|
|
These houses and public buildings are part of the walking tour.
Your Christmas In Odessa tour guide will have a map and directions to theses houses.
 |
|
| The Old Academy
315 Main Street Odessa, DE |
The Old Academy is open for ticket sales only. This is the place
to start your Christmas in Odessa day by purchasing tickets and obtaining
the tour guide booklet with a map, a list of the participating homes and
public buildings (with a descriptive paragraph for each), a complete list
of special events, the location of restrooms and the Lost and Found, and
information about the Women's Club of Odessa.
This is the third schoolhouse built on this site. The first building was a frame structure, which burned down in 1843. A more permanent brick structure, built the same year, continued to function as the area high school through the nineteenth century. In 1886 the school had 118 students and two teachers. It was endowed with the Corbit Library in mid-century - the oldest free public library in New Castle County, which was open three hours a week. H. Rodney Sharp purchased the Old Academy, restored it, and in 1947 gave it to the people of Odessa as a Community Center. It currently houses the offices of the Mayor and the Council of Odessa, as well as Delaware Wild Lands, who have jointly performed the very pleasing restoration of the building and grounds. Open from 9:30 AM until 6:00 PM. |
|
The Odessa Bank 201 Main Street Odessa, Delaware
|
Currently the Visitor Center for the Historic Houses of Odessa, which are owned and operated by the Historic Odessa Foundation, this very fine 19th-century building was originally erected in 1853 as the New Castle County National Bank of Odessa. Designed by well known Philadelphia architect Samuel Sloane this Italianate building operated as a bank until 2000, finally as PNC. Shortly after the bank closed it was purchased by the late Mr. Bayard Sharp who restored the bank for adaptive reuse and donated it to the Historic Houses of Odessa. The second and third stories of the bank house the offices and study center for the Historic Odessa Foundation, a public non-profit agency established for the support and stewardship of the Historic Houses of Odessa. Give the gift of membership! Be a Friend of the Historic Houses of Odessa! Join today and enjoy the entire year of exciting programs! A gift of membership to the Historic Odessa Foundation is a unique way to celebrate the holidays, show your appreciation, or share your enthusiasm for Odessa with friends! Whatever the occasion, the benefits of membership can be enjoyed throughout the year. Your support enables us to provide learning opportunities for children and adults, including weekend family programs, educational workshops and lectures while assisting with restoration and preservation of the buildings and grounds of the Historic Houses of Odessa and the Corbit-Sharp House’s Colonial Revival garden. Join today and receive the Historic Odessa Foundation’s annual pewter Christmas tree ornament free. HOF Memberships may be purchased in Visitors Center located in the historic Odessa Bank. While you’re there…visit our Holiday Serendipity Shop where each year the foundation sells holiday decorations from past exhibits and displays. Proceeds benefit School and Family Educational Programming. The Historic Houses of Odessa are open Wednesday through Saturday from 10:00 am until 4:30 pm, and Sunday 1 pm until 4:30 pm, March through December. School and Group Tours available by reservation Monday through Sunday, year around. For membership information, reservations, and calendar of events please call: (302) 378-4119 or visit their website at www.historicodessa.org. |
|
Wilson-Warner House 202 Main Street Odessa, Delaware |
The Wilson-Warner House is owned by the Historic Odessa Foundation. Your Christmas In Odessa ticket will admit you to all four of the houses as a special addition to our tour this year. Wealthy merchant David Wilson built his fine brick home in 1769, alongside his new store on Odessa’s main thoroughfare. Its L-shaped architectural plan is typical of Delaware. In 1828 when David Wilson, Jr. fell upon hard times the house and its contents were sold at public auction to satisfy his debts. In 1903 the house was purchased by Mrs. E. Tatnall Warner. Mary Warner was a descendant of both the Wilson and Corbit families. Mrs. Warner established a trust for stewardship of the house and opened it to the public for tour. The Wilson-Warner House is possibly the oldest operating house museum in the state. Today the house is part of the enclave of museum buildings known as the Historic Odessa Foundation.
This season the Wilson-Warner House is transformed into a joyful holiday exhibit honoring the beloved children’s book illustrator Tasha Tudor. Each room in the National Historic Landmark House is interpreted based on Tudor’s Vermont Christmas celebrations and illustrations. The exhibit includes a large Victorian Christmas tree in the center of the parlor abundantly decorated with glass grape clusters, amazing cornucopias, and candle lights. Other vignettes feature her holiday preparations with large iced gingerbread animal cookie ornaments, a suspended advent wreath in the dining room, a Tudor inspired border decorating the center hall, and heirloom crafts presented in the kitchen. Open from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM |
|
Collins-Sharp House Second and High Street Odessa, DE |
The Collins-Sharp House is owned by the Historic Odessa Foundation. Your Christmas In Odessa ticket will admit you to all four of the houses as a special addition to our tour this year. The Historic Odessa Foundation’s Collins-Sharp House is one of Delaware’s oldest houses and dates to 1700. This picturesque log and frame building is a museum center for educational programming. Activities include cooking demonstrations using original recipes from late 18th- and early 19th-century sources. Gardening and other related duties of the colonial housekeeper are also demonstrated in the kitchen garden seasonally. Don’t miss this opportunity to step back in time to embrace the sounds, sights, and culinary delights of colonial Odessa. Open from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM |
|
Corbit-Sharp House 118 Main Street Odessa, Delaware |
The Corbit-Sharp House is owned by the Historic Odessa Foundation. Your Christmas In Odessa ticket will admit you to all four of the houses as a special addition to our tour this year. William Corbit, who operated a tannery on the banks of the Appoquinimink Creek, was the town’s leading citizen when he built his handsome Georgian house in 1774. It remained in the Corbit family until 1938 when H. Rodney Sharp acquired it. Mr. Sharp restored this important National Historic Landmark, as well as, many other structures in the historic district. He is considered generally responsible for the first efforts of historic preservation in the town of Odessa. The Corbit-Sharp House is also a National Park Service Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site which was evaluated as making a significant contribution to the understanding of the Underground Railroad in American history. The Historic Odessa Foundation offers its education program Freedom Seekers: The Odessa Story to the general public during operating hours; group tours, and school tours by reservation. Keeping in the spirit of Christmas and to celebrate children’s literature and a love of reading, the Storybook Trees Exhibit in the Corbit-Sharp House is sponsored by the foundation. This year showcasing up to 40 trees designed and decorated by families and organizations with themes inspired by their favorite children’s book. By exhibiting the trees in these beautiful period rooms a new and larger audience will be exposed to the preserved beauty of Odessa, its architecture, historic importance and natural charm. Also highlighted are selected dollhouses from the Historic Odessa Foundation collection, many of which were generously donated by Gail Wollerton Corby and Amanda Corby. The collection is the result of Ms. Wollerton Corby’s parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. William Wollerton. Long time Odessa resident and an accomplished woodworker, Mr. Wollerton made dozens of pieces of reproduction period furniture for the model houses he built, along with some miniature metalwork pieces that include chandeliers.
Open from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM |
|
Frame and Log House 114 Main Street Odessa, Delaware |
The Frame and Log House was lived in and treasured from 1941 through 2003 by Marge and Jesse Loven, and it is still owned and cherished by their grandson Shawn Goodier and his family. This house was built with white oak logs in 1740, and restored in 1941 by Rodney Sharp. It features beaded beams in the kitchen which are quite exceptional. The small stone outbuilding was reproduced during the summer of 1976 from authentic plans of the 18th century Spring House. The plans and details of construction of the Frame and Log House can be found in Pre-Revolutionary Architecture in Delaware by George Fletcher Bennett. The house was also featured in the January-February 1981 issue of Colonial Homes magazine, as well as the December 1984 issue of Early American Life. Open from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM |
|
January House 2 Main Street Odessa, Delaware |
The January House is the home of Mr. and Mrs. William Buckworth. The first house to be documented on this site was apparently built by Thomas Star around 1780. The deed at that time mentions a house on the property that he bought from the Januarys. (The original landowner was named Janvier, a French Huguenot who changed his name to January upon coming to this country.) The original front of the house faces the Appoquinimink Creek, but the part facing the driveway is a charmingly symmetrical four-bay structure. The front is laid in Flemish Bond brick, as are a nearby smokehouse and garage. The two ends were added during the restoration, but the center section, which includes two rooms each on the first, second, and third floors, is original, with wide random width flooring, fireplaces in four of the rooms, including a large cooking one in the dining room. Open from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM |
|
New England House 108 High Street Odessa, DE |
The New England House is the home of David and Carol Pearl. This house, built in 1987, is a replica of the Israel Arnold House of Lincoln, Rhode Island. The original house is featured in Early Architecture of Rhode Island. The gambrel portion of the original house, known as a one room house, was built in 1700. The larger portion was added in 1790. Interior features include three brick fireplaces, random width pine flooring, and a central staircase in the Chinese Chippendale style. Open from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM |
|
Davis Store 205 Main Street Odessa, DE |
The Davis Store is the home of Jeff and Carla Pyle. The Davis Store (circa 1824) is a 2 1/2 story, 3 plus 2 bay, single pile Federal Style residence and store with a rear 2-story brick addition. The facade brickwork is laid in Flemish bond and the remaining walls are laid in common bond. The windows are 6/6 sash with paneled shutters on the first story and louvered on the second. Begun in May 2008, a new rear addition kitchen was completed in 2009. A three-light transom tops the paneled door to the residence, while the commercial entrance is composed of a central double door with a two-light rectangular transom flanked by shuttered shop windows and pilasters. A shed-roof porch with chamfered posts and ogee-shaped cornice trim covers the commercial entrance. The west end wall porch was added to the building circa 1870 and it reflects the architectural lines as the front porch. Three segmented arched dormers pierce the forward slope of the gable roof. Two Davis families operated the Davis Store as a store from 1828 until the early 1960's. Open from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM |
|
The Smith Residence 201 High Street Odessa, DE |
The Smith Residence is the home of Harvey and Alice Smith. This house, a Southern colonial, was custom built in 1995. the house plan was designed by William Poole, an architect who is often featured in Colonial Homes magazine. Situated on six acres of ground in the northeast corner of Odessa, the home features solid cherry floors, custom molding, and items that reflect the history of the owners' families. the finished basement showcases a game room, sports collectibles and a suspended Lionel train. The gazebo-like structure on the front of the house makes a fine place to display a live Christmas tree. Open from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM |
|
Saint Paul's Church 406 Main Street Odessa, DE |
Saint Paul's United Methodist Church will be open all day during the tour for the cold and weary. Come in, warm up, and enjoy the Christmas music while you rest awhile with our gracious hosts. A traditional Chicken Dinner will be served from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM. Stop by and enjoy a delicious meal. Dinner tickets can be purchased at the church from 10:00 AM on, or you can order ahead by calling 302-378-2420. Visit them on-line at www.stpaulsodessa.org Open from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM. |
|
|
| Delaware State Police
414 Main Street Odessa, DE |
Troop 9 was completed in the spring of 1972, and was designed by Wilmington
Architect Thomas J. Walters along with the approval of the Winterthur Foundation.
The design of the building is based on a colonial farmhouse style. The lobby
is built around an outstanding fireplace with a mantel that dates to 1775
that came from the Brandywine-Chadds Ford Mill. Troop 9's presence within
the town adds to the pleasure of living in Odessa.
Open from 10:00 AM until 7:00 PM. |
|
|
| Odessa Post Office
312 Main Street Odessa, DE |
A special pictorial cancellation commemorating Christmas In Odessa 2010has
been created. Patrons can bring their mail to the Post Office to be cancelled
with this special cancellation, or you can purchase an envelope and stamp
and have it cancelled. There is no charge for the cancellation.
Open from 9:00 AM until Noon. |
|
|
| Old Saint Paul's Church
506 High Street Odessa, DE |
Owned by the Women's Club of Odessa, the church's cornerstone was laid
in 1881. This building replaced a smaller brick church on the site which
had been built soon after 1821. The contractor and builder of Old Saint Paul's
was Henry L. Rose, and the contract was taken at $3,950. The architect was
Samuel C. Sloban of Philadelphia, well known in Philadelphia and the South,
where he designed many houses, hospitals, and churches.
Site of the Antique Show, and all of the scheduled music concerts. Of particular interest is the restored tracker organ originally built in 1885. Visitors can enjoy free coffee, tea, and cookies from 11:00 AM until 2:00 PM. The Church will be open from 10:00 AM until 6:00 PM. |
|
|
| Odessa Fire Hall
304 Main Street Odessa, DE |
The original building was constructed in 1936 on the site of the current
Odessa Volunteer Fire Company. Previously the company held its meetings and
stored its equipment at the Red Man Lodge just across the street.
In the Christmas Shop, located in the Fire Hall, craftsmen will be displaying and selling their work. Fresh cut greens and decorating accessories are also available. Outside (weather permitting), the 1926 Hale Pumper, one of only three made by the Hale Company, will be on display. Used until 1948 by the Odessa Fire Company, it was sold for farm use for $25. Robin Shetzler, former Company chief, was 18 when he found the old 50-gallon pumper in a Maryland junkyard. Years later it again turned up in a barn full of antique cars and was purchased in 1987. It took a three year restoration effort by many of the company's members to bring the junked Hale back to its original condition. Used in parades and antique shows, it is an integral part of Odessa's history. Open from 9:30 AM until 7:00 PM. |
|
|
|
