Tour Highlights
The McManus house, a 19th century colonial is a perfect example of “old meets new”.  The homeowners have upgraded their home with modern elements while retaining the beauty of the original architecture.  The surprise of the day was their garage.  Set up as a man cave/art studio and simply a cool place to hang out, ticket holders enjoyed spending time chatting with the homeowner and their neighbors.
On December 2, 2018 we proudly celebrated our 25th year bringing our annual Holiday House Tour to Islip Hamlet. Although the weather was less than cooperative, it did not deter the hundreds of followers of this popular annual event.
The events of the day have become an annual tradition, from the interesting homes we open to the public to the lively reception at one of our local historic churches.  At the reception, we offer cookies, coffee, tea and hot chocolate.  While deciding which of the many baskets to bid on in our Chinese Auction, ticket holders are entertained with live music. 
The Clifford house, a traditional American Four Square was filled with original details.  Almost all the interior has been preserved since it was built around the turn of the 20th century.  Original windows, dark wood trim and paneling and a leaded glass built in china cabinet were just some of the charming details kept alive in this special antique house.
This year our reception was held at the historic St. Marks Episcopal Church.  Our Chinese Auction was truly spectacular with close to 100 prizes.  Participants were entertained by guitarist/singer, Rob Baione as well as Carols for Causes, a group of young Islip students who perform and record Christmas songs to support local charities.
We were very fortunate this year to feature a collection homes with very different architectural styles, including Colonial, Victorian, Tudor, Norwegian Gothic and Cape Cod.
The Tenney-Unger house was built in the Cape Cod Style in the 1930’s on a stunning parcel of land facing the canal and the Great South Bay.  The house is set back from the road, so  it is not until one enters that the view presents itself.  With water views from almost every room and a space filled with interesting art and antiques, it made for a very special visit.
The Montefusco house was somewhat of a divergence.  A 1970’s colonial, this home is a perfect example of the many homes that were built on Long Island during this era.  Since the homeowners purchased the house, they completely transformed it, putting their own personality into every room in the house.  The holiday decorations did not disappoint and could be seen in almost every room in the house, making this house a holiday decorator’s dream.
We once again partnered with the U.S. Marines for our Toys for Tots collection.  This year the Marines were at the Clifford house where they collected an amazing number of toys for needy children.
The Constantino house was our only true Victorian on the tour this year.  Built in 1889 it has seen numerous changes over the years.  The homeowners, who have owned the house since 1996, have made many changes and additions over the years.  Their sense of style and eye for detail was evident in every room and the home was filled with fabulous holiday decorations.
As always, we wish to thank Lori Zegel from Nook and Cranny who sells our House Tour tickets for us in her shop.
The Berger house, built in approximately 1890 in the Tudor style was originally part of a larger estate house built on Long Island’s north shore.  When the mansion was being demolished in the 1920s a portion of the house was moved to this beautiful piece of land in Islip.  The Bergers have maintained the Victorian style of the house and have filled it with interesting antique pieces.  Their extravagant holiday decorations were a sight to behold.
Our Holiday House Tour is our major fundraiser.  We attribute its many years of success to the members of the Historical Society who contribute so much to the event, to the homeowners who open their homes to the public and to those who purchase tickets and spend the day in our lovely community.
Christina Vanasco
Est. 1992 Historical Society of Islip Hamlet