1800s Chancellor Street Victorian Opens Its Doors For Newtown Holiday House Tour

NEWTOWN BOROUGH, PA — On Saturday, Craig and Patti Slavtcheff will open up their home at 205 S. Chancellor Street to the public as part of this year’s Newtown Holiday House Tour.

During the tour, visitors will be greeted by friends and family dressed in Victorian garb, who will welcome guests inside the stately Queen Anne for what will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Once inside, visitors will enjoy a home decorated for the holiday season by the homeowners who have used their talents and skills to deck the halls for this year’s tour.

Visitors will also get to see firsthand the time, talent, and skill put in by Craig and Patti to bring this architectural gem into the modern age, while keeping its Old World charm and history alive.

A notable architectural feature is an arch in the main foyer of the house, an element that Patti recreated in the doorways throughout the main floor of the house.

“We’re excited that people get to peek inside and experience being in this house,” said Patti.

The stately Victorian near the corner of Penn and Chancellor Streets was built in 1882 by Harrison C. Worstall, who also built the Newtown Hardware House 13 years earlier in 1869. Probably the most dramatic part of the house is its three-and-a-half-story central bay tower topped with a witch's hat.

The stately Victorian with its witches hat at 205 South Chancellor Street.

The original archway inside the main foyer. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The living room at 205 South Chancellor Street. (Jeff Werner/Patch)

The dining room at 205 South Chancellor Street. (Jeff Werner)

The house was later owned by Dr. Elizabeth Strathie, the first woman to open a medical practice in Newtown and one of the founders of St. Mary Hospital, today the St. Mary Medical Center in nearby Middletown Township.

For nearly 40 years, Dr. Betty used part of the first floor as her medical office. The dining room was her waiting room and the kitchen was where she treated her patients. Many from the neighborhood may still remember trips to her office for treatment.

“From time to time, people will come knocking on the door with stories about Dr. Betty and getting treated here,” relates Patti. “One guy was cut at Linton Park. He was rushed over here and got stitched up. She was very loved and very well respected.”

Dr. Betty owned the house from 1957 to 2006 when it was sold to a new owner.

“The house has good vibes - no hauntings,” said Patti.

Craig and Patti purchased the house in 2022, moving into the borough from Washington Crossing. They are the 13th owners of the house.

“I always wanted to live in an old Victorian house because my grandmother had an old Victorian house,” said Patti.

“It needed a lot of work, so we bought a project,” added Craig. “But it’s got a stunning bone structure. It just needed to be fixed up and cared for. It had been neglected for so long.”

Since purchasing the house, they have renovated “every square inch” of the house, with the goal of bringing it back to its original grandeur, said Craig.

“Every bathroom, the kitchen, all the trim. It’s all been redone to match the original,” said Craig. “All the flooring had to be ripped out and replaced. And the kitchen had to be gutted down to the studs.”

Added Patti, “Our goal was to make it look like it has always been here. Everything we we have done has been in keeping with the historic nature of the building.”

About The House Tour

The Newtown Holiday House Tour takes place on Saturday, Dec. 6, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., allowing visitors to peek into several of Newtown’s unique private residences, all dressed up for the holidays.

The streets of Newtown Borough will be alive with the sounds of the season as tour-goers make their way to the five private homes on this year’s tour. Besides the private homes, several public buildings will be open for visitors. All sites are within easy walking distance from the town center.

The cost of the tour ticket includes entry into the Half-moon Inn, home of the Newtown Historic Association. Once inside the beautifully restored 18th-century building, tour-goers will enjoy period musical entertainment and hearthside colonial cooking demonstrations.

Advance tickets can be purchased for $30 for members and $35 for non-members at the Newtown Book & Record Exchange (cash or check only), 102 South State Street, and by clicking here.

Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the tour for $40 at the Half-moon Inn, 105 Court Street, and at the Stocking Works, 301 South State Street, Newtown 18940. Photography and high heels will not be allowed on the tou

For additional information, call the Newtown Historic Association at 215-968-4004 or visit www.newtownhistoric.org/