Historic New England Town Tour Histoury

Enjoy 19th-Century Suburban Boston Charm in Winchester, MA at the “Fabulous First Fifty” Tour

If you love exploring the history and culture of New England, head over to Winchester, Massachusetts, on Saturday, September 20th, for a special tour of some of its well-preserved 19th-century homes, inside and out!

Just eight miles north of Boston, today the town is characterized by handsome, tree-lined streets of historic residences centered around its charming and vibrant downtown, which boasts its own treasure-trove of 19th and early-20th century architecture nestled between idyllic ponds. When this village center began to rapidly evolve here in the 1840s, the identity of the area did as well. In 1850, Winchester officially became its own town. The second half of the 19th century showed no signs of stopping, the population continued to grow in great stride and the landscape had increasing numbers of new homes—from modest to mansion—built in the variety of styles popular in the Victorian era: Queen Anne, Mansard, Italiante, and Colonial Revival styles to name a few.

This year marks the 175th anniversary of the town’s incorporation, and the nonprofit, Histoury, will be celebrating the milestone with a tour of historic buildings, discussing the people and events associated with them and providing insight into their architectural features and their place in American culture.

The highlight of the September 20th tour will be special stops at several private homes along the way. Each home was built during the exciting boom of Winchester’s first 50 years. Interior stops include a charming circa 1880 Italianate dwelling once home to Albert Ayer Sr., a prominent businessman and local official, who was called “one of the town’s fathers” in the 1898 article that described his festive golden wedding anniversary celebration held in the home.

A second home opening its doors to participants is a refined, polychromatic brick home with colored tiles and double-leaf doors characterizing the facade. It was built in 1876 by David Skillings as part of his exclusive residential park, Rangeley Estates. The home was designed by George D. Rand, an esteemed architect responsible for dozens of homes, churches, and schools throughout Massachusetts as well as Winchester’s own town hall.

Another interior stop will be at a lovely, preservation award-winning home built circa 1865. Originally the home of Winchester Baptist Church’s pastor, it was later the long-time home of the Hawes family. The Hawes patriarch founded a successful transportation business whose legacy can be traced to several buildings downtown today. The home is an eclectic blend of elements from several popular Victorian-era styles.

In 1873, Skillings sold part of his land in the area to merchant Allan Foster Boone. The tasteful Italianate home, which boasts stacked bay windows at its front and a variety of details throughout, will be another home opening its doors to participants. The home quickly became a three-generation household, and the youngest Boone eventually became the owner of this residence and the architect for several prominent buildings and homes in Winchester.

The nonprofit Histoury creates and guides architectural history tours in New England and New York with the mission to promote the appreciation and preservation of historic buildings. “Winchester’s Fabulous First 50! A Tour of 19th-Century Home Interiors” is presented with the support of the Winchester Historical Society and as part of the Winchester Chamber of Commerce’s annual Spirit Weekend.

The tour will be presented from the comfort of a charter bus, beginning and ending at Winchester Historical Society’s beautiful headquarters, the Sanborn House. Participants are invited to come early for a special tour and refreshments.

Visit www.histoury.org for more details and registration. Space is limited.

By Allison Casazza at Histoury

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