Celebrate spring in Sutter Creek at the 48th AAUW Home Tour

from Mountain Democrat, Monday, April 10, 2023

Shakespeare Club

Sutter Creek

After a three-year hiatus, the Amador Branch of AAUW is excited to announce the return of its popular Home Tour. Guests are invited to join AAUW on Saturday, April 22 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. to “Celebrate Spring in Sutter Creek” while taking a stroll through this historical Gold Rush town to view five beautiful homes and several interesting historical sites.

Put on your walking shoes and bring your friends, neighbors, or family to enjoy a day out in the heart of the Gold Country. Sutter Creek offers great restaurants, boutiques, antique stores and wine tasting rooms. Make a weekend out of it and stay in one of many local overnight accommodations. Branch members are looking forward to welcoming you to charming Sutter Creek and to the 48th Home Tour.

Among the homes visitors will see on the Home Tour is a Victorian bungalow originally constructed in 1901. It is an example of a “payday” home where rooms were added as enough money became available.

Another historical “payday” home allows visitors to get a real feel for what it may have been like to live in Sutter Creek during the gold mining days.

One home sits along Sutter Creek and began as a 500 square foot home in 1870. It has been lovingly transformed from a one-bedroom cottage to a comfortable family retreat.

On Main Street is a Greek Revival style home originally constructed in 1851. It is owned by a fifth generation Amador resident and features sports memorabilia, historical photographs and artwork from family collections.

The one newly constructed home on the tour sits on a lot sub-divided from the historical Allen Ranch. Taking advantage of its location, it is surrounded with beautiful views. It is designed as an old-fashioned farmhouse with all the modern conveniences.

Five historical sites will be open to view if tour goers have extra time. Home Tour ticket holders will be able to take advantage of a self-guided tour of the Knight Foundry on tour day. The Sutter Creek Grammar School is the second oldest two-story brick schoolhouse still standing in California. The Monteverde Store opened in August of 1896 and carried hardware, groceries, wines, liquors, boots, shoes and everything necessary for residents and miners. The Museum is an example of a perfectly preserved general store from the mid-1800s. Miners’ Bend Historic Gold Mining Park, located at the south end of Sutter Creek, is Amador County’s newest attraction. The park displays equipment that was used in county gold mines of the past and some from the present. The Sutter Creek Fire Museum is located on Main Street in Sutter Creek.

Other tour details

The Creekside Methodist Church, 14 Main St., Sutter Creek is the location of the ever-popular Home Tour Tea. This is the place to sit and relax with a cup of coffee, tea or a cold drink and taste some delicious homemade cookies. Guests will be able to browse a selection of gift baskets created by AAUW members and community businesses, the proceeds of which will support the scholarship fund-raising efforts.

Blue Mountain Transit will provide shuttle service from the parking lot at Miners’ Bend Park to the Jones home on Allen Ranch Road with a stop near Anna and Badger streets.

Advance tickets are $40 and can be purchased at Brown Paper Tickets (a processing fee will be added to the cost of the ticket) through the website amador-ca.aauw.net/ or at the Feed Barn in Jackson (cash or checks only).

Tickets the day of the tour are $45 and will be available at the Feed Barn (cash or checks only) or at the Creekside Methodist Church in Sutter Creek (cash, checks or credit cards will be accepted).

Proceeds from the tour benefit the Amador Branch scholarship program for local girls and women. Junior high school girls have opportunities to attend Tech Trek, a summer math-science camp and scholarships are provided at the upper division and graduate levels and for women re-entering college. For more information go to amador-ca.aauw.net/ home-tour.