Continuing the long tradition of Dorchester house tours that it revived last year in the Ashmont Hill neighborhood, the Dorchester Historical Society presents the 2017 Dorchester House Tour on
Sunday, June 11, from 12 noon to 5 p.m.

“This year the tour features the Ashmont/Carruth neighborhood, where ten spectacular houses will be open for ticket-holders to visit,” said Earl Taylor, DHS president. “Homeowners will be on hand to talk about the ways they have preserved, restored, and transformed their 19th century houses for 21st century living. Their homes are very special to them, and this is a wonderful way to hear their stories first-hand.”

The recently restored 1892 Parish of All Saints, Ashmont, at 209 Ashmont St., will also be open.

The self-guided tour begins in the Guild Hall at All Saints Church. Doors open at 11:30 a.m for ticket sales and advance-purchase check-in. Tickets are $30 in advance, at dorchesterhistoricalsociety.org, and $35 the day of the tour. Tour proceeds benefit the preservation of the Society’s historic properties.

Platinum Sponsors are developer Trinity Financial and Verizon; Peregrine Urban Initiatives and the Dorchester Reporter (Media Sponsor) are Gold Sponsors. Additional sponsors include Cedar Grove Gardens, Eastern Bank, Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty, John Hancock Investments, the New England Carpenters Labor Management Program, and United Prosthetics.

Many houses on this year’s tour date from the 1880s, which was a period of eclectic experimentation and originality in architectural design. Various elements of the Stick, Shingle, Queen Anne, and Colonial Revival styles might all be combined in one building, but a strong commitment to craftsmanship and quality of materials is evident throughout.

The owners of these houses have undertaken a variety of changes to their properties, from artificial siding removal and window restoration, to top-to-bottom refurbishing of interior spaces, to the installation of new kitchens and baths.

At the same time, each house retains outstanding original features, from gracious staircases to stained glass windows to unique spaces, complemented by the distinctive taste and flair of the owners. They will all be a delight to explore.

All Saints Church is around the corner from Ashmont Station on the MBTA Red Line; the Ashmont/Carruth neighborhood is immediately adjacent to the church. Short-term parking is available at All Saints for registration and the church visit; ample curbside parking for tour goers is to be found throughout the neighborhood.

Founded in 1843 and incorporated in 1891, the Dorchester Historical Society celebrates nearly four centuries of Dorchester life. Free monthly programs provide insights into Dorchester’s recent and distant history. The Society owns and cares for three historic houses, dating from 1661, 1765 and 1806, and a mid-19th century barn; it also has extensive collections from Dorchester’s industrial and agricultural past.