September 12, 2014 at 3:12 p.m.
Annual tour of historic homes to include Cranberry Hill
Annual tour of historic homes to include Cranberry Hill
By Kayla Thomason-
Tours will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
There will be approximately six houses on the tour, most of them residences. During last year's tour guests walked with a guide who showed them the outside of each house and shared information about its history. This year's tour will be self-guided and open-house style.
Homeowners will be present to give some history.
One of the houses on the tour, Cranberry Hill Bed and Breakfast. It is located at 209 E. Frederick Street and features nine detailed murals painted by local artist Linda Ferzacca.
The house was built in 1892 for Edward O. Brown. He had a hand in the Brown Lumber Co., the Rhinelander Paper Mill, Merchants State Bank and the first local refrigeration company, according to Cranberry Hill's website.
The current owner, Karen Minassi, acquired the home in 1981 with the intention of operating a bed and breakfast.
When guests approach the building they will notice its tower, the steep roofs and the tidy porch.
Stepping inside there is a small foyer and painted on the wall is a vase with blue flowers.
The foyer leads into a room with dark hardwood floors, dark wood trim, white floral wallpaper and tall windows hemmed with dark floral curtains.
At the top of the staircase is a mural of Father Jacques Marquette, the first explorer to travel down the Wisconsin River in 1675, according to Minassi. Depicted are two people in a canoe on a calm river, the trees reflected off its surface.
In the children's room upstairs, Ferzacca's art depicts the nursery rhymes "Hey Diddle Diddle," "Little Bo Peep," "Jack and the Beanstalk," and "There was an Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe."
Minassi is amazed that Ferzacca can climb up and down a ladder and still keep a perspective on the piece she is working on.
Ferzacca's current project is a hot air balloon scene from "Around the World in 80 Days." She is also adding clouds to connect each nursery rhyme.
Also in the children's room, behind a dollhouse, there is a quiet Christmas scene with Santa Claus and his reindeer darting below a starry sky.
Ferzacca painted soft clouds and a pair of doves flying around the light fixture on the ceiling of the pink bathroom.
Her artistic talent isn't restricted to the walls or ceiling, it has carried over to some furniture.
She works in acrylic and says the length of time she works on a piece depends on the size and how detailed it is.
Ferzacca has been making her mark inside the bed and breakfast for about 10 years.
"[Karen] usually has an idea of where she wants a painting put and she lets me do up some sketches and ideas and a lot of times - in the middle of it - she'll come up with a brainstorm and ask me to do something a little different or a little more to it, so we kind of work together on it," Ferzacca said.
Ferzacca says she is not a professional artist but enjoys what she does and paints when she has time.
Those who tour Cranberry Hill Bed and Breakfast will have the opportunity to observe the architecture and colorful murals.
Tickest for the Rhinelander Tour of Historic Homes can be purchased in advance for $20 at Trig's, the Rhinelander Inspection Department and the Rhinelander Historic Preservation Commission. The price increases to $25 the day of the tour. The check-in point is Sand Creek Consultants on the corner of Davenport and Pelham streets.
Guests will receive a booklet of information on the houses as well as a map.
The historic houses are close together so people can walk or drive to each building.
Proceeds from the tour will go to the city Historic Preservation Commission wto be used to preserve local landmarks and homes.
Kayla Breese may be reached at [email protected].
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