Last Night’s Newburgh Candlelight House Tour
Upstater | December 9, 2013This post is written by some of the organizers of last night’s tour.
When it comes to celebrating the holiday season in Newburgh there’s a generational divide — those who remember ice skating at Downing Park and those who remember Eggbert.
But there’s one favorite holiday tradition everyone has shared.
Founded in 1845 and chartered in 1884 — the Historical Society of Newburgh Bay and the Highlands is Newburgh’s oldest surviving community institution. They’ve hosted a holiday program at the Crawford House since acquiring the property in 1953.
In 1983, Anne Coon took it to a new level, creating the Hudson Valley’s biggest architectural and preservation minded hospitality tour. Showcasing a different set of a dozen or more homes in the Historic District each year and bringing together more than 60 volunteers each year to make it happen.
Year after year the committee has to research homes and approach homeowners to ask if they’ll open their homes and restoration stories to the public. Bill Mocko has been brainstorming the tour route and approaching the owners for all 30 years so he knows the in and outs of almost every home in the district. Carla Decker is also longstanding and one way she helps is by approaching local supporters to fund the creation of a collectible booklet. Mary McTamaney, Pat Favata & Allynne Lange lend their expertise to researching and interpreting the history of the homes. Russell Lange and Tom Kneiser create the booklet and exhibits. The 40+ decorators proudly call themselves the “Flower Ladies” and show up like clock work each year to create original flower displays.
The Mayor, Judy Kennedy, says: “
Mayor Kennedy: “The Candlelight Tour is an opportunity for people to really see what’s here in the city and an asset to see how things can be restored and how volunteers can be a part of that!”
An addendum from the Upstater staff:
Brooklyn’s Hungry March Band made their way to the bluff overlooking the Hudson, and into the beautiful homes of some of Newburgh’s esteemed citizens. Yet again we were enveloped by the passionate community of Newburgh and wowed by the architecture. We’ve never seen a community rally more or try harder to get people to join them, and we really hope they’re successful. More on the Candlelight tour here.
Read On, Reader...
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