Step back in time during Castleton’s Colonial Day House Tour

Saturday, Aug. 16 at 10 a.m. — CASTLETON — The 76th Annual Castleton Woman’s Club Colonial Day House Tour will be held Saturday, Aug. 16 in Castleton, featuring outstanding private homes in a wide variety of architectural styles including Colonial Revival, Federal, Greek Revival, Queen Anne and Gothic Revival. The tour includes over a dozen sites throughout the village including outstanding period homes, public buildings, galleries and historic sites. The 2014 Castleton Colonial Day House Tour will be held rain or shine from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.  Self-guided walking tours include the Federated Church on Main Street, described as builder Thomas Royal Dake’s architectural masterpiece. The pulpit, with its intricate moldings and panels is one of the most extraordinary in the state. Dake is also famous for his beautifully scaled spiral staircases. Several of the homes on this year’s tour will feature staircases by Dake. One is the home he built for his bride Sally Deming in 1809. Another can be seen in the home he built for Noahdiah Granger, circa 1810, which is considered one of Dake’s most elaborate staircases. At the Higley House, home of the Castleton Historical Society, visitors can tour the exhibits, antique tools, carriage collection and period fashion displays. The Castleton Library will hold an ice cream social from 2 – 4 p.m. and the Federated Church will host a ham dinner starting at 5 p.m.; fee is $9 adults, $5 children. Tour tickets are $20 ($18 for seniors 62+) and can be purchased on Colonial Day at two locations on Main Street. For info, call 802-278-8150 or email cthomp4591@aol.com.