Crestwood Civic Club Holiday Home Tour
Civic Club to feature three stops
on its Holiday Home Tour
Zwischenbergers to open their
Victorian home in Pewee Valley
PEWEE VALLEY, Ky. (November 2013) – Nestled among the distinctive homes that line Ash Avenue in Pewee Valley, Ky., stands a home known as the Carrie D. Coleman house. It is a central part of the Victorian-era neighborhood that evokes a nostalgic sense of time and place.
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Photos by Helen McKinney Mark and Donna Zwischenberger (pictured below) moved into the |
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“The house was built in 1911,” said homeowner Donna Zwischenberger. “It was used as a summer home for people who lived in downtown Louisville because of the train station in Pewee Valley.”
The home is a prime example of late the 19th century and early 20th century American stylist movement. There was a previous dwelling on the foundation of the home that was destroyed by fire. The age of the original house is not known.
A tree-lined drive, comprised of a variety of trees planted more than 120 years ago, leads to the 1 1/2 story bungalow-craftsman house. Zwischenberger and her husband, Mark, moved into the house in 1995 after purchasing it from her father.
“My husband and I have always loved Pewee Valley,” she said.
Zwischenberger moved from Jefferson County to Oldham County when she was 12. Her husband is also originally from Jefferson County. Her father had the home placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989. It still contains its original bathtub in what was the only bathroom in the house at one time, she said.
Zwischenberger and her husband have done some remodeling to the 11-room house since they bought it. The home contains three original fireplaces with the original tile, mantels, mirrors and fireplace covers.
“My father had two of the fireplaces stripped down,” she said. One is made of cherry and one of oak, but the other has not been stripped of paint to reveal what type of wood is underneath.
Situated on a 2 1/2 acre lot, it will be one of three featured homes on this year’s Crestwood Civic Club Annual Holiday Home Tour and Luncheon. This self-guided tour will take place from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22.
The Crestwood Civic Club, located at 7215 Kavanaugh Rd., is the starting point for the tour. Guests will be able to pick up a map and tour information at the clubhouse. Lunch will also be served at two seating times: 11 a.m. or 12:30 p.m.
“I just love decorating for Christmas,” said Zwischenberger, who was married two days before Christmas. While she doesn’t really have a particular theme or style of décor, Zwischenberger will have a tree in her den that she labeled the Santa Claus tree. It will be decorated with Santa Clauses her mother gave to each grandchild every year.
The home was on the tour previously when her father owned it. Proceeds from the tour benefit the Civic Club’s four-year scholarship program in addition to other educational and outreach programs in Oldham County.
The second home on the tour is located in Pendleton, Ky., in nearby Henry County. It is a circa 1873 farmhouse that was purchased in 1994 by Tony Nichter. The 2,700-square-foot house, which has had 12 previous owners, has a colorful past that will be revealed on the tour.
In addition to the home, the Christmas Cottage is located on the property. This building contains ornaments, centerpieces, trees and decorating novelties sure to give guests many decorating ideas of their own.
The third home on the tour is located in the Pendleton-Sulphur area of Henry County. Built by Dean and Carin Wuchterl, this unique log home fits perfectly into its country life setting.
The couple studied different log home types, finally settling on a post and beam design. They chose a log company out of British Columbia, Canada, where the house was fully constructed on site. The logs were then transported to Henry County.
Each home on the tour brings with it a unique charm and character guests will be sure to enjoy. These homes are some of the most outstanding and historic homes in Oldham and Henry counties, each decorated beautifully for the holiday season.
• Tickets for the Holiday Tour & Luncheon are $17. Tickets can be purchased for the tour only for $12. Contact Anne Murner for tickets and information at (502) 292-2701.