The Historical Society of Kent County proudly sponsors its 43rd annual walking tour of houses in Chestertown’s National Landmark Historic District on Saturday, October 5, from 1-5pm. The Chestertown House Tour will include over a dozen properties open to the public only on this special occasion, within walking distance of one another. This year’s tour will focus on Antebellum and the Civil War. A lecture will be offered at the Society’s First Friday event at 301 High Street on Friday, October 4, from 4 to 6 PM. Ronald Coddington, contributing author for the New York Times disunion series, and author of three books on soldiers of the Civil War, will speak. His books will be available for sale at the Bordley History Center that evening. The lecture is free and open to the public.
The properties on this year’s tour include some of the oldest houses in Chestertown, which boasts more 18th century homes in use than any Maryland Community except Annapolis. Some owners have taken pains to restore their interiors with historic accuracy; others have creatively rehabilitated them with designs for contemporary life.
A special feature of the tour this year is Fort Belvedere, a home built in 1857 that is a wonderful example of the Greek Revival and Italianate styles that were so very popular during that time period
New to this year’s tour will be the Verbeck house, built in the 1990’s. It’s exterior fits nicely in with the older homes on the street, while the interior was featured in an issue of Southern Living magazine in 1996. This beautiful home, originally built for Kitty Baxter, also boasts a wonderful back garden.
Always a favorite stop, the Hynson-Ringgold House, will be open again this year. Owned by Washington College, this impressive house has been the home of Washington College presidents for many years. Built in 1740, and on the National Register of Historic Places, it can truly be said of this home that “George Washington did sleep here.”
The Bedingfield-Hand’s House on Queen Street will contain a small exhibit discussing the Antebellum period in Kent County.
The tour is self-guided, and the tour book provides ticket holders with the history of the houses. Knowledgeable docents will be on hand at each site to share interesting details.
The Chestertown House Tour is one of the oldest house tours on the Eastern Shore, and one of the area’s premier annual events. For out-of-town visitors, Chestertown also offers a Saturday morning farmers market, twice voted the best farmers market in Maryland, antique shops and art galleries, comfortable bed-and-breakfast accommodation, and great restaurants. Walk along the Chester River, enjoy fall scenery, and make this a real getaway weekend
Advance purchase tickets for the Chestertown Historic House Tour are $25, $30 on the day of the Tour; groups of 20 or more enjoy a discount with advance purchase. Advance sales of tickets are being held at the Bordley History Center, 301 High Street, and the Geddes-Piper House, 101 Church Alley, or you may call 410-778-3499 for more information or to reserve tickets.
The Historical Society of Kent County maintains the Geddes Piper House as the town’s only historic home regularly open to the public, operates a local history library, hosts a variety of great events and membership activities, offers tour packages throughout the year, and works to make certain that the stories of the past are part of a vibrant present. For more information, call 410-778-3499, visit our website at www.kentcountyhistory.org, or email [email protected]
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