he Benton House Association’s annual Benton House Tour of Homes and Classy Car Show will be held on Sunday, Sept. 19 from noon to 5 p.m. The oldest consecutively run home tour in Marion County, the Benton House Tour of Homes is celebrating its 48th year with a great selection of historic and unique homes showcasing the rich history and architectural diversity of the Irvington community.
Five homes will be featured in addition to the Historic Benton House at 312 S. Downey and The Bona Thompson Memorial Center at 5350 University Ave.:
• 358 S. Audubon Rd.
• 40 S. Ritter Ave.
• 5202 E. North St.
• 5601 E. St. Clair St.
• 6641 Spring Brook N Dr.
In addition to these properties, the historic Kile Oak, 5939 Beechwood Ave., is a suggested stop. The ancient burr oak, estimated to be well over 300 years old. It has been a “silent witness” to the growth of the city, and of the neighborhood.
The Benton House will be open to viewing inside and outside will be the Classy Car Show as well as live music by Audio Diner and food donated by Shoo Buddy’s BarBQue. Built in 1873, the Benton House was once home of Butler University president Dr. Allen R. Benton. The home is available for rental for small events.
The Bona Thompson Memorial Center will feature Presenting Irvington Artists, a gallery of local artists and their recent works, which will be on display (and for sale). The Madge Oberholtzer exhibit will also be available for viewing through Nov. 15.
The homes on the tour are great examples of the eras of Irvington development, from the 1893 Queen Anne on Audubon to the Mid-Century ranch style on Spring Brook N. Dr. in the “Hilltop” division on the edge of Irvington. Visitors will be able to see the unique vision of the current owners, and learn a little about the history of the properties.
All proceeds from the Tour & Car Show benefit the maintenance of the historic Benton House. This year, to limit contact, wristbands will be used instead of paper tickets. Also, face masks must be worn inside the homes.
Tickets are $15 in advance of the tour and $20 the day of the tour. Advance tickets are available at Hampton Design & Gifts (5515 E. Washington), Central Ace Hardware (10th & Arlington), Black Sheep Gifts (5626 E. Washington) or online at thebentonhouse.org/home-tour. Tickets can be purchased at any of the tour stops on the day of the tour. Those buying their ticket with a credit card on the day of the tour need to do so at The Benton House.
The annual Benton House Tour of Homes is the biggest fundraiser for the Historic Benton House. All proceeds from the tour will go directly towards the upkeep and maintenance of the house, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Proceeds from past tours have gone towards permanent signage in the front yard, a new slate roof, gutters and downspouts, new event chairs, landscaping, and foundation repairs, just to name a few.
