Jennifer DeSalvo wanted to create a space that was unique and that also honored the history of the former farm she owns.
So, she purchased a silo.
“One of my favorite parts of the property is the woods surrounding it,” DeSalvo said. “The silo becomes one with its surroundings.”
The Silo @ Red Mud Hollow Farm in Sewickley Hills is one of the stops on this year’s Sewickley House Tour, happening May 1-2 across the Sewickley Valley.
DeSalvo said the silo fits in with the other residences on the tour because it is different. The tour offers a variety of places, from the silo to a new construction home, to homes built in the 1800s.
The house tour benefits the Child Health Association of Sewickley. The organization was founded in 1923 by four women who wanted to provide milk to undernourished children. In the past 100 years, the organization’s mission has grown to nurture the whole child by supporting programs and services that directly address children’s emotional, physical, education, cultural and recreational needs. Since 1923, Child Health and more than 1,400 volunteers have raised more than $5 million to give to organizations that directly support children in Western Pennsylvania.
“We are so lucky to have Child Health to help fund programs for kids in need to help them have a better life,” said Wendy Batman, who is co-chairing the house tour with Karen Galbraith. “Guests attending the house tour love that they are helping to make a difference in the lives of children.”
The house tour is a highly anticipated event that, not only people in Sewickley Valley, but surrounding communities look forward to every two years, Galbraith said.
This is the 41st tour and it’s held every other year. When it began in 1956, it was held every year. Organizers aren’t sure when the tour became an every other year event.
There were 2,000 guests in 2024 and they expect to exceed that number this year, said Laura Cherock, vice-president for Child Health who is handling social media for the tour and was a previous co-chair.
“It’s unique and it’s a tradition,” said Chernock. “There are so many different types of architecture in these homes. Each is unique.”
Cherock said Child Health works diligently to get the money to where it is needed the most. Child Health distributes more than $100,000 in grants annually to help children and families in need.
“Our funding helps to fill some gaps so they can further their mission,” Cherock said.
Child Health president Amber Gregg said the house tour represents both tradition and purpose.
“It reflects the generosity of this amazing community and directly supports Child Health’s mission to nurture the whole child,” Gregg said. “What makes it so special is that behind every beautiful home is a very real and lasting impact on children and families in Western Pennsylvania.”
A committee of 20 helps plan the event, along with more than 100 volunteers. Some, working as docents, share the history of the houses with those walking through the homes.
There are eight stops, including the Faith House, located at 202 Beaver St., owned by the Sewickley Presbyterian Church. This is where guests sign in and receive the addresses, which encompass Sewickley, Edgeworth, Sewickley Heights and Sewickley Hills. There will be Three Rivers Cookbooks for purchase, which also support Child Health.
“The house tour gives guests the opportunity to see a lot of our community that they wouldn’t typically see,” said DeSalvo.
Red Mud Hollow Farm was once a 400-plus acre farm that spanned across Interstate 79, DeSalvo said. The original farmhouse was a red-oak log cabin that had only two rooms and was constructed in the 1860s. A banked hay barn — a two-level structure built into a hillside that provides access on two levels — was added in the 1890s. The farm had cattle, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs, DeSalvo said.
DeSalvo purchased The Kennel at Red Mud Hollow Farm in September of 2022 and created her company, The Bark Barn, where she offers dog and cat boarding and doggie daycare and grooming services.
“The silo is phenomenal,” said Galbraith. “There is so much history to this tour. The homeowners are so generous. They have beautifully decorated their residences. Some of them who have been thinking of updating or doing renovations get them completed in time for the house tour.”
Organizers invite florists to create arrangements that are unique to each home and set it up where guests see the flowers when they walk in and blooms are also located in a few key spots throughout the home. The floral arrangements give the vibe of each home, Batman said.
Each homeowner is gifted a watercolor painting of their residence, Batman said.
“The house tour is a true gem,” Batman said. “It’s full of such great history. These homes are so beautiful and so well-maintained. You can get so many ideas from walking through them that you might use in your own home and think, ‘Maybe I can recreate this in my space.’ ”