Historic Takoma, Inc.PO Box 5781, Takoma Park, MD 20913www.historictakoma.org

A Website to Help You Make Your Home Safer, Easier and More Convenient for Everyone

Visit www.UniversalDesign.com to find: Answers to questions about Aging-In-Place UD Product Reviews Case Studies of residential UD projects

6 Grant Avenue Takoma Park, MD 20912 301-270-2470 www.UniversalDesign.com

UniversalDesign.com LLC is a subsidiary of Universal Designers & Consultants, Inc. - Takoma Park, MD

Fine CraftsmenshipAttention to DetailTimely Completion

MHIC Lic. #32422

Heritage Building and Renovation, Inc.

Design/Build • Historic Renovation Additions • Kitchens and BathroomsFamily Rooms • Built in Cabinetry Porches and Decks • Structural Repairs

301-270-4799

www.HeritageBR.com

1

This year’s Tour takes us to what is referred to as Gilbert’s New Takoma. The year was 1886. Benjamin Franklin Gilbert had successfully devel-

oped his first 90 acres surrounding the Takoma railroad station. In January, building on that success, Gilbert purchased 120 acres of the Carroll Farm from Alida Carroll Brown, a member of the illustrious Carroll family and the younger sister of Civil War hero Brig. General Samuel Sprigg Carroll. Gilbert had Alida’s land platted into ten streets and more than 400 building lots. The first lots were sold in the summer of 1886.

This land, officially designated as B.F. Gilbert’s Addition to Takoma Park (the first of several additions), sprouted its own addition “Gilbert and Woods” three years later. This addition was small, the long block of what is today’s Westmoreland Avenue. Together they came to be called “New Takoma,” to differentiate it from Gilbert’s first purchase adjacent to the railroad station.

The area grew steadily over more than a century, attracting all manner of professionals, including federal officials, educators and lawyers, scientists and engineers, Adventist ministers, and military officers. Many were also pillars of the growing community, serving on the Town Council and heading up an expanding number of civic organizations.

One resident, Morris Bien, whose house at 60 Pine is now much altered as apartments, was a lawyer at the Land Reclamation Bureau, but in his spare time he was an avid photographer. His rich collection of photos offers one of the best portraits of Takoma’s early days.

The architecture of the neighborhood is as varied as the experiences of its residents.Especially noteworthy on this Tour are Takoma Park’s oldest “pioneer houses” that date from the first decade (1883-1893). Most of these are modest insize and simple in design.

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Display Ad 107 -- No TitleThe Washington Post (1877-1922); Sep 17, 1922; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Washington Post (1877-1996)pg. 48

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Display Ad 107 -- No TitleThe Washington Post (1923-1954); Sep 16, 1923; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Washington Post (1877-1996)pg. 43

Welcome to the 40th annual Takoma Park House and Garden Tour, presented by Historic Takoma.

Pioneer to Present Day

2

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Display Ad 107 -- No TitleThe Washington Post (1877-1922); Sep 17, 1922; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Washington Post (1877-1996)pg. 48

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Display Ad 107 -- No TitleThe Washington Post (1923-1954); Sep 16, 1923;

ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Washington Post (1877-1996)

pg. 43

The term “pioneer house” originated with the organizers of the Fiftieth An-niversary of Takoma Park in 1933, who produced a brochure with a list of our first 90 houses. Thirty-two of them were located in Gilbert’s 1886 Addition. We are fortunate to have four “pioneer houses” open on the Tour, together with three houses built on the site of “pioneers” lost due to fire or neglect. The “pioneer houses” are particularly valued, and you will note rehabilitation work currently on-going at one located at 20 Montgomery Avenue by Eric and Sam Smith. The Smiths recently won an award for the restoration of another Takoma Park home.

This year’s Tour also features two mail-order or kit bungalows. They are on the Gilbert and Woods’ sliver of Westmoreland. Gilbert had laid out the lots in 1889 but it was not until the 1920s that the next generation of developers, in-cluding Heber L. Thornton, Jr., attracted new families to live in the bungalows he advertised in the Washington Post as “love nests.” Wooden boards stamped “H.L. Thornton” are often found in these houses. He did not advertise the actual manu-facturer of his kit houses, a feature common among developers of the day. This leads to interesting research today by kit house historians! Thornton also launched the commercial area along Laurel Avenue as well as the one on Fourth Street NW.

This quiet neighborhood is constantly renewing itself. Newer houses such as 1 and 25 Montgomery have successfully blended in, retaining much of the original architectural character. At 18 Mont-gomery a new infill home is being built by well-known local builder Shelterline, Ltd.

We invite you to experience the character of “New Takoma,” builtwell over a century ago on Alida’shilly and wooded land. Enjoy its history, from “Pioneer to Present Day”! — Historic Takoma, May 2013

Ads r

epro

duce

d cou

rtesy

of th

e Was

hingto

nia R

oom.

3

4

5

need new ad

TICKETSOld Town Gazebo

7035 Carroll Ave.

MARYLAND

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

To Metro

Farmers Market(10am-2pm)

Montgomery Ave.Westm

oreland Ave.

Carroll

Hickory Ave.

Col

umbi

a Av

e.

Tulip Ave.

Pine A

ve.1 32

4

Walnut Ave.

Eastern Ave. NW

6Av

e.

79

14

15

Elm Ave.

8

10

13

11

12

5Refreshments at 10 Pine Avenue

Restroom Available

Licensed in MD & DC

Helping Buyers & Sellers Since 2004

Top 5% Realtors NationwideLong & Foster Top 150 agents since 2009

Cell: 301•325•4388Office: 240•497•1700judykogod@aol.com

www.judykogodrealtor.com

Judy’s Recent Listings & Sales!

7220 Blair RdTakoma, DC

7414 Cedar AveTakoma Park

6774 2nd StTakoma, DC

6611 1st St Takoma, DC

6

6916 Westmoreland Barbara and Arthur Karpas (First floor and garden)

This bungalow kit house was built in 1922 by local Takoma Park developer H.L Thornton. At the time the house was built, its address was 13 Elm Av-enue. Thornton advertised it as one of two remaining “real love nests,” with “5 rooms and bath, hot water heat, ev-ery improvement, beautiful hardwood floors, open fire place, concrete cellar, laundry trays, wide porches, room for garden and chickens, and fine shade trees” for the sum of $8,000 with easyterms (see newspaper ad on page 2). In the 1950s, this portion of Elm Avenue was joined to an already-existing Westmoreland Avenue and re-named.Barbara and Arthur discovered this charming home 39 years ago and sensitively reno-vated it to accommodate a family of seven! The kitchen was enlarged into a light-filled, comfortable gathering space with open shelving for convenience…the family loves to cook, and it is a cook’s kitchen. The Elvis shrine in the first floor bathroom is not to be missed! Notice the Elvis artwork on the bathroom door created by Arthur’s daughter Beth. The shrine is a joint effort by Barbara and Beth, inspired by a cross country trip to Graceland. Arthur particularly loves the early morning sunlight streaming through the tall multi-pane casement windows in the living room. He also enjoys the high ceilings, original hardware, carpentry and heart pine trim around the doors. Notice the boards stamped “H.L. Thorn-ton” found in the basement. The rear garden honors the spirituality of the number “four”: as in the cardinal directions and the elements Earth, Air, Fire and Water. Family members did the stone work, ponds and front garden.

7

6913 Westmoreland Avenue Alison and Drew Kodjak (First and second floors, garden)

This simple, vernacular example of a Sec-ond Empire-style house with its hallmark mansard roof is unusual for Takoma Park. While the Second Empire architectural style was often characterized by elabo-rate ornamentation during the heyday of it popularity between the mid to late 1800s, this fine home celebrates the simplicity and elegance of a different period. The current house is not the first one on the site. The original house, the Holmes house, named for its early occupant, was one of Takoma Park’s “pioneer houses” as discussed in the Introduction. It burned down around 1903 and was rebuilt sometime later, perhaps as early as 1904.

This house began its life as a single family residence, but was ultimately converted into six apartment units. In the mid-1990s, the previous owners Franz Rassman and Meg Taylor ultimately restored the first and second floors to single-family use. Tenants are currently in residence on the third floor, so please be as quiet as possible as you move through the home and the grounds.The current owners, Alison and Drew, just purchased the property five months ago and are generously sharing their new home with the community today. Alison enjoys the 10 foot ceilings in the house, and two sets of pocket door on the main floor. The thing that really attracted the owners to this property was its large size, and its proximity to downtown Takoma and the Metro. Something always exciting to new owners, the garden has yet to unfold it secrets! The thousands of bulbs that are present may be in bloom, with other visual treats awaiting visi-tors on the day of the Tour!

Remove shoes and do not go to the third floor by inside or outside stairs.

BETHESDA 301-654-56886930 Arlington Rd., Bethesda, MD 20814

POTOMAC 301-299-633310110 River Rd., Potomac, MD 20854

SILVER SPRING 301-565-9150815 Wayne Ave., Silver Spring, MD 20910

Over 50,000 items at 3 locations

8

6909 Westmoreland Ave. Enrica Detragiache and Richard Brown (First and second floors, patio) This welcoming 1920s Craftsman-style house is stunning both inside and out. This house was love at first sight for Enrica and Rich-ard 18 years ago when first beginning their search for a home. After realizing they were comparing every other house to this one, it quickly became theirs.The remarkable setting of the house to the surrounding properties provides an unusual park-like view from all sides with enormous privacy and a feeling of spaciousness, unit-ing the natural world with the interior. The owners enjoy the light-drenched rooms, the lack of crowding, and sunsets from their front porch. The recent construction of a large open stone patio on the side of the house takesmaximum advantage of the comforting cultural link to the “piazza” in Enrica’s native Italy. The house interior is all about the masterful use of modest space and creative artistic design to blend old and new in a way that makes the heart sing. Passing through the living room, the two original stained glass windows on each side of the fireplace grace your view. Trav-eling toward the kitchen area, elegant cherry pantry cabinets escort the visitor through a nar-row entry and around the corner where the main kitchen area explodes with light, outside views, and a mix of beautiful materials. European glass tiles shine and share the wall space with cherry cabinets. The kitchen floor, which looks like rustic wooden boards, is actually made of Italian ceramic!In the new first floor studio, Enrica and Richard thoughtfully reused the heart pine floors from another portion of the house. The second floor master bedroom addition is spacious and bright.

9

6912 Westmoreland Avenue Catherine Carr and Ronald Whalen (First floor and garden)

Stepping into this kit bungalow built by H.L Thornton in 1922 brings you back to an earlier day. As true for its neigh-bors, this house began its existence on Elm Avenue, with an address of 17 Elm Avenue. The owners, Catherine Carr and Ronald Whalen, have cherished this house, garden and neighborhood since purchasing the property 10 years ago. Catherine and Ronald particularly love the comforting character of their oldhouse and its light-filled rooms. They have preserved the early features and floor plan of this early 20th Century home, even while adding to it. Original windows and doors, fireplace, bead board bathroom with claw-foot tub, and original hardware are a beautiful setting for the antique furnishings that greet the visitor. Of particular interest is a 19th Cen-tury walnut-burl piano with brass candleholders in the guest bedroom, which was made in Dresden, Germany, shipped to South Africa, and then home to Takoma Park. In 2006, Heritage Building and Renovation (see ad inside front cover) and Vitullo Ar-chitecture Studio completed a sensitive addition in the rear of the house that accents the old and blends without distraction. The lovely kitchen, with its skylight, maple cabinets, granite counters, pantry area and white tile behind the stove, link it to an earlier period in form while remaining contemporary in feel. The sun room in the rear is a charming place to have coffee in the morning, and the added master bedroom and bath could always have been there. The top half of the existing wall between the dining room and kitchen was skill-fully opened up to gracefully connect 2006 with 1922, the old with the new. The effect is a joy to the eye and soothing to the spirit. Catherine’s lovely garden is one of her major pleasures and as true of all gardens, is a work in progress.

10

68 Walnut Avenue Suzanne Hubbard (Garden and restroom stop) Suzanne has lived at 68 Walnut for 24 years, and it is safe to say that for as long as Suzanne has been here, there has been a remarkable garden. In fact, so remarkable is her “lawnless” garden, that it has been featured in a 1998 Country Garden mag-azine story entitled, “Against the Grain,” and more recently in a 2010 Washington Post ar-ticle entitled, “The Beauty of Harmony.”Harmony is a quality not easily found in urban places. However, a stroll through Suzanne’s living composition of varied textures and colors achieved with a myriad of different plants is soothing to the soul. The art of composition with natural material is an intuitive skill for Suzanne, who is also an accomplished weaver, having studied the art for several years in Sweden. Her intuitive sense of color and texture informs her weaving and her garden plantings, each affecting the other, both intertwined. It is not an accident that Suzanne was drawn to weaving, which is regarded as a sacred art in many early cultures, connected with the circle of life.It is difficult to predict what exactly will be blooming at the time of the Tour. It can be said that Suzanne’s garden celebrates the seasonality of life, and has become a focal point for community. In providing this, Suzanne is a teacher, encouraging connection with the natural world. So, go for a stroll through this special place today and take away knowledge and inspira-tion. And most importantly, come back yet again in search of harmony.

11

104 Elm Avenue Rani Parker and Patrick Meagher (First and second floors, basement)

This lovely cottage-style house is located on land once owned by Lucinda Cady (of the renowned Cady-Lee Mansion) and her fam-ily until 1917. Rani Parker and Patrick Meagher purchased their home in 1993 and happily reside there with their daughter Asha and two cats. Wide front steps welcome you into the sun room where beauty greets you, a prelude to the vi-sual treat yet to come. The house

is an absolute celebration of color and light. The artistry of combining colors is Patrick’s talent, and the colors enhance and enliven the light-drenched spaces throughout the home, both inside and out. The color scheme effectively accents the lovely collection of textiles from all over the world on the walls and floors. The mastery of Heritage Building and Renovation (see ad inside front cover) and Vitullo Architecture Studio (see ad page 9) transformed the interior spaces in 2010, creating the sun room, reconfiguring the first floor and remodeling the kitchen and bath, adding a second floor study and master bedroom and bath upstairs. Rani rejoices in her kitchen, ef-ficiently designed with a food preparation side, and a snaking, clean-up side. The granite on the kitchen island is from her family village in India. The wall tiles are made of stone; their earthy colors and texture set off the smooth maple cabinets that line two sides of the room. Notice the narrow Runtal heater coming into the kitchen, a clever use of space.Everything about the renovation was carefully planned by Heritage and Rick Vitullo. The master bedroom suite and the adjoining study wall have a soundproofing layer so when Patrick works late on deadlines, Rani can sleep peacefully. The high efficiency AC and air cleaner installed by Hubrig Heating and Cooling adds to the comfort!

12

Takoma Park in 1973 was a tumultuous place. We were under siege from many direc-tions. The first House and Garden Tour was one mom’s answer to the question: what are we fighting to save?

Ever since the beginning of the North Central Freeway fight in 1964, residents had been in activist mode. Hundreds turned out to stop the Freeway under the galvanizing force of Sam Abbott and the Save Takoma Park Committee, only to discover in 1971 that the victory of rapid rail transit brought with it the destruction of mass transit development. Whole blocks of the oldest houses near-est the proposed Metro station were slated for demolition for road widening and high rise de-velopment. Around the same time, Montgomery College announced its expansion would require taking the houses on Block 69. Takoma Park residents rose up in opposi-tion. Among their weapons wasthe creation of the Takoma Park National Register Historic District, officially listed in 1976 in Maryland, and 1980 in the District of Columbia.

Meanwhile the years of fighting had reawakened pride in Takoma Park, both in D.C. and Maryland. While many properties were in the hands of ab-sentee landlords, new families began moving in to restore our homes because they saw value in their unique character.

Ellen Marsh, a founder of Historic Takoma, was one such person who saw that value. She and her husband joined the struggle, and helped organize their neighbors. Ellen went door to door and talked with many who refused to ac-cept that their homes were only good for demolition. That sparked an idea. “I wanted Council and those eager to tear down our houses to come and see that these houses were worth saving.” The idea of a house tour was born in 1973.

Others agreed with her. In fact, so many neighbors opened their homes and gardens to the public, that on Sunday May 6th, the tour map showed a whopping 28 houses and gardens. Local residents later recalled that it was the first time they had ventured into other neighborhoods. The threatened areas were showcased, along with spectacular gardens and newer homes at the edges of town.

13

In 1974, a second tour offered a new roster of houses, and a spring tradi-tion was beginning.

The introduction to the third tour in 1975 stated: “The town is no longer isolated from city and other suburbs, however Takoma Park remains rela-tively unchanged, a microcosm of the various architectural styles of the pastcentury.” By this time, it was clear that the Tour’s celebration of a city that was almost lost needed to continue.

Meanwhile, community efforts to preserve our his-toric fabric and character coalesced around a new group born from the tur-moil of the 60s and 70s.

Historic Takoma, an all-volun-teer nonprofit, was formally incor-porated in 1979. With education as part of its mission, Historic Ta-koma was honored to become the organizer of the Tour in 2000. In keeping with the Tour’s original purpose, the homes and neigh-borhoods showcased each year are carefully researched in order

to document their history. Proceeds from the Tour are used for upkeep of our new headquarters at 7328 Carroll Avenue, all community program-ming, and the care of our remarkable historic archive collection.

And so with this 40 year anniver-sary, the Tour continues to celebrate the uniqueness of our community.

Thanks to the original vision of Ellen Marsh and all of the individuals of that period, people from far and wide now appreciate and celebrate our homes, our neighborhoods and our city. We extend our thanks to all those who have supported the Takoma Park House and Garden Tour for the last forty years!

Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission.

Display Ad 107 -- No TitleThe Washington Post (1877-1922); Sep 17, 1922; ProQuest Historical Newspapers: The Washington Post (1877-1996)pg. 48

H.L. Thornton

14

25 Pine Avenue Joan Duncan and Chas Poor (First floor, second floor gallery, garden)

Designed by owners/architects Chas Poor and Joan Duncan (Studio Part-nership Architects) and built by re-nowned local builder Shelterline Ltd. (see ad page 3), this contemporary home (1987) built on the site of the early Skinner “pioneer house” is an award-winning example of infill construc-tion in the historic district. With its prominent shingled-gable front, side-facing dormers, oversized windows and exaggerated front porch column,the house alludes to its neighbors without mimicking them. The house celebrates light and openness. Its plan is organized around a central 2-story light well that faces south and floods the main and lower levels of the house with light. A well on the north side with an open stair and a hanging glass-blown sculpture by daughter Nicole, leads to a second floor art hall where owners’ work is displayed in “gallery shows.” Cur-rently on view are paintings by daughter Lauren. A balcony-overlook is the “destination” at the end of the art hall. The interiors are punctuated with industrial materials. The central dining/gathering space defined by steel pipe columns and coffered ceiling is lit from above through a grid of sandblasted glass bricks set into the gallery floor. Steel industrial windows (rescued and re-cycled from the old car repair room on Westmoreland Ave.) enclose the light wells. Maple floors and white walls enhance the light and spaciousness. Super-insulated construction insures year-round energy efficiency. A corn burning stove heats the first and second floors through operable windows and vents.Double doors lead to the rear screen porch/family room addition. Stepping outside the porch, a deck is cantilevered over a small pond. The owners have transformed the original vacant lot into a carefully designed, certified wildlife habitat.

15

1 Montgomery Avenue (First and second floors) Jen and Scott purchased their home in 2005. The original house on this land was one of our early “pioneer houses,” known as the “Heiberger House.” When the footings for the new house were excavated, the founda-tion of the earlier house was discovered. Traces of its early history found in their gar-den include Victorian doll parts and window weights. This contemporary house was built in 1983 by John Fleming, and was featured on the 1985 Takoma Park House and Garden Tour. Archi-tecturally, it borrows from the past, with Vic- torian design elements in combination with a New England farmhouse feeling. It is note-worthy for its sensitive footprint, scale, and materials.Walking inside the house is a visual treat! Open space, vibrant colors and interesting angles enhance views from all directions. The eco-friendly paint used inside and out is the specialty of Elegant Environments. Ahead, the magnificent kitchen/family room steps down from the entry area and takes center stage. A work of art, this integrated space is as practical as it is beautiful. The generous work island is oriented to fully take advantage of the beauty of the private outside deck and yard enclosed with tall holly trees. Jen works in ample natural light, provided by clerestory windows above, a glass wall to the yard, and passive solar light from ceiling sun tubes! The varied materials in the kitchen include glass tiles on the walls, zinc and marble counters, reclaimed woods, and horizontal beech cabinets. Skillful color combinations accent the composition. While Jen and Scott love every aspect of their home, the kitchen/family room area is no doubt the hub of activity, a special place to gather. Also enjoy the second floor master bedroom with bathroom, originally an attic artist loft.

Remove shoes if rainy, no high heels.

We specialize inHistoric andolder homes.

• Painting Interior / Exterior• Carpentry & Trim Installation• Plaster & Drywall Installation & Repair• Home Improvements• Handyman Services• Power Washing• Ceramic Tile• House Preparation for Rental or Sale

16

15 Montgomery Avenue Connie and Alden Meyer (First and second floors, garden)

This lovely Queen Anne-style or Folk Victorian house is one of our cherished early “pioneer houses,” known in our historical records as the “Jennings House” after Katie L. Jennings, and it was purchased by her from B.F. Gilbert in 1887.Connie and Alden enjoy the char-acter of this house, which retains its original features complete with old trim, original “wavy glass” windows, most of its original pine siding, original floors, stairs, din-ing room, upstairs hall, interior doors, and bedrooms. In 2006, Connie and Alden restored theexterior by removing 1950s alu-minum siding, restoring the clapboard and uncovering the molding over the windows, bringing it back to its original look. The owners have been connected to this beautiful home for 37 years, and during this time there have been many interior improvements. A major renovation in 1986 removed funky “add on” bathrooms and added a master bedroom, living room and kitchen. The owners updated the kitchen themselves in 2007, adding maple cabinets, granite counters and wood floors. The kitchen opens to a screened-in porch where meals are enjoyed in the warm weather. The quality renovation of the upstairs bathroom was done by Sirage Adem of Globe Bath & Kitchen Remodeling LLC. Note the custom-tiled frameless shower door, double vanity with granite top, whirlpool tub, and heated floor.What Connie loves most about her home is the southern exposure windows that look out at the lovely garden in the back from several areas of the house.

Remove shoes when going upstairs.

17

16 Montgomery Avenue Ann Scher and John Salmen (Main Floor)

Before entering this house, scan the QR code on the photo to the right, and watch the short video tour. In 2002, architect/accessibility specialist John Salmen and his wife Ann Scher renovated and expanded their 1915 era bungalow, twin sister to 14 Montgomery Avenue, into a Universally Designed, energy efficient, smart home where they are attempting to Age-in-Place.The house’s original early twentiethcentury details, including the six-over-one windows in the front library and powder room, are enhanced by the Japanese-influenced details of Craftsman architects Greene and Greene and are evident in Macon Construction’s cherry columns and trim as well as the meticulous detail and quality of Macon’s entire renovation. The original six-over-one pattern is repeated in the windows, doors, cabinetry and stairway railings. The Japanese tokonoma, or alcove,introduces the home’s wabi-sabi aesthetic to visitors as they mount the stairs or exit the elevator. Contrasting shades of wood, backed by the authentic post-Victorian color scheme of the walls, cabinets and furnishings are lit by clerestory windows to create a strong sense of verticality, highlighting the exposed structural elements and providing soothing views. Floor plans of the renovation are on the kitchen island counter. The renovation lowered the basement floor by eighteen inches, permitting an accessible route into the house from the Montgomery Avenue sidewalk and allowing an accessible guestroom that can be easily converted to a suite for a live-in attendant. The cherry and glass elevator provides wheel-chair access to all three floors without claustrophobia. Learn more about the concepts of Universal Design, Aging-in-Place and the Home for the Next 50 Years at UniversalDesign.com.

Visitors unable to climb stairs may use the driveway entry.

| Home Building | Custom Renovations | Sustainable Designwww.maconconstruction.com

Serving with Quality and Distinction Since 1980

301-933-7420

18

24 Montgomery Avenue Shari Friedman and David Christy (First floor and carriage house)

This lovely vernacular Queen Anne-style (also called “Folk Victorian”) house is one of our early pioneer houses, sold in 1888 to Louisa Losekam, and hence known in our early records as the “Los-ekam House.” It is the twin of 20 Mont-gomery Avenue, which is currently being restored by Sam and Eric Smith. In 1996, previous owners Abby Eden and William Hamm received an award from Montgomery Preservation, Inc. for a sensitive minor addition, designed by architect Mark Broyles. The workinvolved enlarging the kitchen, adding a side breakfast/mud room and a half bath. In 1997, current owner David Christy removed the out-of-period aluminum siding and returned it to a clapboard exterior. The paint scheme was developed in consultation with an architec-tural historian. The house retains an extremely strong period feel, a glimpse at early life in Takoma Park. The current owners hired Dale Suder, a well-known master craftsman in the area, to build their magnificent carriage house behind the house, used as a music and exercise room by the family. Its elegant design was developed by local architects Joan Duncan and Chas Poor of Studio Partnerships (see ad page 14), whose home at 25 Pine Avenue is on the Tour today. Of interest, the house is alleged to be benevolently haunted by two sisters who lived to-gether in the house for many decades. The land records indeed show that two sisters, Eliza-beth and Rose Haas, acquired the home in 1917 from their mother “in consideration of one dollar and love and affection for her two daughters.” The sisters lived in the house until 1954 and 1964, respectively.

House Closes at 4PM.

MHC #8072(301) 595-5650dalesuder@verizon.net

DALE SUDEROWNER

Dale Suder Construction Co.“YOUR REMODELING SPECIALISTS”

4501 GARRETT AVE.BELTSVILLE, MD 20705

19

25 Montgomery Avenue Laura Coughlin and Steven Edminster (First and second floors)

This contemporary house was built in 1989 as new infill development, with exterior design elements that blend with the beauty of the old neighborhood. The current owners, Laura Coughlin and Steven Edminster owned the property since 2005, but have just made it their home in 2010 together with their three young children and Rocco, their dog. What Laura and Steve love most about their house is the long and narrow shape filled with an abundance of natural light, that streams in through numerous win-dows. It is bright, cheerful home, and one that is generally in motion! Steve is the family cook, and the owners particularly love their newly updated and func-tional kitchen, which flows into the living room area. The variegated cherry kitchen cabi-nets are striking, and lend a great deal of visual interest to this family space. The house seems to naturally divide energetically into two “wings;”one senses a quieter “grown-up” space downstairs in the “study” end, compared to the active media/living room on the other end connected to the bustle of the kitchen.Upstairs, the same separation of energy is apparent on the two ends of the house, with the children’s bedrooms on one end, and the master-bedroom on the other. The large and bright master bedroom suite looks out at a beautiful landscape dominated by large Photinia bushes. Both Steve and Laura work for the Foreign Service, and their home is filled with eclectic, colorful furnishings from around the world, including a beautifully decorated Chinese mirror, a woven rice basket from the Philippines, and a lovely wooden Indonesian cabinet in the dining room.

20

18 Hickory Avenue Susan Hearn and Mike Desautels (First floor)

This house is an early “pioneer house,” referred to as the “Gosorn House.” It was likely built in 1887. The original owner, T. Howard Gosorn, was a publisher and printer in his day. This property and its neighbor at 14 Hickory are noteworthy in that the dou-ble lots have remained together due to the placement of the house directly in the mid-dle of the property. The result is a feeling of residential open space quite unusual today.The architecture is vernacular Queen Anne-style or Folk Victorian, simple and stream-lined yet still containing the hallmarks of a front-facing gable and three stained glassQueen Anne-style windows on the side wing. The art windows are noteworthy features. When Susan and Michael found this house 12 years ago, it felt immediately like home. Renovation work started with the removal of wall-to-wall shag carpets and multi-layered linoleum floors. Restoration of floors, window trim, and chimneys re-spected the history of the house. Renovations can reveal many house secrets; the owners found a love letter from the original owner hidden under the attic flooring.Most recently, Mike renovated the kitchen and opened it into the adjoining sun room, removing a closet in the process. The end result connects the inside space visually with the outdoors. Mike chose cherry cabinets in a farmhouse style in keeping with the old period of the house, and selected earth-toned slate tiles for walls. The kitchen’s hardwood floors are reclaimed barn boards. The deck and screened porch were added three years ago. Mike particularly loves the sense of oldness of this early house, its high vertical spaces, and his beautiful neighborhood!

Tour Sponsors:

Ellen and Art McMurdie

A special thank you from Historic Takoma for the McMurdies’ many house rescue projects in our community.

21

14 Hickory Avenue Linda Stern and Ken Norkin (First floor, rear deck and garden)

This early “pioneer house “ in a Folk Victorian-style was purchased by Annie Epping in 1887. The double lots of this property have remained together since they were platted in 1886 and convey the open space of an earlier era. As you enter, note the unusual, origi-nal bead board design on the porch entry gable. Since Linda and Ken purchased the “Epping House” in 1981, they restored and enlarged it, respecting original details. One oftheir first projects was making the chimney in the living room functional and uncovering a chimney behind it in the adjoining dining room. Replacement trim inside was milled to match the old. Outside metal roof tiles match the original. In 1989, Architect Paul Treseder (see ad page 23) began improvements by designing a kitchen and breakfast area. The pine cabinets echo the restored heart pine floors in the house. In 2006, Heritage Building and Renovation (see ad inside front cover) completed a large, masterful rear addition that solved many structural problems while at the same time creating spacious, comfortable unified spaces, connecting the interior and exterior. Heritage opened up the kitchen and dining areas to a new family room, half bath, and a bright screened-in porch with beautiful views. The angled door in the family room beckons to a remarkable deck complex, leading downstairs to a hot tub or near a terraced garden. Original details are echoed throughout.The concept of a terraced garden with stone planters belonged to Steven Mackler, Prin-cipal of The Landscape Group, a design-build firm in Takoma Park for 35 years. Steve was hired as a design consultant to help the owners understand their challenging space and integrate it into their plans. Ken built the planters.

22

4 Hickory Avenue Tracy and Bill Samuel (First floor)

We believe this lovely Colonial Revival-style house was built in 1909. The style conveys a stately classical elegance, which is expressed not only by the composition of the façade as a whole, but also with indi-vidual architectural elements. Note the un-usual proportions of the front window and the large glass door with ornate wooden trim. The wide front porch welcomes you. When Bill and Tracy purchased their home 27 years ago, the interior looked much dif-ferent than it does today. At that time, it had been divided up into three apartments including the basement, a very common sit-uation in Takoma Park in the 1980s. Since that time, the Samuels transformed it back into a single family residence. Walking into this house today, you are greeted by a warm and beautiful space, with old and new elements perfectly blended. Original windows with unpainted wood and generous pro-portions bring in a large quantity of light and provide a grand interior. A major and recent renovation opened up and connected the first floor space, and the results are breathtaking. The new white trim and bookcases are harmonious with the classical nature of the architectural style. The white kitchen bead board cabinets and green granite counters connect with the old while still contemporary. A new sun room and a screened porch provide enormous enjoyment.

On the walls, please notice a framed photograph of mine workers by Jessie Blackburn, and two paintings by Tracy’s father John Sapp who lives in Takoma Park. They are entitled “Musicians at Michael’s Home” and “Jefferson Davis Sapp of Western Oklahoma,” a por-trait of Tracy’s great grandfather.

The Law Office of Michele M. Rosenfeld LLC

Former lead attorney for the Montgomery County Planning Board.

Call for land use, zoning or real property help: Special exception, variance, subdivision, historic preservation, cell tower, forest conservation, master plan, title dispute and condemnation matters.

301-204-0913 rosenfeldlaw@mail.com www.michelerosenfeldllc.com

23

24

Historic Takoma thanks all of the homeowners who so graciously opened their homes and gardens

for the 2013 Takoma Park House and Garden Tour. We also thank the following for their donated time and services:

The City of Takoma Park Department of Public Works, DigiPrint Connection, Clair Garman, The Gazette, the HTI Tour Committee, Mark’s Kitchen, Now and Then,

Sligo Creek Tile Co., the Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-Op, Tour Docents.Photography: Art McMurdieProduction: Michele Morgan

Printing: DigiPrint Connection

Historic Takoma wishes to thank the following community-friendly institutions, businesses and individuals for their support of the 2013 Takoma Park House and Garden Tour:

Sponsors: Allied Window, Inc.; Ana Maria and Jim Diluigi; Galliher & Huguely Associates, Inc.;

Meg Finn of Long and Foster Realtors; Heritage Building and Renovation, Inc.; Judy Kogod of Long and Foster Realtors; Ellen and Art McMurdie; Takoma Park Silver Spring Co-op; Tenants of

Montgomery Oaks Management Inc.; Universal Designers and Consultants, Inc.;Washington Adventist University.

Major Donors: Catarina Bannier, Evers & Co. Real Estate Inc.; The Behnke Nurseries Co.; Bennett Frank

McCarthy Architects, Inc.; Douglas Development Corporation; Elegant Environments Painting Company; Globe Bath and Kitchen Remodeling, LLC; Seth Grimes and Franca Brilliant; Hubrig

Heating and Cooling; Macon Construction Company; David Maplesden of Long and FosterRealtors; Michele Rosenfeld; Shelterline; Strosniders Hardware Stores;

Dale Suder Construction Company; Vitullo Architecture Studio.Donors:

Braitman Design Build; John Urciolo.Contributors:

Jack Carson, Faith Wheeler.

All proceeds from the tour are reinvested in our community.

Historic Takoma, Inc.PO Box 5781, Takoma Park, MD 20913

www.historictakoma.org