Saturday December 7, 2019
On Saturday, December 7th, celebrate the beauty of the season with the Newtown Historic Association’s holiday house tour. Now in its 57th year, this tour gives visitors the opportunity to peek into several of Newtown’s unique private residences, all dressed for the holidays.
Besides the private homes, there will be several public buildings open for visitors. All sites are within easy walking distance from the town center.
The $30 cost of a tour ticket also includes entry into the Half-Moon Inn, home to the Newtown Historic Association. Once inside this beautifully restored 18th century building, tour-goers will enjoy period musical entertainment, hearthside colonial cooking demonstrations and refreshments of mulled cider and cheese.
Ticket sales will begin November 15. Tickets will be available for purchase at Newtown Book & Record Exchange, 102 S. State Street and online via this page. Check back Nov 15th for full details.
In the event of major snow, the tour will be held on Sunday, December 8th.
2019 Private Homes on the Tour
Private Homes
Twying House, 1834 – Doug and Susan Turner
113 Penn St.
Chantry House, 1885 – David and Sandra Chantry
319 Centre Ave.
Bancroft House, c. 1924 – Ernest and Rebecca Bancroft
541 E. Centre Ave.
Robert Pidcock House, 1888 – Richard and Lynne LaBerge
422 E. Washington Ave.
Thomas VanArtsdalen House, 1881 – Josh and Emily Phillips
414 E. Washington Ave.
Mary VanArtsdalen House, 1866 – Richard and Dawn Wyatt
109 N. State St.
Francis Murray House, 1770 – Charles and Stacey Bancroft
35 Court St
Public Buildings
The Stocking Works – 1889 :: 301 S. State St.
Newtown United Methodist Church – 1896 :: 35 Libery St.
Newtown Fire Association – c. 1901 :: 14 Liberty St.
Newtown Library Company – 1912 :: E. Centre Ave. and Congress St.
Half Moon Inn – c. 1733 :: Centre Ave and Court St.
N.H.A. Research Center :: 100 Mercer St.
Historical Notes
The original Open House tour was sponsored by the Newtown Civic and Historic Association and was called “Christmas in Colonial Newtown.” It was held on Saturday December 14, 1963 from 1 to 4 p.m. and 7 to 9 p.m. and the price per person was only $1.50. Seven distinctive homes in Newtown were featured, including the Homestead (1800) at 127 South Sycamore Street; a colonial residence (1740) on South State Street; the Quintin House (1801) at 149 North State Street; the Bird in Hand (1690) at 111 South State Street; the Georgian House (1830) at 111 Court Street; the Schofield House (1837) at 113 Court Street; and a Victorian house (1860) at 219 Washington Avenue. Other buildings included on the tour were the Newtown Presbyterian Church, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church and Christmas Alley of the Hanging Lamp on North State Street.
A carol and candlelight parade in costume was featured on Friday night starting at Washington and Chancellor Streets and street caroling on Sunday beginning at 5 p.m. at the Bird in Hand. It was noted in the program that the Newtown Civic and Historic Association desired to acquire a historic building and if necessary restore it as a headquarters. The monies derived from the celebration of “Christmas in Colonial Newtown” were to be used toward this goal.
