HISTORIC HOLIDAYS
L.A. Parker: Mill Hill gets into the holiday spirit with 51st annual house tour
Cue the Paul McCartney “Wonderful Christmastime” and let’s frolic to the Old Mill Hill District. (Here we go!) “The party’s on, the feeling’s here
That only comes this time of year (oh yeah),
Simply having a wonderful christmastime Simply having a wonderful christmastime.”
Nothing says Christmas better in metropolitan Trenton than the 51st Mill Hill Holiday House Tour as nearly 20 historic homes and churches open for starry-eyed guests to step into some homes that date back to the 1800s.
This year’s theme “Attention to Detail” underscores Mill Hill’s history of proud homeowners.
The Saturday event began at Artworks Trenton, located at 19 Everett Alley and South Stockton Street.
Grant Mech, a Mill Hill resident and full-time Rancocas Valley Regional High School choir director, serves a first term as the Tour’s chairperson.
Mill Hill Holiday Tour maestro, please.
“My duties? I get to coordinate with lots of other people in the neighborhood. I’m a big conduit for information and coordination of people’s time and talent,” Mech noted.
“Jennifer Williams handles the (public relations), Nives Herman coordinates with city public works and communicates with the office of the mayor while Jean Bickal oversees the brochure production and communicates with homeowners.”
Some homes are on the Tour for the first time in years while one particular residence connects this magical history tour from past to present.
The residence at 112 Jackson showed as the first Holiday Tour home when this Christmastime event began.
The Windross family expressed
holiday excitement and pleasure regarding moving from Jackson to the historical Mill Hill neighborhood.
“We are really excited about joining the house tour. We moved to the neighborhood in March and learned that our home was the first on the house tour back in 1966,” Marcia Windross wrote via email.
Former owner Bob Allen enjoys the distinction of being the genesis for this holiday house tour. In 1966, Allen held an open house to cultivate a sense of community and the revitalization of this neighborhood.
Half a century later, Mill Hill showcases cultural and social diversity.
Greg Rollins and his partner join the holiday festivities after a move from Princeton to Trenton’s Old Mill Hill section.
“We’ve been here for about three months and this community is incredibly welcoming. In fact, we were not planning on putting up many decorations because we may be away for the holidays. But after seeing other neighbor’s homes, we decided to put up some lights,” Rollins confessed.
The Holiday House Tour includes musical performances by the Trenton Children’s Chorus, Rancocas Valley Regional High School Chamber Choir, violinist Ann Marie Pocklembo and the Trenton Capital Singers.
Food trucks, vendors and local restaurants add fare to this year’s Holiday House Tour.
“We have done a lot of work to restore and renovate the house but there’s still a lot to be done,” Windross said.
“It has been a challenging, yet wonderful experience and we are loving our new home, our wonderful neighbors and community. We are looking forward to sharing what we have done so far and all the awesome details and charm.”
For more information on the 51st Annual Mill Hill Holiday House Tour, visit trentonmillhill. org.