Tour of homes planned in Marianna, Fla.

SPECIAL TO THE FLORIDAN
Published: May 13, 2008

The Chipola Historical Trust’s 2008 Historic Tour of Homes will be Saturday, May 17, from 10:00am-4:00pm.

This year’s event features nine historic properties in Marianna, Fla., five of which have never been open to the public or appeared on a tour of homes.
The two areas of the Historic Marianna Tour are the Lafayette Street area, with parking on Saturday in any of the public parking areas of unopened businesses nearby, and the Madison/Putnam Street area, where parking is available at the Davis-West House. On-street parking is permitted at both locations.

In the Lafayette Street area, five homes plus St. Luke’s Episcopal Church will be open for tours. They are 1) the stately Russ House on the northwest corner of Lafayette and Russ Street, home of the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce; 2) the newly restored Bowles-Kimbrough House on Russ Street just across from the Russ House; 3) the Lache House on the southeast corner of Lafayette St. and Bordon Ave, home to Partenza; 4) the Dickson-Mock House on Lafayette Street just ½ block east of the Russ House; 5) the freshly restored MacKinnon House on Lafayette Street across from St. Luke’s Episcopal Church; and finally, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church on the northwest corner of Lafayette and Wynn.

In the Madison/Putnam Street area, three homes will be open for tours. They are 1) the Smith-Collins House located at 2928 Madison Street; 2) the Streetman-Turner House located at 4473 Putnam Street; and 3) the Davis-West House located at 4448 Putnam Street.

Tickets are $10 for the entire tour or $3 for each home. Tickets may be purchased at any home on the day of the tour, or in advance at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce in the Russ House. Children under 10 years old are admitted free. There is no charge for touring the Russ House or St. Luke’s Church and cemetery.

The Russ House will be the headquarters for the tour and refreshments will be served on the Russ House porch during the tour. A self-guided booklet describing all historic houses in the Marianna Historic District and Greenwood will be given with a ticket. All homes will be noted by the number on the green oval Marianna Main Street marker.

The Artists Guild of Northwest Florida will have an art display at the Davis-West House with paintings for sale. These will primarily be historically significant scenes and homes. There will also be art work on display at the Bowles-Kimbrough House in Michele Kimbrough’s studio, including original watercolor paintings of the nine properties on the tour. A portion of the proceeds from the art exhibits will go to support the Historical Trust.

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