Life

Some of Hamilton's most elegant and historic homes will be open for inspection Sunday at the Dayton Lane May Promenade.

"The May Promenade allows us to showcase our Victorian homes and gardens as well as raising the necessary funds for neighborhood projects," said David Loeffler, president of Dayton Lane Historic Area, Inc., in an e-mail. "Our current fundraising efforts are geared towards the Sherry Corbett Memorial Fountain for Campbell Avenue Park."

Extras

Photos

This 8,200-sq. feet Prairie style home with Italian Renaissance details at 712 Dayton St. was built in 1910 by William Shuler of Shuler and Benninghofen. Click to enlarge

Major John Bender built the mansion on the corner of Seventh and Dayton streets in 1892, with a formal first floor of over 1,800-sq. feet.Click to enlarge

Plans for the prospective fountain will be unveiled at this year's home tour. The sculpture, which will include the Dayton Lane logo and a hi-wheeled bicycle, will be installed in the Campbell Avenue Park opposite the Wolf Gazebo.

Some of the homes scheduled to be open include:

• Trinity Episcopal Church, 115 North 6th St., an early English Gothic style church designed by prominent Cincinnati architect A.C. Nash;

• The McKinney Home, 610 Dayton St., and its carriege house, examples of half-timbered Queen Anne architecture;

• The house at 643 Dayton St., individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places, designed by Charles Eisel in 1882 for George Adam Rentschler, features include a variety of woods, a cherry staircase, eight fireplaces, and unique parquet floors;

• The house at 644 Dayton St., built in the 1840's as the residence of Postmaster John McKee, will also be the site of a fashion show, 3 p.m., with music by Gerhard Albinus;

• The Bender Home at 709 Dayton St. features 17 stained glass windows and fireplaces with tile surrounds created by the Hamilton Tile Company.

The Wheelmen, a vintage bicycle enthusiast's organization, will be returning to add more period flavor to the event.

Tickets on the day of the tour will be available in a tent outside the Dayton Lane Gardens in the 600 block of Dayton Street.

Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2188 or rjones@coxohio.com.

how to go

WHAT: Dayton Lane May Promenade.

WHERE: Dayton Lane Historic Area, Hamilton.

WHEN: 1 to 5 p.m. Sat., May 19.

COST: $20.

MORE INFO: (513) 844-1500; historicdaytonlane.org.