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Take a self-guided tour of stately heritage homes in Chilliwack

As a bonus there will be vintage cars parked outside each of the nine heritage sites on the tour
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The 1914 Skelton House on Spadina Avenue is one of the sites on the self-guided Heritage Home Tour on Sept. 29 in Chilliwack. (Jennifer Feinberg/ Progress file)

Many people might appreciate a peek inside some of Chilliwack’s stately heritage homes.

A rare opportunity is presenting itself on the afternoon of Sept. 29 with nine sites that make up the Heritage Home Tour 2018.

“Heritage Chilliwack’s goal is to promote public awareness of Chilliwack’s rich heritage of buildings, neighbourhoods, and landscapes and celebrate those who steward these beautiful homes,” said Heritage Chilliwack president Laura Reid.

READ MORE: Sold out the last time

The self-guided tour, which sold out in 2015, is a fundraiser for Heritage Chilliwack.

Some generous homeowners agreed to throw open their doors to curious visitors on the tour. It’s a chance to learn something about the fascinating architectural details and histories of these unique buildings.

As the third oldest municipality in B.C. behind Victoria and New Westminster, Chilliwack’s historic homes are like a snapshot in time.

Vintage cars will be parked in front of the homes, courtesy of the members of the Chilliwack chapter of the Vintage Car Club of Canada.

The 2018 Heritage Home Tour features nine sites in various neighbourhoods of Chilliwack. From a near-original 1950s home in Chilliwack Proper, to a painstakingly restored 1904 farm house in Sardis, the tour offers a variety of homes and buildings from yesteryear.

The Heritage Home Tour is 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., and 100 per cent of the proceeds go to support programs run by the not-for-profit Heritage Chilliwack.

READ MORE: Heritage designation for Skelton House

One of the tour locations is the 1914 Skelton House on Spadina Avenue. The large craftsman home was built for Robert and Susan Skelton and their young family.

It is known for its wide front porch, inset second floor balcony, exposed rafters, decorative braces under gables, tapered porch columns and wood shingle siding. The grand home originally sat on a parcel of 2.5 acres purchased from Chilliwack pioneer Isaac Kipp in 1913.

For more information, go to www.heritagechilliwack.org or email heritagechilliwack@gmail.com

Tickets can be purchased at the Royal Hotel front desk on Wellington Avenue, in advance they are $25 per ticket, or $30 on Sept. 29. Tickets also through Eventbrite, and each ticket provides tour participants with a guidebook with map outlining all the tour sites.


@CHWKjourno
jfeinberg@theprogress.com

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Jennifer Feinberg

About the Author: Jennifer Feinberg

I have been a Chilliwack Progress reporter for 20+ years, covering the arts, city hall, as well as Indigenous, and climate change stories.
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