Saint Paul’s is pleased to once again invite the community to enjoy a rare look into some of Doylestown Borough’s loveliest historic homes, decorated for the holidays.
The tour takes place from 5 to 9 p.m. Friday Dec. 2 and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, with a snow date from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4.
Over the years, Saint Paul’s has opened over 100 homes to the public, most of which have been decorated by parishioners and friends of the parish. The event has become a holiday tradition for many, gathering friends together to stroll along the tour route, shop and have a cup of tea in the heart of Bucks County.
This year’s tour is best done as a driving tour as a complete circuit is roughly 2.5 miles. Houses one and two are across the street from each other and very close to the county parking garage. House three is next to Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church and house four is next to Fonthill. Houses may be toured in any order.
The oldest home on the tour is house number four at 441 E. Court St. Built in 1858, it is a three-story Federal style brick house. The current owners have lived there since 1993 and in 2004 they added a two-story rear addition. The large barn and carriage house on this property are included in the tour.
House number three at 288 Maple Ave. is not quite as old, having been built in 1869 by James Biglan, a general contractor who helped with the construction of the old Doylestown Courthouse building in 1877. These owners are on our house tour for the third time...in their third house. They are enthusiastic tour hosts who have decorated their own house for the tour.
House number two at 119 Union St. is the baby of the bunch having been built in 1942. It is unusual to find a house built during World War II, but 119 Union St. and its neighbors were constructed in this time of turmoil and transition when a shortage of building materials translated to smaller houses. The surprisingly large back yard provides private space for entertaining.
House number one, at 153 Shewell Ave., is known as the Oscar Martin house. Martin was a local architect who designed this home, built in 1902, when he was 25 years old for his personal residence and office. In 2014, the owners expanded the kitchen and added an elegant side porch.
Stop in at Saint Paul’s Parish Hall before or after the tour. Offerings include Holiday Tea (included in the ticket price), Saint Paul’s famous butter cookies, plain and fancy baked goods, and several special raffles. The Parish Hall is open during tour hours: Friday from 5 to 9 p.m. and again on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Since its inception in 1992, the tour has showcased over 100 houses and donated over $193,000 to the Doylestown Homeless Shelter through a partnership with the Bucks County Housing Group.
Advance tickets are on sale through Wednesday Nov. 30, for $40 and may be purchased at the parish office weekdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Doylestown Bookshop or at stpaulsdoylestown.org/cid-2022. Tickets on tour days are $45 at the church. Tickets are limited and non-refundable.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church is located at 84 E. Oakland Ave., Doylestown. For information, call 215-348-5511 x10.
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