East Row Historic Homes Tour During Tall Stacks 2006: A Passport to the Past

Special Event! - East Row Wine Tasting at 'The Sanctuary' following the tour on Sunday, October 8, 2006, 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

The East Row Historic District is an easily walked area of homes located only 3 blocks away from the riverfront where the Tall Stacks event is held.

It is the second largest local historic district in Kentucky. Most of the houses date from the late 1800's. Newport was founded in 1795. The East Row Historic District Homes Tour runs from 12 Noon-6 pm each day.

During the tour, 9 historic, renovated/rehabbed homes will be open to the public. The homes are located in the historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The homes, selected by a neighborhood committee, reflect Victorian-era exterior architecture including Queen Anne, Italianate, Second Empire and Colonial Revival styles with such ornate details as artistic stained glass windows, pattern masonry and carved limestone ornamentation. Some home interiors are elegantly appointed with gaslight fixtures and reproduction window treatments; some feature faux wall finishes, handpainted ceilings, reproduction wallpapers and stencil designs. Many of the homes have never been open to the public while others are visitor favorites from past historic neighborhood tours.

Among the highlights:

• The “Barney Kroger” House, a Second Empire townhouse built around 1885. It was the home of Barney Kroger, founder of the Kroger Co., the grocery empire.
• The "Bardo-Pursche" House, an 1899 Queen Anne style home with an Eastlake style entry porch built by Peter N. Bardo. His firm was the Bourbon Copper and Brass Works which produced a fire hydrant that would not freeze in cold weather.
• The former First Presbyterian Church, a high Victorian Gothic structure built in 1893 that features a functional Koehnkent Grimm tracker type organ; it was converted into two dramatic condominiums in 1993 and 1994. Both condominiums will be open for the tour.

Besides the homes, the event will include points of interest that reflect the neighborhood's long history:

• The Beaux Arts Building, a Catholic girls school built in 1898 and designed by noted Cincinnati architect Samuel Hannaford. Today, it is being converted into individual condominiums;
• The George Wiedemann Jr. Mansion, an elegant Colonial Revival style residence built in 1900;
• St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, an 1897 Victorian Gothic structure;
• St. Paul's Episcopal Church, an 1871 example of Gothic Revival architecture.

During the tour, some homeowners and volunteers will be dressed in period costumes that echo the late 19th century and correspond with the construction dates of the homes. A free shuttle service will make periodic stops through the entire tour route including stops at the ticket area and St. Paul's Episcopal church. Also, relaxation areas will be available during the tour to provide comfort for visitors.

The East Row Historic Homes Tour will begin at the George Wiedemann Jr. Mansion, 401 Park Ave., where tickets will be sold at the door between 11:45 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tickets are $25 per person. Advance purchase tickets are no longer available. The dealine for ordering online was October 5th. (Tickets are limited. Approximately 1,000 tickets will be available for Saturday and another 1,000 for Sunday.) If you ordered online, please make sure to print your invoice/receipt so that you can exchange it for your ticket(s) at 401 Park Ave. during tour hours.

Although the East Row Historic District may be easily negotiated by wheelchairs, the homes on the tour are not handicapped accessible. Organizers also suggest that visitors wear comfortable shoes; no spike heels will be allowed in the homes.

The East Row Historic District has hosted a Tall Stacks homes tour in 1992, 1999, and 2003.

This year's East Row Historic Homes Tour during Tall Stacks 2006 will replace the East Row Victorian Christmas Tour, normally scheduled in December. The Christmas tour will resume in 2007.

Wine Tasting at The Sanctuary

This year's East Row Historic Homes Tour will be followed by a Wine Tasting at The Sanctuary on Sunday, October 8, 2006. The Sanctuary is in the historic former Central Christian Church and is located at 6th and Monroe Streets in Newport, Kentucky. Tickets for the event are $25 per person. Eight wines will be featured and light snacks will be provided. Only 125 tickets are available for this event. Tickets are at available at 401 Park Avenue during home tour hours and at the door of the wine tasting until they are sold out.

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