Worthington Tour of Homes & Gardens
Ten-site tour spans more than 150 years of home designs.
Worthington is understandably proud of its history, which includes, among other things, a diverse lineup of architectural gems. The annual Worthington Tour of Homes & Gardens, sponsored by the Worthington Historical Society, is the perfect backdrop for viewing this heritage firsthand. This year's tour includes 10 sites spanning more than 150 years of home designs, from several Frank Lloyd Wright-inspired Rush Creek homes, to a 1920s Sears "Honor Bilt" home, to beautifully remodeled homes from the early 1900s. No other Central Ohio community can boast such variety and quality in home designs.
Consider the Sears home on E. New England Avenue with its bungalow charm and the quality features that made these homes so popular during the period from 1908 to 1937. These architect-designed, pre-cut homes could be ordered in a Sears catalog and shipped by rail for local carpenters to assemble on site. Today Sears homes are found in Worthington, Clintonville, Bexley, Grandview and similar communities that experienced growth after World War I.
Worthington's popular Rush Creek Village was inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright's Usonian homes, which were designed to provide quality architecture for middle-class families that respected the natural environment. These homes have been featured in numerous publications, from the Columbus Dispatch to The New York Times.
Rush Creek was incorporated in 1954, and the original 30 homes were designed by Ted Van Fossen. That number later expanded to 48. Each home was specifically designed to respect the wooded ravine site and the needs of each family. Deed restrictions regarding architectural style, materials and landscaping have contributed to the neighborhood's National Historic District status.
In addition to these interesting homes—and more—the tour will include Worthington's oldest church building, St. John's Episcopal Church, and DVD viewings of the history of Rush Creek Village.
If you go.....
This year the tour takes place on July 13 from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Pre-sale tickets are available for $15 at Fritzy Jacobs and at The Shop at the Old Rectory. Tickets will also be available the day of the tour for $20, but only at the Old Rectory beginning at 11 a.m. For more information, including extended descriptions of the homes, visit WorthingtonHistory.org or call 614.885.1247.
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