The Evening Walking Tour of Historic Homes, sponsored by the Garden City Historical Society, was held on Dec. 3. Maureen Clancy, a past president of the society, said, “I am delighted with the ‘reinstatement’ of a previous holiday tradition, the Walking Tour of Historic Homes.”
Joanne K. Adams, also a past president of the society, remarked, “It was a wonderful opportunity to step back in time and enjoy the architectural beauty and history of the treasured Victorian and colonial homes of our village.”
Ms. Nancy Kleemann’s choral classes from the Garden City Middle School sang at the Historical Society Museum, and later, the trio of George Efthimou on keyboard, singer, Alexa Grant and saxophonist, Paul Cuneo entertained. They are part of the Village Music Makers.
The homes on the evening tour are some of the finest historical homes in Garden City. Inside each home, the tour continued through the first floor, with the homeowners or society volunteers talking about the home’s unique features. Historical and architectural information on their specific homes was researched earlier by Historical Society President, Brian Pinnola, Historical Society Board member Albert Intreglia and architecture school graduate, Jordan Fay. Two homes were on Ninth Street, which are original A. T. Stewart homes, designed by Hempstead architect, John Kellum, and built circa 1873-1874 by James L’Hommedieu of Great Neck. They are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Cherry Valley Avenue colonial was designed by R. C. Hunter and Brothers Architects of New York City and built in 1922. Lastly, the Hilton Avenue home was built in 1910 and still had the original parquet floors with an inlaid border. “How fortunate we are to have these lovely historic homes, so meticulously maintained right here in our community!” says Albert Intreglia.
Afterward, the Yuletide Reception was at the museum, where tour-goers helped themselves to wonderful holiday bites and drinks. They also had an opportunity to visit the A. T. Stewart Exchange on the lower level that night with a discount on all the antiques.
For people who enjoy our town’s unique history, this walking tour was quite informative, with so many historic homes within a short distance from the museum. Kris Harder, chair of the Evening Walking Tour, said, “The tour was a success! The Garden City Historical Society is already planning on doing this again next year, with another selection of beautiful, historical homes. We hope you will join us.”
The funds will be used to operate the Garden City Historical Society Museum, to help with education programs and to contribute to its archiving work. The museum is located at 109 Eleventh Street. Visit the Garden City Historical Society website at www.GardenCityHistoricalSociety.org.
