The Historic City of Jefferson will host the 12th annual Golden Hammer Home Tour on Sunday.
The tour has attracted hundreds of people in past years, and this year it will feature eight homes that won the HCJ’s Golden Hammer Award, including the Lincoln University president’s residence at 601 Jackson St. and the Nelson Burch home at 115 W. Atchison St.
To receive the Golden Hammer Award, a property has to be nominated after being renovated to match the time period the building was constructed in.
Tour coordinator Janet Gallaher said the tour is an HCJ fundraiser so the local nonprofit can donate to local historic preservation sites and programs like the Golden Hammer Award Program and Oral History Program, where HCJ records personal histories from long-time city residents.
HCJ has used some funds toward community preservation projects, too. Some of last year’s tour proceeds were used in a $20,000 donation to the Jefferson City Old Town Down Payment Incentive Program, which allows the city to match a dollar-for-dollar down payment of up to $5,000 on certain residences.
The tour is 1-5 p.m. Sunday, and tickets cost $10 in advance and $12 on tour day.
Gallaher said the purpose of the tour is to showcase historic properties that were transformed over the years.
“It shows what can be done to make older properties viable, usable again and productive in today’s world,” she said, describing how different properties showcased in the tour sat vacant for many years before being renovated. “So taking properties that have just been sitting there for a matter of time and making them usable again is really a goal.”