Last night was not ideal weather, what with the mist and drizzle, for a walking tour, but my friends and I braved it, walking part of the way, although the houses were sometimes blocks apart in the historic Borough of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania for the annual Candlelight Tour.
One of the two biggest surprises, and shining stars, was the historic Borough Hall (above center and clockwise from the left top, the first 4 pictures). It is housed in a Victorian structure built by a German family and later divided into 4 apartments, then later restored by a family which found it to be too much upkeep, then sold to the Borough for offices. The spindle trim in the reception area and all the mantels are stunning and somehow avoided destruction over the years (the historic home fairy must have been watching over this house!).
The house with the red sign was the winner of the 2012 Historic Preservation Award from the Kennett Square Historical Commission. It is a 1920's brick row house which is decorated in the owner's taste with French country decor--with a tree topping of the Eiffel tower.
My second star was The Woodlands at Phillips, about a mile out of town, and a historic 1828 farmhouse restored by the Phillips Mushroom family and part of the family since 1890. The front hallway walls are covered with a mural of the local countryside. The house serves as a shop with mushroom related items, and of course, a cooler full of fresh mushrooms of all sorts. The picture shows one of the Phillips with a bowl filled with all manner of fungi. The Christmas tree was decorated with (what else) mushroom ornaments. Ms. Phillips was kind enough to share a recipe for Roasted Tomato and Portabella Soup which was featured in one of the cooking classes held in the kitchen. I know one of my friends is eager to attend the next class!
Looking for a Kennett Square historic property? Talk to Carolyn!
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