Inside look at Carson's old homes

Some of Carson City's oldest will be showing themselves Sunday - their insides and outsides. Now before you get any "Calendar Girls" visions, you should know Carson's oldest in this case are houses.

Historic homeowners have spruced up and their yards have blossomed for visitors as part as the Carson City Historical Society's annual Victorian Home and Garden Tour set for this Sunday.

There are two modes of touring this year.

Famed stage driver Hank Monk himself (Fred Stanio) has promised a mellow two-hour carriage ride with 26 stops and a 30-minute visit to the Wungnema House in Mills Park. Reservations may be made by calling 882-1805. Ride times are 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.

Both the carriage ride and the 10-stop self-guided tours begin at the rear of the St. Charles Hotel at Third and Curry streets.

The self-guided tour begins at 1 p.m. and consists of a number of stops on Carson's historic east side where gardens, quilts and Victorian homes will be on full display. Refreshments and entertainment will also be available.

Some of the newer historic tour locations are:

-- The Chateau Bliss, formerly the Cloth Cottage, is now filled with antiques. Find it just behind the Nevada State Museum, at 602 N. Curry St.

-- Brougher-Bath Home, 204 W. Spear St., built in 1904, has been newly renovated, and the garden fixed up.

-- The Hyman-Olcovich House, 412 N. Curry St., behind Cactus Jack's is to soon be filled with a World War II library and memorabilia. It will be open and some items are already on display.

-- The Cscape Garden in Mills Park will be open with a Master Gardener on hand to explain the different varieties of plants.

-- The Bliss Mansion will have Elinor Bugli and the Silver Strings playing inside with quilts on display and Chris Bayer playing the banjo on the porch.

-- Artwork will be on display at the Krebs-Peterson House with the Bruce Cox Jazz Trio playing on the porch. The home at 500 N. Mountain St. was built in 1914.

Other sites include:

-- The St. Charles Hotel, 302-304 S. Carson St. built in 1862

-- The Heroes Memorial Hall, 198 S. Carson St. built in 1921

-- The Ed Sweeney Home 102 S. Curry St., built in 1859-60

-- The Mathias Rinckel Mansion, 102 N. Curry, built in 1875-76

-- The Ormsby County Courthouse, 198 N. Carson St. built in early 1920s

-- Warren Engine Company, 201 N. Curry St., built in 1863

-- Capitol, 101 N. Carson St., built in 1871

-- State Printing Office, Capitol complex, built in 1885-86

If you've never ventured out of your car as you zip through Carson's Historic District, or if you've just wondered what the insides of these old homes are like, Sunday is one of two opportunities you may get to check them out. The historical society also does a Victorian Christmas tour, but the flowers aren't a bloomin in December.

The historic society act as the caretakers of the Roberts House and the money from the tour will be used to build a carriage shed. The Roberts House was built in 1859 in Washoe Valley by James Doane Roberts and his wife, Anna Griffin.

The family, with their nine children lived in the home, which was moved to 1207 N. Carson St. by railroad car in 1873, for more than 100 years.

The home with its gingerbread trim is a wonderful example of Gothic Revival architecture and has a shaded park for a yard. Inside, the historical society has filled it with period antiques and uses it as a museum.

Kelli Du Fresne is features editor for the Nevada Appeal. Contact her at kdufresne@nevadaappeal. com or at 881-1261.