Homes for the holidays
Each year the Butler County Symphony Association hosts the Holiday Tour of Homes as the major fundraiser of the symphony.
Traditions and trimmings are celebrated by the community while they invest in the future of great performances.
Heather Helsel of Penn Township is the co-chairwoman of the tour committee with the returning Sue Morrow. Helsel went from home tour destination to volunteer and house tour co-chairwoman in three years.
“The money raised from the Holiday Tour of Homes goes into our general operations fund. These funds are used for events such as the Holiday Traditions Concert and the Young Artist Competition,” said Helsel.
“Symphony ticket sales provide only a portion of the money needed to provide talented musicians, guest artists and music to the Butler community,” said Morrow. “We are fortunate to have the caliber of musicians and talent of our maestro, Matthew Kraemer.”
A holiday basket raffle will be on display from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 7, the day of the tour, at First English Lutheran Church, 241 N. Main St.
Winners will be drawn at the Symphony Holiday Traditions Concert Dec. 7 at the Butler Intermediate High School Auditorium,” said Helsel. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m.
Concert tickets are available by calling the symphony office at 724-283-1402 or online at www.ButlerSymphony.org.
The Holiday House Tour luncheon will be from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at First English Lutheran Church. Sandwiches, sides, a dessert, and coffee and tea will be offered for sale.
“The symphony board of directors and Friends of the Symphony supply the meal,” Morrow said.
New to the tour this year is the Maridon Museum.“The Maridon is partnering with the symphony to provide free admission to the museum the day of the tour. This is a much overlooked treasure of our community, and we are pleased that folks can use their Holiday Tour of Homes ticket for admission,” said Morrow.The Maridon will supply docents for tours. Chuck Swidzinski with Berkshire Hathaway is the sponsor of this event.“Due to limited parking for one of our homes on Vogel Road, we will be offering a shuttle service from the parking lot at BC3,” said Helsel. Ticket holders visiting this home should park at Butler County Community College and ride the shuttle to and from the home to ensure safety and easy access for all guests to view the home.Another home, that of the Wippenbeck family on Timothy Run Lane, not only has ample parking but is filled with timeless treasures lovingly collected by owners Thomas and Penny.This home gives new definition to the word repurpose. This is truly a house with a purpose that showcases love of family and fellowship with nature at the center of it all.The house is built around a courtyard featuring a koi pond and beautiful landscaping. Windows allow the sound of falling water to trickle throughout.Speaking of falling water, this Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired home is filled with furnishings befitting of Wright's Mission style. Clean lines and precision corners make this home meticulously symmetrical.The Wippenbecks began construction of their home on Columbus Day 2009 after looking at 53 homes during a quest for a plot of land.
Once the location was discovered, their vision became a reality.“We incorporated many features and ideas from the homes we visited,” said Penny. Thomas, an architect who designed their home, was able to salvage materials from other projects during its construction.Guests begin their tour entering the home near one of the exterior water features. A grand front door swings open to a spacious foyer lit with a classic stained glass fixture.“We purchased a collection of lights from a home in Mt. Lebanon. The owner wanted to take his colonial home back to its original state and was eager to offload these lights, which we were all too happy to get,” said Penny.The teak bookcase in the foyer is from the Philippines by way of Philadelphia. “A missionary to the Philippines would bring over handcrafted teak furniture and sell it as a way to fund their mission in Southeast Asia,” said Thomas.A collection of Stickley furniture and prints are featured throughout the house but all were purchased secondhand. “We enjoy Stickley, but it is so expensive. We can add to our collection for less money than buying new,” said Penny.Most notable and hard to believe they weren't custom made for the home are the doors and wood floors on the first floor which were from the Aliquippa Elementary School originally installed in 1936. “When renovations happen, many people see trash but we see the potential,” said Thomas. “If there was life left in it, we found a way to use it,” he added.To the right of the foyer off a hallway are their two boys' bedrooms appointed with Mission style furniture and ample storage for children's toys.
Down the hallway, flanked on one side by glass windows and on the other by a wall adorned with Asian style prints, sounds of falling water float in from the courtyard fountain. “The wood trim on the windows is laurel oak we found on the property,” said Thomas.At the end of the hallway sits the master suite complete with full bathroom and mammoth walk-in closet. A Nativity set graces the low dresser.A sunken living room also peels off this hallway. One of the most notable pieces here is a mirrored buffet circa the late 1800s. “My grandfather used this as his tool box; it was in their basement and a gift from their landlord who had received it as a wedding gift,” said Thomas.“He asked me for help getting something out of his basement to burn and when I saw it, I said I'll help get it out, but it will go on a truck not the trash pile,” he added.They have photos of it before it was refinished to its glorious condition. “The mirror is original but all the wood has been refinished,” said Penny. This piece, located on the room's only solid wall, is flanked by lovely stained glass windows.The warm living room has a large wood-burning fireplace with a solid cherry beam mantel hewn from a tree from their property. A smattering of greens bring this room into the season.“It really is amazing to sit in this room looking at a fire with snow falling on either side of you,” said Penny. The east-facing living room windows open out to the wooded back yard and bi-level patio that runs the length of the house, while the windows on the other wall open onto the center courtyard.Coming out of the sunken living room, the doorway opens onto a lovely Amish-made kitchen with built-in pantry. “With so many of our walls, windows, it was tricky to find spaces for storage,” said Thomas.The kitchen features a common kitchen table and a view of the backyard stream and pond.“All of the appliances except the microwave were found on Craigslist,” said Penny. The couple love the 1950s vibe, and the built-in oven and range top play right into that theme. The granite countertops are created in the New Venetian Gold pattern.
A mudroom leading from the garage was the handiwork of Thomas who built the storage spaces here. Four cubbies with baskets hold all the outwear and backpacks for this busy family.A family home office completes the kitchen area. Two large desk areas and a spacious cabinet set up featuring a plethora of drawers and cupboards make this space practical for a variety of uses. “All of the cabinets here are repurposed from the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy,” said Thomas.On the way to the basement is the dining room, a table being one of the few pieces the couple purchased new. The Stickley buffet meshes well and the lighting surprisingly matches the Mt. Lebanon collection.The lower level of the home is still a work in progress.Perfect for family gatherings this warm bright space features a gas fireplace, bar and a home theater room. “We wanted to create a space that would be good for our boys to have friends over,” said Penny.This is also home to Thomas' workshop. “My dad had a workshop and always thought it was a good idea to try to fix and make things yourself. I furnished this area with used tools and equipment,” said Thomas.One of the pieces of wall art features an advertisement in which Penny's father was a child model. The bathroom on this level has a monochromatic look finished with grays and silver tones. The basement doors were originally in a Pittsburgh convent. The doors and glass knobs, complete with skeleton keys, were originally installed in 1926.The Wippenbecks will be home during the tour to answer any questions about their home.
WHAT: Butler County Symphony Association’s Holiday Tour of HomesWHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 7; luncheon from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for $8 at First English Lutheran Church, 241 N. Main St.WHERE: Various locations throughout the countyTICKETS: $20 in advance or $25 day of tour
The annual house tour is a major fundraising event for the Butler County Symphony Association.Summerville Home — This DIY blogger's home located in the heart of downtown Butler features a studio space that doubles as a home office. The short-term luxury living is all dressed up for the holidays. This home is a peaceful retreat any time of year.Savanna Home — Home to one of the symphony's bassoonists and symphony board member, this house was purchased in 2003. With a holiday tree in every room a different theme, Christmas is on full display. The dining room features a collection of Department 56 New England Village houses acquired by the family over the years.Reed Home — Purchased in 2011, the 4,400-square-foot house boasts a kitchen featuring granite countertops and stainless steel appliances. Skylights let the natural lighting showcase the area. Three fireplaces add special warmth for the holiday season.Suite Retreat Bed and Breakfast — This “bed and biscotti” is a well-appointed historic home that hosts travelers from around the world. The home is a unique combination of Old World design and modern, elegant furniture and décor. Decorated for the season with the theme, “Send Me an Angel,” the angelic features are a collaboration from some of downtown Butler's businesses.
