Westmoreland Historical Society traditionally hosts an annual house tour, featuring notable Greensburg-area residences.
This year’s tour, scheduled for Sept. 17, features a different sort of dwelling — five historic houses of worship along Main Street in Greensburg. Organizers decided it was too soon, post-pandemic, to ask homeowners to open their doors to large groups of people.
But the society kept one aspect of the event unchanged. As usual, organizers found a grand Greensburg residence with a story to tell for the Toast the Tour Cocktail Party.
On Friday evening, homeowners Matt and Beth Knizner opened the doors of The Woodlands, a Colonial Revival-style home also known as the Marshbank House, after the original owners.
Built in 1938, the house was designed by noted local architect Paul Bartholomew for Robert and Margaretta Marshbank. Bartholomew’s Greensburg projects also included Troutman’s Department Store, the Greensburg YMCA, Lynch Hall at the University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg and many homes in the Academy Hill neighborhood.
The interior of The Woodlands sports hardwood floors, molded surrounds, a large central hall with elegantly carved staircase and a sunken living room with large fireplace and bay window overlooking a large terrace and secluded garden.
Party guests were treated to small group tours, along with cocktails and hearty hors d’oeuvres from Rizzo’s Malabar Inn in Crabtree. Many sat on the terrace to enjoy the mild, late-summer weather.
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Helping to greet guests were WHS Executive Director Lisa Hays and tour co-chairs Marilyn McSparrin and Clinton Piper.
Seen: Michael and Eloise Cary, Lou and Joan DeRose, Mary Catherine Motchar and Jim Clayton, Sharon Bartolotta, Barbara Ferrier, Terry Graft and Linda Brown, Rich Lopretto and Phyllis Bertok, Linda Assard, Dr. George and Linda Austin, Jennifer Kettering, Bill and Patti Benton, Karen Jurkovic, Phil and Gladys Light, David McMunn, Betsy Rider, Barbara Flock, Tony and Tina Gummo, Rob and Deidre Holmberg, Wilda Kaylor and Monsignor William Rathgeb.
