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Skinker-DeBaliviere revives Mother's Day house tour after 25 yea
To celebrate the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood’s centennial this year, the neighborhood is holding its first house tour in more than 25 years. The tour will not only showcase the versatility of the neighborhood’s historic homes, but also raise funds for the centennial celebration in October.
The neighborhood, located just north of Forest Park, was developed over a period of several years following the closing of the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. In 1978, it was designated as a Local Historic District.
The Skinker-DeBaliviere house tour was once an annual event, but the last tour was held in 1981. Arline Webb, co-chairwoman of the house tour, said the centennial celebration committee decided to bring the tour back for the celebration and to celebrate the accepting nature the committee demonstrates.
“We thought it would be a nice bow for those who remember the tradition and to also showcase the neighborhood,” she said. “We vowed to always be open and always embrace all ages, races and backgrounds, especially during a time when things weren’t as viable.”
The tour will take place from noon until 5 p.m. May 11. During this time, shuttles will escort patrons throughout the neighborhood and to the featured houses. For tickets and more information, visit the Skinker-DeBaliviere Community Council website, http://stlouis.missouri.org/skinkerdebaliviere/.
Webb said the house tour committee sought to showcase houses that have either been maintained in their original style or that have the original exterior but have been renovated on the inside. The committee also wanted to display the variety of apartments, including large single and two-family apartments, multi-unit apartment buildings, apartments converted into condominiums or housing for students and newly built housing.
The 11 houses chosen for the tour range in age from 4 to 101 years old and include a large apartment, single-family houses and a two-family house that has been converted into a single-family residence. The chosen homes span the entire neighborhood.
“We were looking for diversity; we were looking for continuity,” Webb said. “We were attempting to find homes outside of the same areas so we didn’t have too many homes in one place.”
The Skinker-DeBaliviere house tour is the first event in a series of events leading up to the neighborhood’s centennial celebration on Oct. 11. Webb said the other events are still being scheduled, but the committee wanted to keep the house tour scheduled for Mother’s Day, as it has always been in the past.
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