PORT JERVIS—The Historic Port Jervis House & Garden Tour on Aug. 6 featured homes with restored architectural features, a restoration of the original pre-Civil War layout, a large garden, and stained glass windows.
The residences, which have been lovingly restored, are all occupied. Paula Meloi, whose company ERA Meloi Realty in Port Jervis sponsored the event, said on the event brochure, “We know that we have beautiful architecture, historical homes, Victorians.”
The Port Jervis Council for the Arts organized the tour.
Houses and Landscapes
Joe Rauner told visitors that his house, 222 West Main Street, was built in 1900 by Michael Mayer, the owner of a glass cutting factory at Erie and Liberty streets. Mayer had his employees make stained glass windows for almost every room in the house.
The windows are unusual in that they have internal supporting ribs so they don’t bow out. He has restored much of the house, including about 80 percent of the front porch.
Ping Jiang, who bought a dilapidated Victorian on Ferguson Ave. in 2014, completely restored most of the original architecture and redid the bathrooms, put on a new roof, a wrap-around porch, and a painted the exterior a papaya pink.
The round cupola at the top is especially stunning. “I liked the historic look of the architecture,” she said. She and her husband started the work last summer and have almost finished the renovations.
Philip Fried, owner of 1840’s home 249 N. Orange Street, said the garden was planted with perennials to encourage butterflies and birds, and to discourage deer.
Possibly the oldest house on the tour, the house had a brook in the basement, which the owners believe was the original water source for the residents. Artist Joan Kehlenbeck sat in the backyard drawing a landscape in pastels during the open house.
A lush garden surrounded almost every inch of the house at 15 Elmendorf Street. Mark Washburn, who bought the house 10 years ago, said he did about 90 percent of the garden himself.
“I started digging one little square in the center and made a patio, and every month and every year from then on for eight years I did something,” he said.
There is no grass anywhere on the property, and there is something blooming all through the season,” he said.
A 1905 Victorian, 19 Ferguson Ave. was considerably restored, according to owner Don Copa. The house received a new roof and chimney and the wallpaper and carpet were removed. He especially likes the high ceilings, he said.
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