Oxford’s Holiday House Tour is back on Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with seven houses and one in historic church in the town’s historic district. The house tour is a part of Oxford’s “Christmas on the Creek” weekend and is sponsored by the Oxford Community Center. Tickets are $30 and provide a look inside some of the town’s beautiful homes. Tickets and programs are picked up at the community center to begin the tour.
Suzanne Hanks Litty’s house dates back to 1890 and was a small waterman’s cottage like many of the houses in Oxford. It had a lean-to kitchen in the back that was turned into a family room. Many renovations were done when Litty moved in, including a studio that was added with a garage in the rear of the property. Litty’s talents as an interior designer are evident throughout the house—soothing colors and appealing furnishings enhance each room. The family room provides casual dining space as well as comfortable areas for seating and relaxation. The Hanks Family is well known for their artistic abilities. Three generations of Hanks art work is displayed in the family room: three carvings by Ted Hanks, a carving by Doug Hanks, a painting by Peter Hanks and a pencil etching by Ted’s father, Fletcher Hanks, Sr.
Suzanne Beyda’s house has evolved over centuries. In 1862, Margaret Delahay paid $20 for a 99-year leasehold from William H. and Mary F. Valliant, consisting of two building lots. Her “I” house was constructed facing west on Morris Street and is one of the few original structures remaining on the south side of town. Attached to the “I” house is a story and a half wing showing evidence of having originally been a cottage. It may have been one of many moved from the disappearing islands in the Bay. The resulting ell-shaped home has two additions: a small kitchen (1940s), and a first floor bedroom and bath (1974). Simple “I” house features evident today are low brick foundation exposed brick chimneys and firewall on both gable ends, square posts with decorative corner brackets to support the flat roofed porch, four-panel door with two-light transom and central front entrance flanked by two-over-two windows. The interior exhibits its Early American “I” house/ell house origins in its floor plan and woodwork. The original square baluster stair leads up to a bath flanked by two bedrooms. Below the stair the original back entrance mudroom has been reconfigured into a small powder room. The cottage addition is now a dining room with the ceiling replaced by supporting structural beams.
As the first Methodist Church built in the town of Oxford, the story of St. Paulʼs Church is the story of the growth of the denomination in a region known as the “garden of American Methodism.”
The older, rectangular structure dating to 1856 shows Greek Revival-styling including the low pitch gable roof, dentil cornice molding, beaded trim around the rectangular windows, and wide corner pilasters. The Gothic front addition to the church, which has a one and a half story elevation with lateral wings and a front vestibule, was constructed in 1882 when the steeple and bell were also added. St. Paulʼs began another major building campaign in 1906. The distinctive floor-to-ceiling pressed tin work on the interior is the most impressive result of this remodeling. The renovations also included 16 stained glass windows and nine new ceiling chandeliers lit by acetylene gas. In 1940 St. Paulʼs Methodist Episcopal church and Methodist Protestant church combined and the congregation worshipped at the Methodist Protestant Church located on the park in Oxford. In 1947 the Pilgrims’ Holiness congregation bought St. Paulʼs. In the fall of 1968 the Oxford congregation changed its name to St. Paulʼs Wesleyan Church. The church closed its doors in 1977 when the congregation, down to about 15 attendees, joined the Easton Wesleyan Church. In 1979 Jennifer and Ted Stanley bought the church on the condition they would maintain the building for at least five years.
The “Mary L. Sibley House” is the winner of the 2005 Douglas Hanks Jr. Oxford Preservation Award. Owned by Dick and Susan Deerin, this late 19th century home is a well-preserved example of a side passage, two-story, two-bay frame house popular throughout Oxford. The walls of the house are sheathed in narrow rounded edge weather boards (Deutsch siding). The front gable end is covered with pointed fish-scale shingles. In 2005 the Deerins and architect, Jack McCartney of Washington DC, renovated the home, including an addition with a new first floor family room/kitchen and a second floor master bedroom and bath. The renovation successfully retains the overall Victorian style and design. Original hardwood floors were matched with reclaimed flooring from an old warehouse of the same period.
“Maplehurst” was built in 1880 by Edward John Stevens (1882-1898) and Margaret Ann Markland Stevens (1824-1924). The family first lived on Anderton, but sold it and lived on Sharp’s Island. In 1877 they returned to Oxford and built a Victorian home on land inherited from Mrs. Stevens’ father, William Markland. Similar to other homes during the same era, the architectural style is “Gothic Farmhouse.” In 1900 sisters Nellie, Ida and Sarah inherited Maplehurst. There is no record why it was named Maplehurst. Presumably, Nellie and her sister Ida came across the name in their travels. They were school teachers in Oxford, and they traveled widely and were well known for their well-tended gardens and numerous species of trees. Joining the Talbot County Garden Club, they gave talks on various gardening topics. Maplehurst remained in the family for nearly 90 years and was purchased by the Malones in 1968. Ted and Jennifer Stanley purchased it in 1979 and kept the integrity of the original floor plans of the house.
The Gaffney’s home was built in 1995 on the site of a waterman’s cottage dating from 1900. Many of the home’s interior details were designed to showcase the owners’ collections.—a mix of antiques and primitives. Tobacco tins, framed Buzza cards and advertising items are located in the family room. A quilt collection and antique clocks are displayed throughout the house. In searching for authenticity, reclaimed antique heart pine flooring was installed as well as reproduction period lighting. The living room and dining room are furnished in Colonial Williamsburg style. The paneled wall in the dining room conceals the powder room and furnace. A Pennsylvania cherry corner cupboard (c. 1840) is a family piece. Upstairs, a Pennsylvania curly maple tall post bed from the same period stands in the master bedroom. Stained glass windows of much later vintage in the powder room and master bath were salvaged from East Baltimore row houses.
Built in 2007, the Egan family’s home was designed to quietly blend into an historical Oxford neighborhood. Purchased by the Egans in 2010, the family worked with architect Michael Hall, and Bob Jackson Landscaping to bring forth the original intent of comfortable village living by applying cheerful, colorful and inviting touches both inside and out. Finished and furnished with an assembly of old and new, the setting on most months sees the dock full with boats, the yard teaming with dogs, the kitchen in high gear and the house bustling with family, friends and neighbors. For art lovers, this home holds a collection reflective of the owner’s support of Maryland artists as well as pieces that celebrate life on the water.
The “Virginia Stichberry House” dates to the late years of the 19th century and is not on its original location. According to local knowledge, in the late 1800s it was moved to the current location. “Virginia Stichberry bought the house and lot from Ormond Hammond in 1893 and after her death in 1905 her heirs sold the property to Carrie Ella Harrison.” At some point in the 1950s or early 60s, Sarah Crockett and her husband purchased the property and lived there for several years. Her husband, a well-known boat builder, had his boat shop out back in what has now been turned into a garage. The Brakefields purchased the home from Sarah Crockett in the mid-1980s. Ryck and Karen Walbridge have owned the home since 2004. The house went through a renovation in the 1980s when the Brakefields added a major addition.
Tickets for the Oxford Holiday House Tour are $30 per ticket and may be purchased the day of the event at the Oxford Community Center, or ahead of time by calling 410-226-5904 or e-mailing [email protected]. Programs and directions are picked up at OCC to begin the tour. There will be beautiful, fresh seasonal table arrangements donated by the Oxford Garden Club for sale at OCC as visitors begin the tour. Proceeds from the house tour and table arrangements benefit the programs of the community center, a private 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization.
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