One of the aspects of the Lehigh Valley that drew my husband and I to move here was the rich history that has been preserved in the area. But I must admit we were initially so focused on completing our renovation that we barely took the time to eat and sleep, let alone visit the historic sites that drew us here in the first place.
Fortunately, our visiting friends and family members forced us to put down the paintbrushes and power tools and actually enjoy the local festivities. A visit to the Kemerer Decorative Arts Museum, the Moravian Museum and some Main Street shopping definitely changed and raised our spirits. It was at that point we came to realize the true depth and value of the history of Bethlehem.
So we joined the Historic Bethlehem Partnership and anxiously awaited more opportunities to check out what our new “home town” had to offer. Surprisingly, we did not have to wait long as the next adventure came to us with the invitation to be part of Bethlehem’s 2015 Rooms to View house tour on Saturday, June 6.
Rooms to View 2015
John and I are thrilled that our home will be a part of this noteworthy event! Bringing our historic home back from the realm of acoustic tile ceilings and vinyl wallpaper has truly been a labor of love that we look forward to sharing. And I am sure that the other homeowners are just as proud of all the hard work that goes into maintaining such a property!
Since I have started to research our own home to share with visitors, I thought I would take the opportunity to share with my readers some of the interesting tidbits about some of the other homes from Bethlehem and surrounding communities that will be featured in this year’s Rooms to View Tour. The tour is also one of the main fundraising events for Historic Bethlehem Partnership, which supports the decorative arts and historic preservation throughout the Lehigh Valley! (Enjoy a stop at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts as part of the tour where your admission ticket gets you a 15% discount at the Gift Shop.)
This is the 23th year that historic homes and gardens all over Bethlehem have been open for tours, and through the years some of the most noteworthy properties have been featured. This year is no exception! Who knew they now raise alpacas at the historic Blackstone Farm in Coopersburg?
Other unique residences include a property once owned by a Bethlehem Steel executive and featured in a book dedicated to the famous architect A.W. Leh who was born in Easton just prior to the Civil War. Another home on the tour features wallpaper used in the White House.
The highlight of the event is a preview party on Friday evening, June 5th, at a home which features an entryway that used repurposed lumber reclaimed from a Lehigh University gymnasium. Tickets for this soirée can be purchased in addition to the tour tickets.
New to the event this year is a wrap-up party on Saturday at the historic Miller’s House Garden located in the Colonial Industrial Quarter of Bethlehem, across the grassy mill race from the Luckenbach Mill. The gardens are maintained by the dedicated members of the Bethlehem Garden Club.
Get your tickets now at www.HistoricBethlehem.org or call 1-800-360-TOUR. We look forward to seeing you on the tour!
Rooms to View Tour of Homes and Gardens
Saturday, June 6
10 am – 4 pm
Your Rooms to View admission fee can even be applied toward a Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites family membership.
Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites
1-800-360-TOUR
Kemerer Museum of a Decorative Arts
427 N. New St., Bethlehem, PA
Bethlehem Garden Club
About the Carrie,
Carrie Oesmann is the ASID, CAPS and AKBD certified Interior Designer of Bailiwick Interior Design, a business she has owned and operated in New Jersey since 1999. Last year she had the pleasure of expanding her business and relocating to the Lehigh Valley, so she now lives in downtown historic Bethlehem with her husband John. Her “Journey to Bethlehem” inspired her to start a blog: blog.bailiwickdesign.com. You can also follow her on Facebook. Carrie’s home also doubles as Bailiwick Interior Design’s Pennsylvania office and unique lifestyle showroom, a place where her clients can experience a variety of options in a real home—it’s unlike anything we have seen in the Valley! Call Carrie for a personal tour of the lifestyle showroom.
Website: bailiwickdesign.com
