The "Come Home to Lakewood" House Tour will be held on Sunday, September 7, 2008 from 1 to 6 pm.

(For more information and to purchase tickets click on the picture)

Advance tickets are $15 each. A limited number of tickets will be available the day of the tour at the Nicholson House, 13335 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood for $20. Advance tickets go on sale Saturday, August 2 and can be purchased through retail ticket outlets below until closing time on Saturday, September 6th (unless tickets are sold out), purchased online at this site until Saturday September 6th at noon (or unless tickets are sold out). For mail order tickets sales contact the Lakewood Historical Society, 14710 Lake Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio, 44107 or by phone at 216-221-7343 until Monday, August 25th. Tickets may also be purchased at the Lakewood Arts Festival at the Lakewood Historical Society table on August 2nd.

Retail locations: Lakewood: Beck Center for the Arts, First Federal of Lakewood, Geiger's Clothing & Sports, Local Girl Gallery, Oldest Stone House Museum and Rozi's Wine House. Rocky River: Geiger's Store for Women, Mitchell Sotka, V Regalo/The Desk Set. Westlake: Borders.

This Old House Magazine's Web site announced what Lakewood residents themselves already believe to be true. Lakewood took top honors for Ohio in their recent "Best Places to Buy an Old House" selections. Lakewood also ranked as one of the best for categories of families with kids, first-time home buyers, art lovers, and Queen Annes. You will certainly see this reflected as you tour these beloved homes and take the site-seeing experience of the Lakewood Community. This year's tour includes a grand Georgian Revival with Victorian elements; a charming Craftsman-style bungalow; an eclectic Arts & Crafts bungalow; a Clifton Park Italian Renaissance; the home of Joseph Marquard, of the locally-renowned Marquard Building Company, designed for himself; a Waterford lakefront aerie with expansive vistas; and the lobby of the long-shuttered Hilliard Theater.

Also, the restored Nicholson House at 13335 Detroit Avenue will be open for day-of-tour ticket sales ($20) and refreshments. However, you won't want to miss the special feature on the early history of the Cowan Pottery in Lakewood. The front parlors will feature displays from the Cowan Pottery Museum at Rocky River Library with books and titles from the Friends of the Cowan Pottery Museum and Mike Skordelis, an art pottery antiques dealer from the Shop on Madison in Lakewood. He will have some pieces available or sale. Also, the award-winning documentary on the Cowan Pottery produced by the Lakewood Historical Society and Nadine Bluemel's 2nd-3rd grade Discovery Class at Grant School will be available for viewing. Ms. Bluemel and some of the students will be present to take questions.

All proceeds from the tour benefit the programs of the Lakewood Historical Society and support the operation of The Oldest Stone House Museum and The Nicholson House. The mission of the Lakewood Historical Society is to enhance the quality of life in Lakewood by offering educational programs for all ages, providing stewardship of artifacts and buildings, and advocating for our historic community. For more information contact the Lakewod Historical Society at 14710 Lake Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio, 44107; call 216-221-7343 or visit the website at www.lakewoodhistory.org.