The tradition of the Santa Clara Historic Home Tour, which began 34 years ago, will proudly continue this December. The event will be celebrated Friday evening, December 7th from 6 to 10 p.m. and Saturday, December 8th from noon to 5 p.m. The Historic Preservation Society of Santa Clara sponsors the tour with the assistance of the Old Quad Residents’ Association for the benefit of historic preservation projects and non-profit groups in Santa Clara.

This year’s tour will feature four private residences – the Avina House, a 1912 Greene & Greene inspired Craftsman Bungalow once owned by an employee of the Pacific Manufacturing Company; the Semas House, a circa 1912 Bungalow designed by Wolfe & Mackezie and once owned by the proprietor of the town printing office; the Zibeon O. Field House, a Stick/Eastlake Victorian built by a prominent contractor and carpenter as his own residence; and the Fitzgerald House, a circa 1906 Colonial Revival home with hipped roof once owned by a renowned musician and pipe organist and now owned by Santa Clara University. The public building on this year’s tour will be the St. Clare Parish Rectory, originally built in 1952 as a Spanish Ecclesiastical-style convent for the nuns that taught at St. Clare School. The St. Clare Parish Rectory will also be the location for restrooms, refreshments and an opportunity drawing which will benefit the Santa Clara Arts & Historical Consortium.

Early Bird (purchased by October 31^st) ticket prices are $25.00. After November 1^st, prices are: $30 General Admission, $25.00 Seniors (60+) and Children (5-18). If still available, tickets will sell for $35.00/person during the tour at the door of the St. Clare Parish Rectory, 725 Washington Street. No children under the age of 5 will be admitted. Tickets may be purchased by mail from Santa Clara Historic Home Tour 2012, c/o HPSSC, P.O. Box 3311, Santa Clara, CA 95055-3311. (Tickets will be mailed out to purchasers beginning November 1^st.) Mail-in purchases must be postmarked no later than 11/30/12. Tickets may be purchased at City Lights Espresso (1171 Homestead Road in Santa Clara at Jackson Street across from the Post Office) November 1st through December 7th 6 p.m. (as available). Please call the Historic Preservation Society’s Harris-Lass Museum Message Line for further information at (408) 249-7905 or email hometour@harrislass.org or view the Tour website http://www.sc-hometour.com which also offers the opportunity to purchase tickets online. The Historic Home Tour is also on facebook.