Tour historic homes decorated for holidays in Old North Knoxville, Dec. 2-3
Tickets are available now for the 29th Annual Victorian Holiday Home Tour on Dec. 2 and 3.
Old North Knoxville features beautiful homes built in the Queen Anne, Craftsman/Bungalow, Neoclassical Revival, and American Four Square style, according to a press release.
To help kick off your holiday season, Old North Knoxville neighbors will open the doors of select homes in a variety of these styles, restored and decorated for the season for your viewing pleasure.
Tour dates
A candlelight tour will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 2.
An afternoon tour will be from 12:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday Dec. 3.
Tickets
Tickets available at www.victorianholidayhometour.com or area Elder's Ace Hardware Stores.
Advance tickets are $10. Bring your receipt to the ticket booth on the day of the event and your tickets will be in will call. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the event for $15 (adults) and $10 (seniors) at the ticket booth in the parking lot of Tennova Hospital (formerly St. Mary’s Medical Center) off Woodland Avenue next to Fulton High School. Children under 12 receive free admission.
Parking
Park-and-ride continuous bus service is available beginning at the Tennova Hospital (formerly St. Mary’s Medical Center) parking lot off Woodland Avenue next to Fulton High School. You will be given a calendar, and the buses will take you to the houses, where you may tour inside, outside, upstairs and downstairs. Organizers advise that attendees not drive directly to the homes as it will create congestion, and there are very few open spots on the streets near the houses.
The neighborhood
This neighborhood, once rolling farms and estates, became a “streetcar suburb” of Knoxville in 1889, called North Knoxville, according to the press release. It boasted modern conveniences that rivaled Knoxville’s amenities: water lines, newly paved streets, a fire station and city hall, and even a school. Instead of driveways and garages, most homes in the neighborhood had wide sidewalks, built so residents could walk to the streetcar and commute to jobs and markets downtown. North Knoxville became part of the city of Knoxville in 1897.
The neighborhood’s houses exemplify the architecture of the late 1800s to the early 1920s. Walking down a shaded street is a walk through time, and the economies of the era in which the houses were built. Victorian-gilded porches sit beside homes with grand Neoclassical columns. Queen Anne-style homes neighbor Craftsman, Eastlake, Bungalow, Shotgun and Folk-style architectures.
The interiors of many of the homes have been meticulously restored to preserve the bones: Original mantles atop coal-burning fireplaces, wide-plank floors and many other features highlight bygone eras. Some homes, damaged by fire or neglect, have been rescued from demolition and mix traditional features with modern conveniences. Some newer homes have been added that fit the neighborhood’s historic character. Many residents are actively involved in preserving the city’s historic heritage. Throughout the year neighbors can be found walking, jogging, gardening, pushing strollers, or visiting with friends.
Today the neighborhood is defined by the triangle formed by Central Street, Broadway, and Woodland Avenue, as well as the area east of Broadway bounded by Cecil Avenue, Sixth Avenue, Glenwood Avenue and Broadway. Many of the houses in Old North Knoxville are protected by an H-1 Historic Overlay, ensuring these beautiful and unique homes are preserved for many future generations to enjoy, the release said.
Ornaments
Each year since 2003, Old North Knoxville has commissioned a limited edition ornament to commemorate the Holiday Home Tour. The ornaments are available to purchase at the Home Tour and also at the Time Warp Tea Room in Happy Holler on Central Avenue. Ornaments cost $15 each, and you can find more details on the home tour website.