The owners of six homes on and around Main Street have graciously volunteered their homes for the Holiday House Tours, an adored Holiday Festival activity where festivalgoers tour each beautifully decorated home.

All of the homes will be open to tour only from 11 am until 4 pm on Sunday, December 8, during the presentation of the 34th Holiday Festival. A Holiday Festival ticket must be presented in order to tour the homes. A complimentary shuttle will be available to transport ticket holders between the locations.

Local designers have teamed up with the homeowners to create a festive display of fresh pine swag, sweeping garland with twinkling lights, lush poinsettias, and holiday baubles.

27 Main Street

Home of Maureen and John Rohmer

Decorated by Joan Tiganella/Elegant Windows of Middlebury

In 1783, John Chandler sold a portion of his larger home lot to William Edmond. This piece of land was probably purchased by Edmond in anticipation of his marriage to Chandler’s daughter, Elizabeth Jemima Chandler, in 1784, and this is where they built their residence.

The Federal style center hall Colonial was built in 1787. It has a wing on the southern side that was added to the house by the original owner, possibly serving as slave quarters. The barn complex in the rear is a 19th Century improvement.

29 Main Street

The Dana-Holcombe House

Home of John and Jane Vouros

Decorated by Jon Weiss

The Dana-Holcombe House’s name has its source in two legacies. Dana is the maiden surname of the lady of the house, Jane Dana Vouros, while Holcombe honors a late friend of Vouroses family, Josephine Holcombe.

The Dana-Holcombe House is a rebirth of the hospitality experience in this location. The Yankee Drover originally stood at this property for 131 years but was destroyed by a fire in 1981. Construction of the Dana-Holcombe House began in 2004 to continue the historic legacy of hospitality and service in Newtown.

Located at the famous flagpole on historic Main Street, The Dana-Holcombe House operates as a classic New England Inn, an intimate catering facility and conference center. Its intimate dining room and adjacent living and library rooms have been designed to accommodate business meetings, public functions, wedding receptions, and special celebrations, which are enhanced by use of the picturesque yard that includes comfortable tiered patios, rose gardens, and perennial gardens. There are six guest rooms to satisfy the most discerning tastes.

32 Main Street

Home of Chris Spiro

Decorated by Chris and Ginny Spiro

The echoes of libation and dining resonate from this Federal Colonial-style home built circa 1765 by Caleb Baldwin. The house was owned and operated as a tavern and inn, and his son, Caleb Baldwin, Jr, followed his father’s innkeeper responsibilities.

The Baldwin Inn was renowned for its food and was the site of the final round-up of the common flock in the early 1800s. Owners gathered for the breaking up of the flock and to claim their own sheep.

The Colonial center hall has a post and beam construction with a fanlight over the original door. The eight-room home has a fireplace in every room, and the current family room has a fascinating beehive oven.

A wonderful perennial garden, cared for by each owner over the years, flowers continually from the last snowfall through the first frost.

The home was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 2002.

11 West Street

Home of Gregory and Sara Csazar

Decorated by Joan Tiganella/Elegant Windows of Middlbury

Built in 1932, this home was constructed in the Colonial Revival style. This type of style was embraced within the borough of Newtown within the first three decades of the 20th Century. It is important, therefore, for its contribution as an example of the architectural evolution and development within this part of Newtown.

The property is part of the 1709 house lot of Jeremiah Turner, one of the original settlers of Newtown. In 1867, the property appears to have been a part of the land holdings of D.H. Belden, a lawyer who owned many plots in Newtown. It is likely that the land was an apple orchard or farmed. It is unknown if there were any residences on the property before the current house was built in 1932.

The Cape style home has been updated and altered over the years, including an addition to the first floor in 1997 and a layout change, some updates, and the addition of a garage in 2007.

The current owners have lived here for about three years and have updated the kitchen with all white cabinets, an extended island, and quartz counter tops throughout.

57 Queen Street

Home of John and Vicki Boccuzzi

Decorated by Queen Street Gifts

This beautiful colonial was built in 2014 by the current homeowners, John and Vicki Boccuzzi.

Retired school teachers, the couple has owned and lived in three different homes on Queen Street. The land for all of these homes was purchased at a town auction and was once part of the extended grounds of the former Fairfield Hills Hospital.

Backing up to 185 acres of conservation land, this home is in an ideal setting. The expansive private back deck offers spectacular views of the unlimited natural land right outside their doorstep.

The home is conveniently located within walking distance to the Borough and hiking trails.

Beautiful white oak hardwood floors and delicate trim work are some thoughtful details that grace this fabulous home. Mr Boccuzzi, who worked in construction in the summers, personally did much of the work on all three of their homes.

23 The Boulevard

Home of Bart and Aline McCleary

Decorated by Karyn Lehmann and Laurie Volkmann

Constructed in 1895, this Queen Anne style home displays elements characteristic of its style in its asymmetry; in the decorative, scalloped shingle work at its gables; in a semi-circular window having a single pane finished by an upper border of small rectangular panes at its gables; and in the hexagonal pattern of sheathing at its roof.

Also typical of the period are the whimsical, spindle work elements throughout. Original latticework remains beneath the porch decking. The front stair rails are alterations.

The original owners of this home were Frank and Josie Wright, who built the house for their marriage in 1894. When the house was first built, they planted maples and all kinds of fruit trees, gardens, and flowers on the spacious lot.

At the time, the street had houses on one side only, and the front view was unsurpassed with rolling hills and woods with a wide expanse of skyline.

There was no water supply; it was pumped into the kitchen from a filtered cistern outside. In the bathroom, there was a bowl and tub and the hot water came from a large tank attached to a large coal range. The Wrights carried the water to the bathroom and used a tea kettle for cooking purposes.

Mr and Mrs Wright had the second hot water furnace in town, with radiators in each room on the first floor. There were set tubs in the kitchen, which was also a luxury in those days.

Holiday Festival Details

The 34th Newtown Holiday Festival offers activities for all ages, including a Festival of Trees, Holiday House Tours, children’s activities, two performances of Nutcracker Ballet, guest appearances from Frozen characters, and narrated trolley rides, among other offerings.

New activities this year include Ice Cream with Olaf, Kid’s Tea & Sing-Along with Elsa and Anna, Meet & Greet Photo Op with Anna and Elsa, and Cookie Decorating.

Most activities will be taking place at C.H. Booth Library, Edmond Town Hall, and Trinity Episcopal Church.

The event is a major fundraiser for Newtown Youth & Family Services.

Tickets for the 34th Newtown Holiday Festival are $15 for adults in advance, $13 senior citizens (ages 60-plus), $8 for ages 2-14, free for those under 2, and $30 for a family four-pack (two adults, two children).

Holiday Festival tickets grant admission to all abovementioned events. The public can visit and purchase raffle tickets for the Festival of Trees without a festival ticket, however.

Advance tickets can be purchased at Newtown Savings Bank (Main Street and Sand Hill Plaza locations); NYFS, 15 Berkshire Road; or C.H. Booth Library.

Tickets can also be purchased online by visiting newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org before 11:59 pm Saturday, December 7.

On Sunday, tickets will be $18 for adults, $15 seniors, $10 ages 2-14, and $36 for a family four-pack.

Same-day tickets will be available for purchase at Edmond Town Hall and C.H. Booth Library. Additional information about the Holiday Festival can be obtained by calling 203-270-4335 or visiting the NYFS website.

Newtown Youth and Family Services is a nonprofit youth service bureau and mental health clinic for children, teens, adults, and seniors. For more than 30 years, NYFS has been committed to providing high quality human health services to promote individual and community wellness.

Specialized services include outpatient individual, couples, and family counseling; substance abuse treatment services; autism and social skills programs; prevention initiatives; and support groups. For services or information, call 203-270-4335 or newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.