Historic homes on display for a day
By MICHAEL ANICH, The Leader-HeraldArticle Photos
JOHNSTOWN - As part of the city's 250th anniversary celebration, some of its most breathtaking homes were opened to the public Saturday for a historical architectural tour.
Ellen Panero, an artist and retired teacher, enjoyed showing off her 192-year-old Federal-style home - the only home on the tour that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The house, at 100 S. Market St., was built in 1816 for lawyer Benjamin Chamberlain, and it passed into the hands of the noted Frothingham family, whose daughter married writer Washington Irving.
Panero said she moved into her home in 1976 after purchasing it for $32,000.
The architecture of the red brick house has changed somewhat over the years. The walls are double in thickness, which insulates the home. The roof is tin, and the pegs in the attic which hold the beams together are original.
Panero said there used to be plank floors, but they were changed to finished wood. There used to be four fireplaces, but a previous owner closed off three of them and kept one in the living room.
Panero said the home, adorned with her own artwork on the walls, suits her artistic nature.
"I liked the openness of the house," Panero said. "I'm an artist, and it was so open and so wonderful."
Gary and Karen Sprung of Mayfield admired Panero's home. Mrs. Sprung said she lived in the house during the 1950s.
"Look at the great Federal fireplace," Gary Sprung remarked, as he gazed at the living room.
At the Evans home, 101 S. William St., Cynthia DePuy of Johnstown took in the handcrafted wood around the fireplace of the 13-room home built in 1888 for $14,800.
"It's a family home, it was built by R.J. Evans," explained a caretaker, who asked not to be identified. Richard J. Evans was the owner of a successful leather and glove business on West State Street.
The eight homes shown during the tour were those owned by: Jonathan and Tara Sweet, 10 N. Perry St.; Roderick and Chloe Correll, 107 S. William St.; Morris and Wendy Evans, 101 S. William St.; Steve and Kate Van Arnam, 113 S. William St.; Joseph and Lori Salamack, 606 S. William St.; Brian and Anita Hanaburgh, 400 S. Melcher St.; Ellen Panero, 100 S. Market St.; and Alexandra Higgins, 2 E. State St.
Historic sites on the tour included the library, Johnson Hall, the Drumm House, Johnstown Historical Society, Fulton County Courthouse, Willing Helpers Home for Women, First Presbyterian Church, the Knox Mansion, James Burke's Inn, Colonial Cemetery and St. John's Episcopal Church.
More than 100 tickets were sold for the self-directed tour, which began Saturday morning at the Johnstown Public Library and stretched through the afternoon.
Proceeds benefited the Friends of the Johnstown Public Library and the Johnstown Celebrates 2008: Time Marches On celebration.
Organizer Deb Callery, a library staffer, said the turnout was good for the tour of eight Johnstown homes and several important local historical sites.
The houses on the tour featured a variety of architectural styles from the last two-and-a-half centuries.
"It's a nice event," Callery said. "We're very excited about it."
Callery said it has been more than 20 years since a similar architectural tour was offered in the city.
People picked up brochures and other informational materials about the homes and historic sites in the basement of the library. From there, they were welcome to visit any home they wanted in any order.
By late morning, many of the historical homes, located mainly in the south central part of the city, were showing off all of their unique architecture. Even more informational materials greeted visitors once they arrived for their personal tours.
"I love the historic homes," said Nancy Basile of Gloversville,one of those touring the sites.
Library Director Barbara Germain said she was thrilled with the event, which she said goes toward a worthy cause.
Several volunteers help make the event possible and library and city officials thanked all those whom they said "graciously opened their homes" for the architectural tour.
Upcoming 250th anniversary events in Johnstown include an Open House Oct. 4 at the Fire Department. On Nov. 14 and 15, Colonial Little Theatre will present a radio show called "Lady of Johnstown: Rose Knox."
Michael Anich covers Fulton County and Johnstown news. He can be reached by e-mail at johnstown@leaderherald.com.
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WordPrefect
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09-29-08 6:56 AM
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Native, The tour was mentioned at least twice in the print edition of the paper ahead of time. I also went into great detail about it (including pictures) on my blog on Wednesday, for the benefit of people who only read the online edition. Bill Ackerbauer, LH assistant city editor
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native
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09-28-08 4:37 PM
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As usual a day late and a dollar short,it's Sunday evening and I just found out about the tour. Wish the LH would post a special announcement section on Fridays for local and regional weekend events!
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Discobulous
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09-28-08 10:23 AM
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Nice but I think they should have also represented the 'other half' and included a visit to a crummy apartment on Hoosic Street, just to give the event more balance.
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