By Mark Wineka
mwineka@salisburypost.com
OctoberTour, the daddy of all fundraisers for Historic Salisbury Foundation, revealed Wednesday evening the homes that will be showcased in the 2009 edition.
“We have a truly walkable tour this year,” Co-chairperson Mary Padavick said at a launch party at the Salisbury Station.
This is the 34th year for the foundation’s tour of homes and historic properties. The event will be held Oct. 10 and 11.
Besides the homes, the weekend includes a Civil War history living encampment, musicians, artists, the “Bank Street Cafe” and free trolley service for people not wanting to walk the whole tour.
This year’s sites:
– The Rock House at 225 S. Fulton St., home of Janet and Keith Gapen.
– The Mackenzie-Grimes House at 228 W. Bank St., home of Dick and Dale Huffman.
– The Davis-Hunter House at 131 W. Bank St., home of Mark and Barbara Perry.
– The Hedrick Block at 101 S. Main St. on the Square, home of Ted and Cheryl Goins and also home for Pottery 101 on the ground floor.
– The Rufty House at 310 E. Bank St., the home of Richard Brown and Jo Linn Cash.
– The Hall House at 226 S. Jackson St. Historic Salisbury Foundation owns the well-known house museum.
– Hamil Holmes House at 321 E. Bank St., which the foundation is rehabilitating and is available for purchase.
– The Wood Grove House at 185 Cress Road in western Rowan County, home of Sally Murphy.
Co-chairperson for this year’s tour is Barb Sorel.
Hundreds of volunteers combine efforts each year to make OctoberTour happen.
This year’s committee chairs include Sorel, Doug Black, Liz Steele, Mary Goodman, Maria Thomson, Amy Goodnight, Melissa Heilig, Karri Hippert, Capri Brixey, Mike Grasso, Steve Warren, Lauren Hartpence, Pete Prunkl, Jodi Robbins, Misty Ratcliff, Niven Bayer, Ben Martin, Kristin Shields, Trisha Proper and Kristy Almazon.
They handle things such as mum sales, the Patrons Party, the Patrons Porch, ticket sales, antique cars, house managers, marketing, entertainment, photography, refreshments, sign distribution, trolleys and more.
Historic Salisbury Foundation Director Jack Thomson said the importance of this year’s OctoberTour, in the present economy, means more than it ever has.
Tickets for OctoberTour will be $16 in advance and $20 the days of the tour. Tour tickets for Historic Salisbury Foundation members and groups of 10 or more are $13 each.
Children ages 6 to 12 pay $10.
For ticket information, call the foundation at 704-636-0103 or go online to www.historicsalisbury.org.