Adam Prudhomme
Beaver Staff
Several of Greater Napanee’s most stunning abodes will open their doors on June 2 when Seniors Outreach Services hosts its 22nd annual Home and Garden Tour.
With the purchase of a $25 passport, guests will be able to take a self-guided tour of seven homes in the region.
This year’s tour follows a more modern theme, with several homes that are less than a decade old.
Not all the homes are new however, such as the one located at 109 Bridge St. W. in Napanee. Built in 1940, the Tudor-style home has an English cottage theme with some modern upgrades installed throughout the home. Surrounded by a perfectly manicured garden on the outside, attached to the house is also the art studio of homeowner Karen Rochon. Her artwork decorates the inside of the home as well.
Also on the tour is a home built in the 1970s that was originally used as a cottage overlooking the Napanee River but has since been converted to a year-round home on County Road 9. An 1,800 square foot home built on four acres overlooking Hayward Long Reach is also incorporated in the tour, as well as three more built along the shores of Hay Bay.
The tour is made possible by gracious homeowners who open their doors to guests for their viewing pleasure. Along with fascinating architecture and cozy decor indoors, each home has an eye-catching garden and landscape to go with it.
“The houses are very close this year,” SOS fundraising developer Ruth Graham says of the tour.
“Two on Bridge Street in Napanee and the are County Road 9, Sherman’s Point, River Road area. So it’s nice and compact this year.”
Money raised from the event will go towards SOS 55 plus programming, day care, respite and the Meals on Wheels program. The money raised will help keep their programming affordable to seniors.
“We’re trying to keep people in their homes longer,” SOS board member Marg Baldwin says of their services. “We have a wonderful 55 plus exercise program. We have a gamut of services.”
The Home and Garden Tour is one of their biggest fundraisers of the year and they hope to bring in $8,000.
The tour will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The houses will be well marked and volunteers will be on hand in each home.
Home and Garden Tour passports are available now at SOS’s offices are 12 Richmond Park Dr in Napanee or at Gray’s IDA. Children aged 6 to 12 are $12 and kids under 5 are free.