The Port Hope House Tour (PHHT) committee announces that it has reimagined the traditional in-person house tour. Typically, this one-day event scheduled for the first weekend in October could expect upwards of 1,000 participants walk through between 8 – 12 homes in both the urban and rural areas in Port Hope. Local restaurants and churches supplied special meals to attract the lunch crowds and retail stores saw an influx of shoppers over the course of the weekend. This annual event was run in this fashion for the better part of 55 years. Unfortunately, the pandemic has made this format impossible to plan and execute.
Back in January 2020, the PHHT committee met to conceive of ways to update some of the aspects of the tour to introduce the tour to new audiences. According to Committee co-chair Bill Bickle, the focus was to build on the previous successful tours by sharing more content online that would help to drive people to purchase tickets for the tour. The committee envisioned the marketing of the house tour would be more in the form of videos.
Fast forward to March 2020, the committee decided to park its promotional ideas as the pandemic hit. They were unsure that moving forward with an in-person event was possible. April, May & June passed, and a decision was made to post-pone the 2020 tour. During the summer of 2020, the committee decided to safely film some promotional pieces with the thought that there would be an in-person 2021 tour. February 2021 came and went, and the committee decided that it was time to pivot to an entirely socially distanced tour.
“This was a massive leap for the group,” explains Bill Bickle, “we were just wrapping our heads around the idea of small incremental changes, and then suddenly we had to make a jump.” The committee had to come up with several different alternatives to engage both locals and tourists, with the beauty and architecture of Port Hope homes.
Starting in August 2021, the committee will be rolling out Walking Tours of Port Hope. Three different routes have been chosen: Downtown Core, Pine Street and Dorset & Trafalgar Streets. Each tour will have information on the homes, businesses, streets and general history that has created the unique fabric of the town. This will be available both a guided tour and a self-guided tour. The self-guided will be available as a downloadable app. With the app, participants will be able to read, listen, and watch while strolling around Port Hope’s historic streets and laneways at their own pace. “We really wanted to do something that was not exclusively in front of a screen,” committee member Ian Everdell said, “and one of the best ways to experience the beauty of Port Hope homes is just by taking a walk.” The interactive content that will be available for free on the app and will help to showcase some of the historical content in the form of pictures and videos. Although it primarily focuses on the exteriors, there are some special content that has sneak peeks into the interiors as well.
While the Self-Guided Walking Tours are extensive and promote social distancing, it might not be for everyone. The committee still wanted to plan for individuals or small local groups to have the opportunity to safely enjoy a Guided Walking Tour. Aimed at both local residents & tourists, the Guided Walking Tours provide a heightened experience as participants are able to converse with a knowledgeable guide. Committee member Martha Ciana and co-chair Marnie Bickle shared that, “people love to ask questions, and to interact with guides. They like to
know the behind the scenes, you know, the secrets and the hidden treasures that only come with guided tours,” divulged Ciana. So far, the group have amassed 10 volunteers to provide enhanced guided walking tours on the weekends from August through until October. Cost of the walking tours is $10 for Pine Street & Dorset & Trafalgar Streets, which are about an hour. The Downtown Core is a little longer at 1.5 hours and is $15. All the walking tours will be available in August to download or purchase.
But that’s not all from the committee. They are also embarking on an entirely Virtual PHHT this fall. “While it won’t replace the very popular in-person tour, it hopes to connect with House Tour participants who have previously supported who happen to live further afield. It’s a way to take participants inside houses and experience the personality, renovations, art, decor, and stories of a few properties in greater detail. Over the course of the last year, the committee has secured 11 homes/and businesses for a 90 minute tour that will be available exclusively for a limited time starting on October 2, 2021.
Tickets for the Virtual House Tour will be $30, and available on their website in mid-August as well, www.porthopehousetour.com. The proceeds from both the walking tours and virtual tour will go towards heritage projects in Port Hope.
For information about the tour activities, including sponsorship go to our website or contact co-chair Bill Bickle at bill@fordelm.com for more information.
Port Hope House Tour:
The Port Hope House Tour is an event held yearly by the Port Hope Heritage Foundation. The house tour funds heritage projects throughout Port Hope. The Foundation works closely with the Architectural Conservancy of Ontario to identify local projects that need to help to preserve the town’s historical beauty. Proceeds from the Port Hope House Tour go towards the preservation and conservation of architecturally, culturally, and environmentally significant landmarks within Port Hope.
For more information about this year’s House Tour, including sponsorship, please visit https://www.porthopehousetour.com
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
