On Sunday, Sept. 25, hundreds of visitors enjoyed the unique opportunity of touring Victorian homes in the Historic District of Jim Thorpe. Many of these buildings are private homes generally not open to the public. The last open house tour was three years ago.

The tour featured 19 homes—all built during the Victorian era—that is, during the reign of Queen Victoria of England, from 1837 to 1901. Victorian architecture refers to a time period, not a building style. During this period, popular building styles were Gothic Revival, 1840-1880; Italianate, 1850-1880; Second Empire, 1860-1880, and Queen Anne, 1880-1910.

The houses included in the 2011 Victorian House Tour were:

Mauch Chunk Opera House
14 W. Broadway
An Addison Hutton building completed in 1882 that served as a stop on the vaudeville circuit before becoming a movie theater. In 1973, it was purchased by the Mauch Chunk Historical Society and is being slowly renovated into a concert hall.

Defeo's Manor
5 W. Broadway
An 1880s Queen Ann style home built for Banker John C. Dolon.

Three Mountains Gallery
29 Race Street
An 1848 home built on Stone Row for the employees of railroad magnate Asa Packer.

St. Mark's Episcopal Church 21 Race St.
Gothic Revival church constructed of gray sandstone and built into the side of the mountain. Designed by Richard Upjohn and completed in 1869. Contains Tiffany stained glass windows and an operational early Otis elevator.

Homespun & Cozy Inn
12 & 14 Race St.
1850s Federalist style double home built on the site of a former horse stable.

Harry Packer Mansion -
19 Packer Ave.
Gothic style home completed in 1874 for Harry Packer, son of Asa Packer. It is currently a Bed and Breakfast.

Kemmerer Carriage House Packer Ave.
Built in 1878, the Carriage House is the last remaining vestige of the former Kemmerer estate, now the site of Kemmerer Park. The building is in the process of being restored by the Mauch Chunk Museum and the Mauch Chunk Historical Society.

Inn at Jim Thorpe
24 Broadway
The former American Hotel was built in 1851 following the fire of 1849 that destroyed the downtown business district. The New Orleans style building is now a 47-room hotel.

Fatzinger Mansion
55 Broadway
Built in the 1840s, it is the town's oldest surviving mansion. It served the families of Fatzinger, Salkeld and Blakslee into the 20th century.

Dimmick Memorial Library 54 Broadway
Designed by J. Rooney Williamson, this Jacobean style cross-gabled building opened in 1890. A major reconstruction took place after a 1979 fire nearly destroyed the building.

Friends House Annex of the Dimmick Library
58 Broadway
The building was constructed in 1889 for Asa Packer Blakslee and his wife Louisa Foster Sayre. It is currently the outlet for book sales for the Dimmick Library.

Stevenson House -
72 Broadway
Situated in the middle of Millionaire's Row, a 17-room Second Empire and French Renaissance revival style home. Modeled after a building originally constructed before 1850 as the Lentz family townhouse. In 1948, it became the home and office of Dr. George and Laura Thomas, and when they passed away, it became the home of their daughter Laura and her husband Bob Stevenson.

Rendon House
80 Broadway
A 15-room Millionaire's Row home originally built for Isaac T. Dodson in 1827. Later occupied by the Millers, Lockharts and Brodheads, it is currently a Bed and Breakfast.

Walbert House
87 Broadway
An 1869 brick Italianate townhouse built for Alexander W. Butler, one of Mauch Chunk's early bankers. It is currently the home of Ben and Carole Walbert.

Monteleone Design
97 Broadway
Built before the Civil War for Daniel Bertsch, one of Mauch Chunk's earliest millionaires. The building now houses the Suites On Broadway Bed and Breakfast and Marianne Monteleone Design.

Galerie b - 108 Broadway
Possibly the oldest building in Jim Thorpe. One of seven Stone Row houses remaining among 16 originally built on Broadway in 1822. It currently houses a gallery of shops.

Marion Hose Company
16 West Broadway
Built in 1885 to house Mauch Chunk's oldest fire company, the Marion Hose Company. When the fire company was discontinued, the building was purchased by the Mauch Chunk Historical Society. This year, it was sold to Andrew Roberts to be used for his Purple Audio business.

Gilded Cupid B&B
40 West Broadway
Built around 1855. The Italianate building was acquired and modified in the 1880s by Mary Packer Cummings. In 1995, it was purchased by Sheila O'Neil and Bob Ewashko and renovated into a Bed and Breakfast.

Mauch Chunk Museum
& Cultural Center
41 West Broadway
The site of the former St. Paul's Methodist Church built in 1873 and an earlier church dating from 1843. Vacated by St. Paul's in 1976, the building was bought by local businessman John Drury and renovated into the town's museum with a ballroom on the second floor.

© Al Zagofsky 2011