ITHACA --- Historic Ithaca hosts its 10th Annual That Old House Tour on Saturday, June 15, in the hamlet of Forest Home. The self-guided tour celebrates the architectural heritage of the hamlet and showcases several of its unique properties. Participants get a rare glimpse into historic homes in one of Tompkins County’s early hamlets that has retained a distinct identity for more than 200 years. The tour runs from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Visitors can tour the interiors of various houses that range from Greek Revival to English Cottage styles. Tour-goers can also visit the old Forest Home School (exterior only), now the Lewis Building at Cornell Botanic Gardens, and the community’s iconic steel truss bridges.
“The hamlet of Forest Home celebrates its 225th year of settlement this year, and we are pleased to celebrate this milestone with them,” says Susan Holland, executive director of Historic Ithaca. “That Old House Tour participants will have a wonderful experience exploring this historic and scenic neighborhood during its significant anniversary.”
Tickets for the self-guided walk/bike tour can be purchased at www.historicithaca.org/events/toht/, in person at 210 Center St., by calling (607) 273-6633 or on the day of the tour at the Forest Home Chapel (224 Forest Home Drive). General admission is $15; $12 for Friends of Historic Ithaca, seniors and students; $10 per person for groups of four or more. Children under 12 are free. Tour ticket holders receive a 20 percent off coupon for a meal at McCormick’s at Moakley House Restaurant valid on the day of the tour.
Registration and tour map pick-up is at the Forest Home Chapel at 224 Forest Home Drive from 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on June 15. Alternately, registrants may pick up the tour brochure and map ahead of time at Historic Ithaca (210 Center Street) on Thursday, June 13, or Friday, June 14, between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.
Inaugurated in 2010 with a tour of Ithaca’s East Hill, Historic Ithaca’s annual spring That Old House Tour has welcomed old house enthusiasts to enjoy the historic architecture of Ithaca’s neighborhoods of Belle Sherman/Bryant Park (2011), Henry St. John (2012) and South Hill (2018). In 2013, tour-goers experienced the architecture of Ithaca’s historic houses of worship. That Old House Tour in 2015 explored architectural gems in the Village of Cayuga Heights during its centennial year. Farther afield, tours in Brooktondale (2014), Trumansburg (2016) and Dryden (2017) gave participants a glimpse of Tompkins County’s characteristic architecture.
Proceeds from That Old House Tour benefit the programs and services of Historic Ithaca, including its job training program, tours and library. Sponsors helping to make the tour possible include: Howard Hanna Real Estate, 14850 Magazine, Sioux O’Connor Painting/Licensed Real Estate Salesperson, Erdman Anthony, Forest Home Chapel, True Insurance, Tim Merrick Construction, McCormick’s at Moakley House Restaurant and Vertical Access.
For more information, visit www.historicithaca.org/events/toht/ or contact Pat Longoria at (607) 273-6633 or atpat@historicithaca.org. The programs of Historic Ithaca are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
ABOUT HISTORIC ITHACA: Historic Ithaca is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the value and enhancement of historic buildings and neighborhoods in the City of Ithaca and Tompkins County through education, advocacy and action.