MARIETTA - Seven homes, decked out in their holiday best, brought hundreds of visitors to Marietta Sunday for this year's Holiday Tour of Homes.
Sponsored by the Betsey Mills Club, the annual event allows owners of some of the Pioneer City's unique and historic homes to share a little of their Christmas celebration with the public.
"It's been a great experience. People have been so interested in the amount of space we have inside this house," said Warren Johnson from the third floor "man cave" in his 410 Montgomery St. home.
Article Photos
Photo by Sam Shawver
The Woman’s Home at 812 Third St. in Marietta was one of seven residences on this year’s Holiday Tour of Homes Sunday afternoon.
The converted attic, complete with bathroom facilities, includes a comfortable home theatre area and office space.
Downstairs in the dining room his wife, Georgene, had laid out a traditional Hungarian Christmas Eve dinner setting.
"My dad was full-blooded Hungarian, and my mother was Slovak," she explained. "For us Christmas was the traditional Christmas dinner. We exchanged gifts, too, but it was really all about family and food."
Fact Box
Tour of Homes
The annual Holiday Tour of Homes has been sponsored by the Betsey Mills Club for the last three years.
Seven houses were featured on this year's tour.
Proceeds from the holiday home tour will benefit the Betsey Mills Club and its activities.
A block south of the Johnsons is the 510 Warren St. home of John and Robin Boyd.
Jim and Nancy Luthy, of Marietta, were among those who toured the Boyd home Sunday.
"We come every year, and especially like touring through the older houses in Marietta," Jim Luthy said. "They have so many interesting things you just don't see in the newer homes."
Standing at the dining room table, Robin Boyd said she and John decided to settle in Marietta several years ago.
"My husband was in the military and when he retired we bought this house - our first real home," she said. "We liked it here and decided to put down roots."
Robin Boyd said this is the first year her home has been on the holiday tour since the Betsey Mills Club took over the annual event three years ago. But she noted the house was also included in a previous homes tour when it was hosted by the American Association of University Women (AAUW).
"It was the first year we had moved here, and I was asked if our home could be part of the tour," she said. "It was pretty hectic - but I'm much better prepared this time."
Susan Smith was welcoming guests at the Boyd home Sunday afternoon.
"We've had people coming all the way from Lima, McConnelsville and other areas to take part in this year's tour," she said. "So far we've had 208 who have been through this home."
Other homes on Sunday's tour included: 519 Fifth St., home of U.S. Rep. Bill and LeeAnn Johnson; the 425 Sixth St. home of Ethan and Susan Vessels; The Woman's Home at 812 Third St.; First Presbyterian Church at 501 Fourth St.; and The Castle at 418 Fourth St.
Judy Piersall helped organize this year's Holiday Tour of Homes for the Betsey Mills Club. "We usually have a great turnout, but especially this year with such great weather and so much sunshine," she said. Piersall said proceeds from the holiday home tour will benefit the Betsey Mills Club and its activities.
