One of the entertainers at the Home Tour was Cassie Campbell who was playing keyboards at the Shell Clubhouse, the starting point of the tour.

This group performed on the balcony at the Seawell House during the Tour. They favor the music of the 1950's -- and their vocal harmonies are wonderful. The name of the group is the Doo Wop Boys..

Guitarist Chris Kapsalis provided music on the balcon of the Hetzler House during the Tour.

BOOTHS and DEMONSTRATIONS

Kathy Yates from the Martinez Historical Society displays the books, postcards, notecards, totes and other items that the Society sells. She also answered questions from visitors about the history of Martinez. There is also a great deal of historical material on the Society's main website: www.MartinezHistory.org

Eric Akeson was also at the Shell Clubhouse with his old-fashioned photo booth where tourgoers could have their pictures taken -- at no cost. The booth is out of sight to the right. On the table behind Eric are Tour's raffle prizes. Eric's website is at: Akeson Design

The Shell Refinery is a major sponsor of the Home Tour. This is their table. From the left: Dave Parker (Learning & Development Manager), Lisa Parker and Cathy Ivers (Shell Public Affairs Department).

The Shell volunteers take a break to read some of the historic refinery newsletters that they had brought with them to show tourgoers. The Refinery's facebook page is as follows: Shell-Refinery-in-Martinez

The Contra Costa County Genealogical Society also set up a booth at the Shell Clubhouse and offered tourgoers tips and advice on how to research their family's history. The Genealogical Society's website is: http://cccgs.blogspot.com/

A caricature artist does his work while tourgoers watch. He was stationed at the Vosney House. The name of the artist is _______________________.

Cheryll Grover displays the caricature that the talented artist did of herself. Cheryll was a key volunteer on the Home Tour Committee in past years.

The California Native Plant Society had a booth at the Christiansen House during the Tour. Native plants require much less water than exotic plants, so they are becoming more important in gardens as water supplies in California dwindle. Vickie Dawes and Elaine Jackson are pictured here. The CNP's East Bay website is as follows: East Bay Chapter -- NPS

OUR WONDER FUL VOLUNTEERS

Here are just a few pictures of the close to 100 volunteers involved in the Home Tour:

Volunteers pose at the Shell Clubhouse. From the left: Nancy Tackett, Carolyn Duncan (Home Tour Committee Chair), Theresa Pope, Cassie Campbell and Marlene Haws.

More Volunteers include (from left) Theresa Pope, Bob Braun, Kathy Braun and Paul Kraintz who was recovering from eye surgery.

Gay Gerlack was the greeter at the door of the Shell Clubhouse. Here she confers with Igor Skaredoff about the bus route between the homes and buildings on the Tour.

Janie Mori was selling raffle tickets. Janie also was the Media Specialist for the Home Tour. She also interviewed the home owners for the articles on their houses which appeared in the Home Tour Booklet.

Tourgoers receive a bag, courtesy of Les Schwab, which contains a number of small but useful "give-aways". Migs Carter (left) and Nancy Tackett put the finishing touches on the bags in this photo.

The sponsors of the home tour voluntarily provide financial support to keep your ticket price down. Please do business with our sponsors when you can. Thank you.

After the Home Tour is over, the Historical Society presents each homeowner with a keepsake gift to commemorate their participation in the event. Here Carter Wilson (left) and John Curtis (right) present hownowner Jack Vosney (center) with his gift -- which is designed to hang on a wall.

THE FARMERS MARKET

Carolyn Duncan at the Farmers Market booth -- flanked by Keith Park and Karolina Park. Carolyn is the Home Tour Chair -- and her own home on Talbart Street (an 1883 Victorian) was on the 2011 tour. The Parks' 1930 English Cottage style home on Warren Street was on the 2013 tour.