It is to be presented by the Crestwood Civic Club from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 17. In the interest of fair disclosure, let me tell you that I am honored to be a member of the Crestwood Civic Club, which was founded in 1914. But membership in that worthy organization is not the only reason for my interest in the house tour. People enjoy visiting other people s houses to see friends and family, for social gatherings, sometimes even for business. For reasons perhaps best left to social scientists and the like, we also like to visit the homes of people we don t really know.
Historic houses are good examples.
It s even more fun to visit a house not usually open to the public, and that s where house tours enter the picture. They give us a chance to see private homes not only for the variety of architecture and period but also to have a glimpse of the unique and individual style of the homeowner. This interest in historic preservation, houses and house tours is not new. Va. In Boston, there was a flurry of newspaper comment in 1808 when the Old Brick meeting house was scheduled for demolition. In 1813, the state of Pennsylvania planned to sell what we now know as Independence Hall but was prevented by the action of a citizen s group.