An Old Fashioned Christmas House Tour, Sunday, December 6, 2009

Stroll through tree-lined streets where you are invited into seven of our historic homes all decked out in Christmas finery. You will experience:

• Grand homes in architectural styles including Queen Anne, Tudor Revival, Shingle Style, Second Empire, and Colonial Revival.
• Amazing craftsmanship and detail including a magnificent stained glass and woodwork paneling.
• Collections of ornaments, period costumes, gingerbread houses, and more.
• A Twelve Days of Christmas house-to-house treasure hunt with prizes from local merchants.

Tickets are $20 in advance online at Eventbrite, at Swain Galleries, 703 Watchung Ave. Plainfield NJ 07060, phone (908) 756-1707, or The Pillars Bed & Breakfast, 922 Central Ave. in Plainfield, phone (908) 753-0922. Cash or check only at Swain's and the Pillars.

Day of tour tickets are $25 (cash or check only) from 1:00 pm until 4:30 pm at 935 Central Ave., Plainfield NJ 07060, which is the starting point of the tour.

• Even if you already bought your ticket, you must come to 935 Central Ave. in Plainfield to get your tour guide brochure and map.
• Allow two - three hours to see all seven homes.
• Primarily a walking tour, but you may wish to drive to one home just outside our district.
• Adults and children over 12 only.
• No interior photos allowed.
• A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Plainfield Rescue Squad.
• This is a rain or shine event, no refunds.

Click here to buy ticket online.

Click here for directions

Architectural Artifacts and Antiques Classified Page

An exciting addition to our VWBHD activities is the addition of a classified page for the sale and exchange of architectural artifacts and antiques. Member Larry Quirk with assistance from Arne Aakre has structured a new page linked to our blog which can be accessed below. Many thanks to them both for their efforts in launching our latest project.

Check it out and hold the dumpster!

http://vwb-architecturalartifacts.blogspot.com/

"Plainfield Lost but Not Forgotton" Photo Exhibit at Library

The Plainfield Public Library currently has a photo exhibit "Plainfield Lost but Not Forgotten." A fascinating collection of photos of our Queen City, it's in the Anne Louise Davis Room and runs until October 17, 2009. Not to be missed! The library is at 800 Park Avenue.

New Plants Enhance Our Neighborhood

On May 16, 2009 volunteers got together to plant new flowers and foliage in our neighborhood's numerous planters. Gerry, Arne, Nancy, Margarita, and Edgar (click to enlarge photos) planted Hosta, Dusty Miller, and Impatiens all around the Van Wyck Brooks historic district and in nearby Library Park. Jan and Lamont (not shown) also helped.











Planting flowers is not all we do to help keep the district lovely. In 2008, with the help of a grant from Plainfield's Culture and Heritage Commission, volunteers planted a number of trees around the neighborhood. It's great to know, as you stroll outdoors and enjoy the summer weather, that the thriving new trees are the work of our own neighbors!

Hundreds of Visitors Enjoy Historic House Tour and Raise Money for Charity

The first Maidens in May House Tour, held in tandem with the Friends of Sleepy Hollow yard sale, drew throngs of people and raised funds for the Plainfield Rescue Squad and the Tri-County Red Cross on Sunday May 31, 2009.

Sponsored by the United Way of Greater Union County and Friends of Sleepy Hollow, the tour featured six historic Plainfield homes and their gardens. As in previous years, visitors came from New Jersey, New York, and Eastern Pennsylvania to see our historic houses - and shop our famous mega-yard sale, which comprises over 100 households around town. It's no secret that, over the years, many people who discovered Plainfield on a house tour fell in love with our town and ended up moving here.

A big thank-you to The United Way, The Pillars of Plainfield Bed and Breakfast which hosted the reception afterwards, Wendy Burney of The Burney Group who worked closely with the United Way and local homeowners, and Friends of Sleepy Hollow for mounting another memorable sale.

Lampkin House

The Revolutionary War-era Lampkin House on Terrill Road has been designated by Preservation New Jersey as one of "New Jersey's 10 Most Endangered Historic Sites." Local preservation-minded folks had been pushing for Lampkin to be recognized and preserved, so this is good news. Click the links to read this house's 'bio' and you'll see why.