Historic sights will be stops on 2012 Freehold house tour

FREEHOLD — The Freehold Borough Historical Preservation Commission will host its annual Historic House Tour from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on June 16. Last year’s success of merging art and music with history brings a partnership back with the Freehold Borough Arts Council (FBAC).

This year the theme will be the Battle of Monmouth.

Visitors will be able to view the Covenhoven House which was built 1752-33. The house served as headquarters for British Gen. Sir Henry Clinton before the Battle of Monmouth in June 1778.

Also featured will be the Craig House. During the Battle of Monmouth, this 18thcentury farmhouse was the home of John and Ann Craig and their three children and was rumored to have been used as a hospital by the British forces in June 1778.

Guests will be able to view a rare 18thcentury room in a wing of Boxwood Hall, a house dominated by its mid-19th century Greek revival main block.

Another stop will be Monument Park. The park and monument commemorate the pivotal June 28, 1778, Battle of Monmouth. The 90-foot-tall granite column topped by a statue of Columbia Triumphant depicts Revolutionary War scenes and seals of the 13 colonies.

The tour will also feature several homes in Freehold Borough that are noted for their charm, architectural details and individual qualities that make them unique and interesting, according to a press release.

A highlight of the tour will be the Laird applejack family home that will serve as the home base for the tour. Tickets for the tour will be sold that day at the house, 74 E. Main St. Visitors will be able to see all the rooms throughout the four separate living levels that have charmed passerby and visitors since the house was built in the late 19 century.

Musicians and artists from the Freehold Borough Arts Council will present programs, exhibits and live entertainment in several of the more than 25 rooms in the stately Victorian. Refreshments will be available.

While at the house, guests may ask one of the historical commission members about Elizabeth Smith, the designer of ladies bloomers, and her friends Susan B. Anthony and Cady Stanton. They are all attached in some way with the history of a home that has charmed and captivated borough residents for decades.

Guests will also be able to see the charm and feel the coziness of 15 Vredenburgh Ave., a 1920s Sears catalog home. This house has been restored and maintained with its hardwood floors and wood staircase. The front porch with its ceiling fan and wicker furniture is inviting and relaxing.

Back by popular demand is the Taylor Farm Homestead, owned by Nelson Kuperberg and David Giffler, which was built in 1870, originally as part of a 100-acre potato farm. Its kitchen features wooden workbenches remodeled into a center work island and is adjacent to a garden room with French doors and a den with a wood-burning fireplace. The unfinished third floor offers unique interest with its exposed beams and large windows offering bird’s eye views of the surrounding area.

Also returning to this year’s tour is the Burgess home. The home dates to the 1880s and was originally owned by the Farrington family. The present owner has been refurbishing and restoring the residence.

Bus transportation and a guided tour will be provided. Tickets are $25 and are on sale at Borough Hall, Main Street, Freehold Borough. Advance ticket purchase is suggested as seating on the bus will be limited. A map and parking information will be provided for visitors who wish to do the tour on their own. For more information, contact Lynda Keller, 732-421-3750, Barbara Wagner, 732-371-7212, or Muriel Smith, 908-461- 1769.