Home Tour History

When Barbara Sayres of Santa Ana visited her first home tour in 1971 in Arcadia, the member of CHOC’s Jack & Jill Guild knew she was onto something. “The Guild had been looking for a good fundraiser, and at the time there didn’t appear to be any other home tours in Orange County,” says Sayres, who chaired the first home tour in 1972, which raised $5,000. “Back then the docents wore formal gowns, and the members underwrote the printing costs for the event’s brochures.” Since that first home tour, the Jack & Jill Guild, now celebrating 50 years, has raised over $4 million for CHOC Children’s Hospital Of Orange County, many of those funds coming from home tour proceeds, says the Guild’s publicity chair, Donna Buxton. Almost two decades after the Jack & Jill Guild’s home tour in 1988, the Old Towne Preservation Association (OTPA) started their home tour. Back then the OTPA ran on a shoestring, and members realized that a home tour could be a good money maker, says Patty Ricci, whose home was on the original tour and who chaired the event in 2009. “At the time in 1988, Old Towne had just started attracting attention, and many homeowners were refurbishing,” she says. Though home tours have proliferated over the years and become more sophisticated, their appeal hasn’t waned. “People will always be curious about how other people live and want to gather unique ideas that they can apply in their own homes,” says Sayres. There’s always an interest in what other homeowners have done with their houses, agrees Annalisa Goode, communications director for the OTPA and a member of the board. “It’s also interesting for visitors to see what is possible in historical homes in a historic district.” As a home tour participant twice, Ricci notes how satisfying the experience is for the homeowner. “When you’ve worked on your house stripping woodwork and digging in the yard and people come through and admire your handiwork, it’s especially gratifying,” she says. “My favorite part of the Old Towne home tour is how it shows that though the homes are historical, they’re also viable, livable and functional.” Those involved in years of home tours all agree that a good tour includes a variety of homes encompassing various architectural styles, ages and sizes. “We strive for a diverse group of homes and owners,” says Goode, who notes that this year’s tour includes traditional homes as well as more Avant–garde residences. “In one eclectic home, the art objects are electrifying,” she says. This year’s Jack & Jill Guild Holiday Home Tour and Gift Boutique is on Friday, November 18th from 10 am to 5 pm, with boutique hours from 9 am to 5:30 pm. The tour features a variety of homes, including a Mid–Century Eichleresque home, a historical Lemon Heights Spanish Revival and an Italianate–style home built in 1880. Tickets are $45 presale, including a catered lunch or $45 the day of the event with lunch sold separately. For tickets, visit CHOC.org/Events, or call (714) 669-3060.

The OTPA’s home tour will feature five of the area’s architecturally–significant homes on November 5th and 6th from 10 am to 4 pm. Purchase home tour tickets, which are $20 per person, at OTPA’s online store at OTPA.org or pay on the days of the tour. For additional information, call (714) 639-6840.