After 3 sold out walks in Fall 2020, Take A Walking Tour of Tourison returns on Saturday June 12 (rain date June 13).
Native son Ashton Tourison, Sr. was born in 1851 to a former captain in the Civil War. Beginning in the 1870s, he had a grand vision and confidence in the future of Mt. Airy. In approximately 1904, he purchased 150 acres between Chew and Stenton Avenues, from E. Durham Street to Meehan Avenue, and advertised his plan for the new Sedgwick Farms as "stone-built homes, planned on an architectural idea that makes each different from the other, yet in perfect harmony with all."
Join us for this step back in time to circa 1910 on a 2 hour walking tour to see the timeless beauty of these homes that reflect core values of "space, air, light, comfort and good taste." You will learn about how East Mt. Airy came to be, constructed with a variety of designs, in the form of Tudor Revival, Colonial Revival, Neo-Georgian and Victorian, all built by one family.
This singular family's vision provides us not only with a legacy of beautiful, enduring architecture, but also reminds us to ask ourselves how we feel about the importance of preserving and incorporating these values in our built environment today.
A full color guide will be made available for attendees to use during the tour, and available for sale for $20. Please bring cash or check if you may want to purchase the guide book.
Elise Rivers, Esq., M.Ac. worked in the field of historic preservation helping to save Union Station from demolition in Worcester, MA, as well as advocating for preservation as Assistant Director of Preservation Worcester, and while Executive Director of Landmark West, an historic preservation non-profit representing the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Her passion for beauty in architecture has never waned, and she was inspired to put together this walking tour, after living in and loving her own Tourison home. Elise knows that the beauty of the built environment makes life better, and wants to share her enthusiasm with you!
This event is co-sponsored by Historic Germantown and Community Acupuncture of Mt. Airy (CAMA)
