment only.  Free admission.

A Day in Old New Castle is the oldest home and garden tour in the United States. Each year for the past 87 years, tourists from across the region have enjoyed the chance to step back in time to the historic era when New Castle served as the capital of the fledgling colony of Delaware. This quaint community's founding dates back 350 years. It was here on the banks of the Delaware River that William Penn first set foot in North America in 1682, 2011 proceeds go to the Friends of the New Castle Library and Immanuel Church. Saturday, May 19, 2012, 10 am to 5 pm  Adults: $15 before May 19 or $20 at the event.  (Come visit me at the Amstel House in the morning!)
Children (7 to 12): $5 http://dionc.immanuelepiscopal.com/

Also in Old New Castle-Saturday. May 19 through September 2, 2012 an exhibit is opening featuring a story about
 Captain John and Sarah Avery: A 17th-Century Family on Delaware's Frontier. This exhibit at the Old Library Museum explores Avery's Rest, a 17th-century Sussex County, Delaware homestead and utilizes artifacts discovered at the site as a point of reference. Illuminating the joys and hardships of daily life in Sussex County in the late 1600s and early 1700s, this exhibit is located at the Old Library Museum, Weekends (excluding holidays), 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Free. http://www.newcastlehistory.org/events.html

Rockwood Museum in Wilmington, Delaware, gives you a chance to learn the basics of ghost hunting in this hands-on 3 hour program. Classroom sessions will demonstrate how to conduct an investigation, collect evidence, use specialized equipment and review findings. Class will culminate with an actual investigation of the Mansion to put your new-found skills to the test.    16yrs and up By reservation only. Saturday May 19  9pm-midnight $40 per person   Register online   or call 302 761 4343  http://www2.nccde.org/rockwood/EventCalendar/default.aspx   

The Chester County Historical Society in West Chester, Pennsylvania, is currently featuring an exhibit about West Chester native, Bayard Rustin (March 17, 1912 – August 24, 1987), who was an American leader in social movements for civil rights, socialism, pacifism and non-violence, and gay rights. He was closely associated with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  See http://www.chestercohistorical.org/visit.php

The Iron Hill Museum in Newark, Delaware is offering the 2012 Archaeology and History Festival on May 6, 2012. Learn what it means to be an archaeologist and the interesting things you can learn about history through this field. Check out the real excavation and explore an historic cooking demonstration, make a clay pot, try your had at archery, watch a Native American presentation, listen to speakers from different cultures talk about their food traditions, and much more.http://www.ironhill-museum.org/events.htm

Please visit Carolyn’s blog/website http://activerain.com/blogs/delawareolderhomes .  And check outhttp://croland.psre.com/ .  Carolyn Roland can be reached at the Hockessin, Delaware office of Patterson-Schwartz, 302-239-3000 or direct 800-771-2332. Email or call Carolyn at any time with comments, advice about listing or selling an older home, or if you  wish to be removed from the mailing list at oldhome@verizon.net.

This morning, Winterthur Museum and Gardens outside of Wilmington, Delaware, had flowers pushing one another aside for attention. The white trillium were still blooming, while the azaleas were at their peak.  You can wander through an extensive collection of azaleas in white, blush, pink, and coral for as far as the eye can see.  By the end of this week, there will be a different show to see. Soon the rhododendrons and peonies will be in bloom. So if you can't get here in the next few days, don't worry--there will still be much to wonder at!

8th Annual Wildflower Celebration

Mt. Cuba Center

Sunday, April 29, 2012 - 10AM to 4 PM

3120 Barley Mill Road near Hockessin, DE.

I have been to Mt. Cuba before, but never during the "Celebration." A large crowd is predicted, as usual, so it's probably best to come early.

This is the former estate of Mr. & Mrs. Lammot du Pont Copeland, he being a president of the DuPont Company at one time, and his wife a community leader and volunteer.

The house was built in 1935, and I remember our guide telling us that the landscape was devoid of anything you see today. A vista was created with rolling hills which can be seen from the back patio of the house.  A vast array of wildflowers has been planted, and since Mrs. Copeland's death, there is a focus on native plants.

One does get the feeling of wonderment while wandering the grounds, and I must note that a guide must accompany each group, except during the "Celebration," so wander to your heart's content!

More information at http://www.mtcubacenter.org/

This headline in today's New York Times attracted my attention, being the owner of a back yard birdbath.

It seems homeowners are getting certified letters that their birdbaths are a hazzard and "standing" or "stagnant" (officials  have differing definitions) water can be a source of West Nile virus.  The owner of the featured birdbath says he changes the water every couple of days.

Picture: Birdbath minding own business.

  Picture: Robin waiting to take bath

All I can say is that as much as I love NYC, I am glad I live in a place where there are no bird bath inspectors (other than the robins). Three cheers for Wilmington, Delaware!

The Delaware Solid Waste Authority (DSWA) is pleased to be partnering with New Castle County Government to hold a special Household Hazardous Waste Collection event on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the New Castle County Government Center located at 87 Reads Way in New Castle, DE. The event is being held from 8am-4pm and is free for all Delaware Residents.

Household Hazardous Waste can include items such as household cleaners, garden pesticides, oil-based paints only (no latex paint will be accepted), nail polish, fluorescent bulbs, or antifreeze. This event is restricted to residents' only, no commercial services. The event will be held rain or shine.

For more information on the event or a more extensive list of items accepted during this event, please call the Citizens' Response Line at 1-800-404-7080 or visit www.dswa.com.

Come and find all the trades and services you will need for your Chester County, Pennsylvania historic property at this Saturday's Chester County Preservation Fair.  It will be held Saturday, April 21, 2012 at the complex in historic Yellow Springs, located at 1695 Art School Road, Yellow Springs. (Below, gazebo housing one of the springs, and old barn converted to classroom for art classes for students from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Art.)

Dating back to Revolutionary War times, Yellow Springs was the site of a hospital for soldiers at Valley Forge, and before that, the local native Americans partook of the health benefits of the natural springs. There will be food, games for children, and tours of the historic village. Details at http://www.yellowsprings.org/preservationfair.html