This Saturday, April 28, Marbletown joins the lineup of Hudson Valley townships opening the doors to some of their privately owned historic properties to visitors for a few hours. A fundraising event for the Ulster County Historical Society (UCHS), the first-ever Historic House Tour of Marbletown will take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.
Attendees are required to begin at the Bevier House Museum, located at 2682 Route 209, where they will be issued wristbands, maps and descriptive brochures, after which the tour is self-guided. Among the seven distinguished houses and two barns included in the tour – all located among Kripplebush, Stone Ridge, High Falls and Hurley – are the Thomas Chambers House, the Tully Barn, the Rydant Barn (open from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. only) and a building formerly housing the “Teahouse in the Garden.” There will be a reception for attendees at the Museum at 4 p.m., after the close of the tour.
All the historic houses on the tour started as one- or two-room houses. Most of them were constructed of stone, while others had stone foundations and were built of clapboard. Over the centuries, the houses were expanded. The houses on this tour reflect a range of the decisions owners had to make: how much of the original house should be preserved, what features should be kept, what features could be added. Some of the architectural choices made in the 20th century stemmed from the fact that parts of the houses were dilapidated, or historic features had been damaged beyond repair. New owners had to decide how much to modernize, or how much to restore features that were faithful to the 18th and 19th centuries. In the final stages of restoration, owners had to decide how to furnish the houses: with antiques, reproductions, newer furniture that would not clash or modern pieces.
Advance tickets cost $20 for UCHS members and $25 for non-members. Day-of-tour tickets cost $25 and $30. To purchase, visit www.ulstercountyhs.org and click on the Event tab. For more info, call (845) 377-1040.
Join the family! 
