News release from the West Central Neigborhood Association:
West Central Neighborhood to celebrate 32nd Annual Home & Garden Tour
(August 24, 2014) – The West Central Neighborhood Association (WCNA) presents its 32nd Annual Home & Garden Tour & ArtsFest September 6 and 7, 2014. The Tour highlights historic homes and buildings from the 19th and early 20th centuries with the goals of promoting historic preservation and neighborhood revitalization. The Home Tour runs both days from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm. Tickets are $13 in advance and $15 on the days of the Tour. Children age 12 and under are free. The ArtsFest is free both days.
This year’s Tour offers eight homes, two apartments, a church, and the newly renovated lobby of the Sheridan Apartments.
One of this year’s homes is a magnificently painted Queen Anne-style home with elements that lend structural and textural details to this house built circa 1902. The home exhibits typical features of the style including its cross-gabled plan; gables, with shingled details; grouped modillions under the eaves of the main façade; and bay windows on the main and east facades.
Another home is an exceptional example of Italianate-style architecture with many ornate elements. Built circa 1855, the windows of each story are capped with window hoods in differing designs, and the eaves are embellished with decorative brackets in pairs and singles connected by a modillion course. An unusual interior attraction is the 1919 Wurlitzer Carousel Organ situated in the dining room.
A Colonial Revival-style house built in 1909 and located at 1203 West Wayne was once the administration building for the Fort Wayne’s Women’s College, which formerly occupied nearby land. On the same street at 1209 West Wayne Street, this brick, Queen Anne/Colonial Revival house was built circa 1905 on land where the Fort Wayne College once stood. Displaying a skillful combination of various architectural details, the house features modillions under the front eaves and a classic Palladian window highlighting the front gable.
Among other Tour stops are homes and establishments that display an eclectic mix of history, architectural styles, gardens, and art- and antiques-filled interiors.
The West Central Neighborhood was named “Best Old House Neighborhood” in Indiana for 2010 by This Old House Magazine. For more details on this award, go to https://www.thisoldhouse.com/.
For 32 years, the Home & Garden Tour has presented homes representing a diverse array of both history and style. WCNA provides free carriage and pedicab rides along the Tour route as well as a full-color, souvenir Tour brochure. Proceeds from the Home and Garden Tour are used to support the West Central Neighborhood mission to preserve and renovate historic properties in the neighborhood as well as undertake projects that beautify the neighborhood.
This year’s ArtsFest will again include an exciting array of activities and arts. Building on the success of previous years, which included the Downtown Improvement District’s award as “Best Event of 2009,” this year’s festival will once again be located along Wayne and Union streets between Jackson and Rockhill streets. ArtsFest presents 10 stage performances designed to please all audiences. The performances include the Fort Wayne Ballet, the West Central Jazz Quartet, Soft and Heavy, The Microdot Ensemble, and several other outstanding groups. The ArtsFest also includes approximately 50 artists’ booths displaying a wide variety of fine arts and crafts. The ArtsFest performances run from 12:00 noon to 10:00 pm on Saturday, September 6th and from 12:00 noon to 6:00 pm on Sunday, September 7th. The schedule is listed below.
The Mad Anthony Brewing Co., Bravas Dogs, and other vendors will offer food, drink, and fun to enhance the Tour and ArtsFest experience. All ages are welcome in the food and beverage area, but you must be 21 years old or older to purchase alcoholic beverages from Mad Anthony’s. The ArtsFest is open and free to the public.
Advance tickets can be purchased at Jamison Meats: 2413 W. Jefferson, 503 E. Dupont, & 3423 N. Anthony, BitterSweet GIFTS: 4630 Coldwater, Umbers Do It Best Hardware: 2413 Lower Huntington & 2814 Maplecrest, Antiques on Broadway: 1115 Broadway, Third World Gift Shoppe: 611 W. Wayne, House of Furniture: 537 W. Jefferson.
The Neighborhood will sell tickets on the days of the Tour on the grounds of the Swinney Homestead, 1424 West Jefferson Boulevard, at the St. Joseph Hospital parking lot at West Wayne and Broadway, and at the ArtsFest at the intersection of Wayne and Union.
The Home & Garden Tour and ArtsFest are funded in part by St. Joseph Hospital, Northeast Indiana Public Radio (NIPR), and the Downtown Improvement District.
For more information, go to www.westcentralneighborhood.org or call (260) 385-9378.
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE FOR THE ARTSFEST:
Saturday | September 6th
- 1:00 PM to 1:45 PM | Ft. Wayne Ballet Youth Co.
- 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM | Soft and Heavy
- 3:30 PM to 4:30 PM | Dwayne Ferren
- 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM | Jan Krist with Alan Finkbeiner
- 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM | Two Before Noon
- 8:30 PM to 10:00 PM | The Rumble Tones
Sunday | September 7th
- 12:00PM to 1:00 PM | The B-45s
- 1:30 PM to 2:30 PM | The Microdot Ensemble
- 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM | Austin Johnson
- 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM | West Central Jazz Quartet
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