Tickets are on sale now for the Port Hope Virtual House Tour which is set to launch on October 1st, and available for viewing until October 31st. The Port Hope Virtual House Tour is a 90 minute video tour of buildings and homes of Port Hope, that would not normally appear on the traditional in person house tour. The Port Hope House Tour Committee (PHHT) made the decision back in January 2022 to continue to offer a Virtual House Tour again this year.
When people think of Fall events in Port Hope, usually they are thinking Port Hope House Tour time. This year again, looks a little different. “There was so much uncertainty at the beginning of the year with regards to COVID-19, that most homeowners were very hesitant about having 1,000 people through their homes,” explains co-chair Marnie Hare Bickle. “We wanted this to be a positive experience for all involved, so we put the idea of an in-person tour back on the shelf for another year. It seemed like the right decision as we had such a great response to last year’s virtual tour.”
The PHHT committee set to work on searching for interested homeowners and building owners, who might not necessarily participate in an in-person tour, to provide a sort of exclusive look at some of the more interesting homes in Port Hope. To their surprise, several homeowners from King St. in Port Hope agreed to have their homes filmed. Several of these are linked to the history of the Smith Family, who were one of the first families to build homes in Port Hope.
Here is the final list of houses & buildings included in this year’s video:
The Bluestone, at 21 Dorset St. E, St. Mark’s Church at 51 King St. N, The Little Bluestone at 117 King St. S, The Clemes Duplex (North Side) at 57 King St. N, The Smith House at 92 King St. N, Caldwell House at 46 King St. N, Hume House at 22 King St. N, Robert Mitchell House at 8 King St. N as well as Rochester Hotel at 45 Robertson St. Jas Smith House (The Grange) at 33 South St. and finally The Schmidt Law Building at 59 Walton St.
“As a committee, we are especially excited to document the interior and grounds at the Bluestone, that is going to be a special treat for viewers,” committee member, Aimee Tedford commented.
With the help of local filmmakers, Two Blue Shirts Productions, the PHHT committee are offering much more than just a peek into these homes. “Each building has an in depth look at its history, what makes it special to Port Hope and tells the stories of the people who are the stewards of these buildings,” according to co-chair Bill Bickle. “In many ways, we are taking a snapshot of where these homes and buildings are now, a digital historical record. Who knows what the future looks like for them, but we hope that they are still standing in another 100 years.”
Tickets for the Virtual House Tour are $35, and available on the Port Hope House Tour www.porthopehousetour.com. The proceeds from the virtual tour will go towards heritage projects in Port Hope.
(photo courtesy of the Port Hope House Tour Committee, of the Bluestone house in Port Hope)
Port Hope House Tour:
The Port Hope House Tour is an event held yearly by the Port Hope Heritage Foundation. It has been running for over 50 years. 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.
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
