PTA House Tour Draws Over 400

Does taking a tour of HGTV-ready homes interest you? Maybe you’d like to see how some of your neighbors live? Well, for a curious 400 people, the PTA’s sole fundraiser made that happen.

A Pelham House tour on Sunday afternoon featured five magnificently built, meticulously decorated homesteads. Guests were greeted at each home by local real estate agents, who were on hand to explain the history of each residence and answer any questions.

The homes were located on Harmon and Fowler Avenues, Priory Land and Shore Road and were a representative sample of the various types of homes available in the area: stucco side hall, Colonial, turn-of-the-century Victorian, manorhouse and stone gatehouse. Proceeds from the $40 per person event benefitted the the Pelham High School PTA, the organization's sole fundraiser, held once every two years.

Barbara Russillo of Pelham has volunteered with the High School PTA for the past six years, and has also shown off her own home in the past.

“Volunteering is a creative outlet for me, and it makes a lot of money for the PTA. I think people love to see how others decorate their homes. And this is a social event,” she said.

As one of the organizers for this particular home, she explained that the dining room featured burgundy-colored Venetian plaster, by which many people were impressed, she said. The walls of the entryway and staircase were hand painted to look like wallpaper—a feat that took more than three weeks to complete.

“I loved how the windows framed the backyard in the kitchen,” said Amy Heese who spoke of a home on Harmon Ave. “I’ve been on several of the house tours, and I came to support the PTA.”

In addition to viewing how their neighbors live, Pelhamites were treated to the sounds of PMHS' choir and musicians who performed at each location. 

“[The home] was beautiful,” said Ellen Stiefvater of the home on Harmon Avenue. “It was perfectly done. I can’t believe that a 4 year old lives in that house. My favorite room was the kids’ room. The pink is a pink that you can’t get away with for too long.”