For Hometown News
MARTIN COUNTY -
The Children's Home Society of Florida designer showcase house tour will soon be adding decorating touches to one of the county's most historic homes, originally owned by Capt. Henry Sewall.
Now located in Indian RiverSide Park in Jensen Beach, the Sewall home is the featured decorating piece of the fourth annual house tour, open to the public from Nov. 3-18.
Tours, a speaker series and lunches will be available several times a week, plus tours and environmental programs on weekends.
County contractors are currently upgrading the home, behind the Tuckahoe Mansion, and also building public bathroom facilities. A long boardwalk adjacent to the home leads to a gazebo in the middle of a pond on the north side of the park.
Eleven designers are working on a Florida cottage-style theme for the house, which was built in 1891 and served as the first U.S. Post Office for the area. It was first located in Port Sewall and later moved to an area off Willoughby Creek.
Leading the designer showcase home project are co-chairwomen Debbie Textor and Mary Washer and design administrator, Candy Johnson. Honorary chairs are Sandra and Bud Schock, former owners of the Sewall home.
Besides tours of the home, guests will be able to hear speakers on historical and environmental topics and on decorating ideas. A special preview evening is planned for Nov. 2 at the Sewall home site. Reservations are $75 per person.
Proceeds from this event will benefit the transitional living program of CHS. The home provides services for youth who age out of the foster care system on their 18th birthdays, homeless youth older than 17 and youth turned out of their family home and still in high school.
Case management services, as well as life skills training and temporary housing are provided to these runaway, homeless and at-risk youth in order to promote independence and prevent homelessness.
General tours of the home are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at The Lyric Theatre in downtown Stuart or by calling (772) 286-7827 or www.lyrictheatre.com.
For more information, contact www.chsfl.org/treasurecoast. Preview party tickets are available by calling (772) 344-4020, Ext. 229.