With only 1,000 homes in the area, the Enderis Park neighborhood wants to attract more attention from the Milwaukee public. The 3rd Annual Enderis Park Home and Garden Tour -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 19 -- will give people a glimpse into this small neighborhood.
Sue Burke, head of the Enderis Park Home Tour, says Enderis Park is an, "unknown neighborhood, not everyone knows. It's a quaint, little community in the City of Milwaukee."
The Home Tour came about to feature the historical and interesting facets of the homes that make up Enderis Park.
"I think home tours started with historical societies, having different homes open to the public to view the architectural details and furnishings. They have grown into fund-raising events for different neighborhoods or causes," says Burke. "It is not a contest, but homes are selected by a committee to kind of showcase the style of homes in the neighborhood."
This year, the Enderis Park Home Tour route consists of six homes with gardens and one additional garden.
"The homes are all tastefully decorated and include nice landscaping. The tour goer buys a ticket and gets to walk through each of the homes," Burke says. "Inside the homes, we have volunteers that explain different details about each room and insure the homeowners belongings are untouched, as the homeowner and pets are not in the home during the tour. Some tours are just of gardens, some just homes."
She goes on to say that the homes were chosen primarily for their "curb appeal," basically how attractive the home looked like from the outside. But what was most difficult for the deciding committee was trying to find willing home owners.
"Not everyone wants their house to (be) walked through. Scrutinizing, some people are nervous about that," Burke says. "Their home is open like a museum and if there is a scratch here, dustball here; (but) people are immaculate with their homes on the day of the tour."
The one additional garden, Burke says, is beautiful. It has water fountains and ponds, but the owners weren't interested in having their home shown.
On the day of the event, people start at the corner of 71st and Locust Streets -- where there will be refreshments and tickets will be sold there -- and the homes are within walking distance.
Proceeds from the event will fund an entrance signs to the neighborhood. Burke says that the signs will be stone arches erected at 68th and Center Streets.
Tickets for the 3rd Annual Enderis Park Home Tour can be purchased in advance at the Sentry on Lisbon, 7101 W. Lisbon Ave., and Wisconsin Garden & Pet Supply, 8520 W. North Ave. for $10. Otherwise tickets will be available on the day of the event for $12.
