by The Bridge staff
On Saturday, October 11, five Montpelier homes will be open for a self-guided tour that will benefit the Green Mountain Youth Symphony, the Montessori School of Central Vermont, Montpelier’s Main Street Middle School, the Montpelier Chamber Orchestra and the Montpelier Senior Activity Center.
The houses on this year’s home tour include a 1928 house in the American Foursquare style—an offshoot of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie style—as well as a 493-square-foot house recently featured in the FYI Network’s Tiny House Nation series.
“All the houses on the tour are stunningly spectacular for their warmth, attention to historic detail and creativity. This is a wonderful opportunity to get a peek at some of the capital’s most outstanding houses while supporting the great work and special programs of our community partners,” said Paul Gambill, music director of the Montpelier Chamber Orchestra, which has spearheaded organization of the event.
Each of the home tour partners benefits from the tickets it sells. Montpelier eighth-graders, for example, are selling tickets to help fund their trip to Montréal and Québec City. The senior center will use its proceeds to support its wide variety of community programs and classes. With its funds the chamber orchestra “will continue its commitment to bring great music to the community,” in the words of a press release from the orchestra.
Now in its third year, the annual tour “seems to be getting its own momentum and becoming part of the fall schedule here in Montpelier,” Gambill said in an interview with The Bridge. “It’s turned into an event that brings the community together in a new way.”
Thanks to sponsorships from the businesses and downtown merchants that are covering the costs of the event, 100 percent of ticket sales will benefit the partner groups.
The tour will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 per person in advance and $25 on October 11. Advance tickets are available from the five organizational partners, and at MontpelierHomeTour.com. Tickets will be available on the tour day at three of the tour’s five destinations: 107 College Street, 4 Hinckley Street and 485 Elm Street.
