Holiday House Tours, Special Events on December 10-11 Planned on Brownsville's Historic Northside

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 November 2016 14:21

The Brownsville Northside Beautification Committee will showcase its neighborhood December 10-11 when doors will swing open on seven festively decorated homes to raise funds for community projects in the historic district.

Holiday House

This year's self-guided tour will include three properties that are new to the bi-annual event – 300 Front St., 103 Barnett Ave. and 502 Market St. The Front Street home was built in 1855 by Congressman John Littleton Dawson and later served as the residence for Adam Jacobs, a riverboat captain and boat builder, and the Robinson family, local merchants. The Barnett Avenue home is fully constructed of recycled materials from razed structures in the area. Built by "Gypsy Steve" and "Uncle Charlie" for a local businessman in the 1970s, unusual features include marble, slate and wood from torn-down structures in Brownsville, Belle Vernon and Washington, beams from long-gone schools and bathtubs from a now-demolished early 20^th century hotel. The third stop is Market Street Emporium, built in 1902 and currently an eclectic retail shop, which will extend its business hours for the tour.

The tour also includes a collection of 19^th century homes built by some of Brownsville's wealthiest businessmen, whose lifestyles are reflected in the rich finishes and architectural embellishments on the interior and exterior of their residences – Tiffany-stained glass windows, marble mantles, beveled-glass windows, inlaid hand-made parquet floors, grand and circular staircases, a turret and mid-1800s "painted glass" window. The period homes are 131 Front St., 209 Front St., 212 Front St. and 514 Market St.

Holiday House

Each home will be festively decked out for the fundraiser.

Tickets are $15 per person for the self-guided tours. The properties will be open from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. December 10 and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. December 11. Tickets will go on sale 30 minutes prior to the start of the tours at Brownsville Fire Co. 1, 520 Market St. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Also that night, the congregation of the 156-year-old Christ Church Anglican, 305 Church St., will be holding a special service, beginning at 7 p.m. It is based on the first American prayer book written in 1789.

Brownsville Historical Society also will be conducting candlelight tours at Nemacolin Castle, a National Trust landmark located at 136 Front St. The December calendar for the 22-room house mansion calls for doors to be open Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays from 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.; December 28 and December 29 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.; and closed December 24, 25, December 31 and Jan. 1. Tickets are $10 for adults and $4 for children 12 years old and under.