The Champaign County Preservation Alliance, with the support of Robert Rothschild Farm, will present its 15th Annual Historic Home and Garden Tour in Urbana on June 23-24, 2007.
The participants in the tour are: Phil and Cindy Baker, 554 East Lawn Ave.; Lucas and Tara Doyle, 503 Scioto St.; Jeff and Tiffany Eckhardt, 501 Scioto St.; Matt and Liz Kentner, 574 E. Court St.; Sam and Cindy Lockwood, 565 E. Court St.; Jeff and Angela Lynxwiler, 314 E. Court St.; Ted and Penny Berlin, 836 Boyce St.; and Kim Maley, 466 Scioto St.
Dave and Cathy Brandeberry, 551 E. Church St., will have their garden open and The First Baptist Church, The Sycamore House, Johnny Appleseed Museum and the Urbana Depot will also be open for touring.
In addition to the tour sites, there will be a "Tea In The Garden" on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. sponsored by the Champaign County Arts Council. It will be held in the Brandeberry shade garden on East Church Street. The First Baptist church will serve lunches on Saturday and Sunday and have various entertainers performing throughout the weekend in the church. CCPA will sell tickets for gift baskets containing area products and gift certificates. Winners will be notified after the drawing on Sunday evening, June 23.
Althauser Honey Farm, Sunshine Gardens, Crafter's Enjoyment, Idle Workshop, Margaret Storch and Creative Ironworks will be demonstrating and selling their wares.
Entertainment will include Champaign County Dulcimer Club, Mad River Valley Dulcimer Society, Matthew Smith, Mark Davis, Alan Woodson, Jane Martin and Elizabeth Ward .
"We will have additions to the above list as we are still booking crafters and entertainers" said Sandy Gonzalez, tour chairman. "The committee has been working since March to coordinate the weekend. We will use 250-275 volunteers to man the houses during the weekend and drive the vans."
Those who would like to volunteer for a shift can contact Dave or Sharon Martin at 653-3178. Ads are being accepted for the tour booklet until June 25. Contact Karen White, 653-3218.
Visible signs of the weekend will begin appearing soon. Banners will be hung by the City of Urbana Street Department in time for the Memorial holiday, posters and rack cards will be in local establishments and "yard" signs will appear May 23.
Presale tickets will be in the stores by June 1. Local presale locations are: Absolute Floral, Bill's Enchanted Florist, Champaign County Visitors Bureau, Country Gentleman, Sweet Annie's, Cupboard Distributing, Peoples Savings Bank, Citizens National Bank, Guild Galleries, Perpetual Savings Bank, Town Hall Emporium and Robert Rothschild Farm.
Tickets will be available tour weekend at any of the locations or at the white tent behind the Municipal Building, 205 S. Main St. Shuttle service is available again thanks to the generosity of our local auto agencies.
"This is our largest tour and we encourage everyone to join in the festivities," Gonzalez said.
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