Wagon roams to historic homes

A horse-drawn wagon will guide a tour through some of Carson City's east-side Victorian homes.

The tour will run from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday, beginning at the Roberts House Museum. Hoofbeats' wagon masters will narrate the tours, offering detailed histories of 19th century homes on and near Rice, Washington and Telegraph streets. The excursion follows part of the unmarked Charles W. Friend Trail.

Susan Ballew, president of the Carson City Historical Society, said there will be two covered wagons, with space for 24 to 28 passengers at a time. Only two tours will be given so patrons will be helped on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours will last about 45 minutes.

The cost is $5 per person and children less than 5 years old are free.

"This is more of a community event than a fund-raiser," Ballew said. "We hope to bring people together."

For those looking for a cool treat after touring homes in the summer sun, they can attend the historical society's third annual ice cream social and tour of the Roberts House Museum from 1-4 p.m. on Sunday. The cost is $4 and children under 5 years old receive free lemonade and cookies.

Proceeds from the homes tour and the social go toward restoration and maintenance of the Roberts House Museum.

"We will have a good variety of food including cookies, pies, cake and ice cream," Ballew said. "We have luscious recipes. Our cooks are very good."

Janet Perry coordinated the food for the social. She said there will be more than 20 desserts to sample.

"We never know exactly what is going to be there until the day of the social," she said. "I am making a sour-cream cake with caramel frosting, a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting, pumpkin pie, cookies and brownies."

As the desserts are being savoured, the local Mile High Jazz Band will play a selection of jazz favorites.

The events are sponsored by the Carson City Historical Society and Carson City Redevelopment. The historical society also sponsors the annual historic homes and gardens tour, Victorian teas and Christmas tours.

IF YOU GO

What: Victorian Summer social, with ice cream and other desserts, a tour of the Roberts House Museum and a horse-drawn tour of east side homes,

When: 1- 4 p.m., Sunday

Where: Roberts House Museum, 1207 N. Carson Street

Tickets: Tickets are available the day of the event. $4 for the ice cream social and Roberts House Museum tour. $5 tours of Victorian eastside homes. Children less than 5 years old are free.

Call: Dorothy Dolan, 882-1805