Lake Charles embodies so much historical relevance. One way to experience this history is to attend the annual Palm Sunday Tour of Homes, an event sponsored by the Calcasieu Historical Preservation Society. Each year they highlight a different historically significant area of town and open homes to the public to view and learn the stories behind the homes.
Bob and I have enjoyed three of these tours in the past four years. You can read last year's post (a hodge podge of various home locales) here, and the 2013 Tour (Shell Beach Dr.!) here.
This 41st Palm Sunday Tour of Homes featured properties in the delightful Charpentier District. I think that is French for carpenter. Many of the homes in this downtown neighborhood were built around the turn of the 20th century by lumber barons and other leaders of the Lake Charles community. A bonus this year -- all the homes were in close easy walking distance of each other and we had a warm sunny spring day to experience them.
Historic Central School , built in 1912, served as Tour headquarters. The building is now home to the Arts and Humanities Council, several art studios and art organizations, and the Mardi Gras Museum, which was open to the public that day. (This photo only courtesy of Google images. The rest are my own.)
902 Kirby -- Queen Anne-Victorian house, circa 1900, for Edna and George H. Rock. This couple raised thirteen kids here!
Across the street, 903 Kirby is a good example of a "two-bay side-hall house," an all-American house style suited to narrow urban lots.
917 Kirby -- a traditional American foursquare; four rooms to the floor, two stories and a center staircase. Massive amounts of fascinating antiques in this place!
736 Pujo St. -- circa 1905. Fabulous wrap-around porches and fourteen columns were added later.
This, in their backyard. There's something magical about vintage brick walls . . .
832 Iris St. -- Originally a two story, the second floor was lost decades ago to a fire. It is now a charming cozy cottage.
Oh, and the azaleas were in peak bloom. Perfect timing for the Tour of Homes!
Unique in the Charpentier District, 1010 Reid St. boasts a Caribbean plantation flair, manicured gardens, and a pool.
Something different this year -- instead of only homes on the tour, the Preservation Society included a historic church . . .
701 Kirby St. circa 1919, is home to the Christian Science Church. An example of good stewardship of resources, the church building is a early rare example of adaptive reuse: a military structure originally built for war converted into a place of worship.
. . . and a bonsai garden at 916 Kirby St. by gardener Alan Walker.
So that's the 2016 Palm Sunday Tour of Homes! Looking forward to another great Tour next year.
Bob and I have enjoyed three of these tours in the past four years. You can read last year's post (a hodge podge of various home locales) here, and the 2013 Tour (Shell Beach Dr.!) here.
This 41st Palm Sunday Tour of Homes featured properties in the delightful Charpentier District. I think that is French for carpenter. Many of the homes in this downtown neighborhood were built around the turn of the 20th century by lumber barons and other leaders of the Lake Charles community. A bonus this year -- all the homes were in close easy walking distance of each other and we had a warm sunny spring day to experience them.
Historic Central School , built in 1912, served as Tour headquarters. The building is now home to the Arts and Humanities Council, several art studios and art organizations, and the Mardi Gras Museum, which was open to the public that day. (This photo only courtesy of Google images. The rest are my own.)
902 Kirby -- Queen Anne-Victorian house, circa 1900, for Edna and George H. Rock. This couple raised thirteen kids here!
Across the street, 903 Kirby is a good example of a "two-bay side-hall house," an all-American house style suited to narrow urban lots.
917 Kirby -- a traditional American foursquare; four rooms to the floor, two stories and a center staircase. Massive amounts of fascinating antiques in this place!
736 Pujo St. -- circa 1905. Fabulous wrap-around porches and fourteen columns were added later.
This, in their backyard. There's something magical about vintage brick walls . . .
832 Iris St. -- Originally a two story, the second floor was lost decades ago to a fire. It is now a charming cozy cottage.
Oh, and the azaleas were in peak bloom. Perfect timing for the Tour of Homes!
Unique in the Charpentier District, 1010 Reid St. boasts a Caribbean plantation flair, manicured gardens, and a pool.
Something different this year -- instead of only homes on the tour, the Preservation Society included a historic church . . .
701 Kirby St. circa 1919, is home to the Christian Science Church. An example of good stewardship of resources, the church building is a early rare example of adaptive reuse: a military structure originally built for war converted into a place of worship.
. . . and a bonsai garden at 916 Kirby St. by gardener Alan Walker.
So that's the 2016 Palm Sunday Tour of Homes! Looking forward to another great Tour next year.
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2 comments:
Cool! Beautiful buildings. I grew up in a house with a large front porch (although not as large as the ones you saw in this tour!). A front porch is a wonderful thing.
I love front porches, too, CHM. I do not have one in my current house.
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