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Historic Janesville properties featured on tour

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Historic House Tour

These six Janesville homes plus a church and elementary school in the Jefferson/Bostwick Historic District will be featured on the Rock County Historical Society’s 29th Historic House and Garden Tour.

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JANESVILLE — Have you ever been curious about or wanted to see the inside of a particular historic house you often drive by?

If it happens to be in the Jefferson/Bostwick historic district, you’re might be in luck.

That’s because the Rock County Historical Society is sponsoring its 29th annual Janesville Historic House and Garden Tour on Sunday, Aug. 30. It features six historic homes plus an elementary school and church.

“It’s a unique opportunity to not only learn a little bit about the formation of this part of the community but also to see some beautiful homes and gardens,’’ said Madge Murphy, executive director of the local historical society.

Murphy expects more than 600 people to attend this year’s event.

“Last year there were over 500, which is probably almost double of the prior two years when we had rain,’’ she said.

“It’s a unique opportunity and privilege to get to go into these homes, for the church to be open to the community and to see Roosevelt School and that part of our history,’’ Murphy said.

In addition to the tour, horse-drawn carriage rides will be offered for $3, and water, kettle corn and ice cream will be for sale at House Tour Central on the grounds of Roosevelt Elementary School, 316 S. Ringold St.

The school will be open. Inside, bathrooms will be accessible to the public and a video about the history of Roosevelt School will be showing, Murphy said.

Two raffles also will be taking place at ticket central, where tour goers can pick up free booklets that contain information about each structure on the tour along with a map, information about city neighborhoods, the historical society and event sponsors.

Scattered raffle tickets cost $1 each and include prize packages of dinner and a movie, dessert and a movie, and golf outings.

The other raffle tickets will sell for $3 or $5 each. The raffle tickets will be sold before the tour at the Helen Jeffris Wood Museum Center and at ticket central on the day of the event. Among the prizes is a pair of Green Bay Packers/Chicago Bears tickets for four to the Sept. 13 game and a golf package for four at the Janesville Country Club.

Murphy explained why the church and school are on the tour.

“St. Paul’s has a long history in the city. Its stained glass tells the story of the life of Christ and is very beautiful. The church has been a strong community member for years and made the community what it is today,’’ she said.

Roosevelt School also has a lot of history and is a beautiful building, Murphy said.

Four of the houses on the tour will be guided while two will be self-guided. All of the homes were built between the mid 1800s through the 1940s.

“Homeowners are very excited and anxious for others to learn the history of their homes and neighborhoods,’’ Murphy said.

The tour is the society’s major fundraiser this year. Proceeds will fund the historical society operations.

“We’re hoping this year to raise over $10,000,” Murphy said.