PARKERSBURG - Despite persistent rain throughout the day, hundreds of people turned out Sunday for the annual Holly Trail Tour of Homes organized by the GFWC Parkersburg Woman's Club.
For much of the afternoon, a line of people huddling under umbrellas and in their coats stretched down the front sidewalk of Keith and Michelle McClung's home at 1433 22nd St. as visitors waited for their chance to walk through the old three-story home.
The other stops on Sunday's home tour were also popular, with another old home in Parkersburg and two modern homes in Vienna featured on the Holly Trail.
Article Photos
Photo by Wayne Towner
Christina Lough, left, of Williamstown, Shelia Carroll, center, of Vienna, and Kelly Carr, right, of Parkersburg, admire the Christmas tree on display at the Weber home on Glenbrook Drive in Vienna during Sunday’s annual Holly Trail Tour of Homes, organized by the GFWC Parkersburg Woman’s Club.
The other homes were: Jack and Kellie Casas, 1707 Market St., Parkersburg; Paul and Karen Fritz-Weber, 5213 Glenbrook Drive, Vienna; and George and Barbara Volker, 5123 Glenbrook Drive, Vienna. The two Glenbrook Drive homes are located near each other, off 51st Street in Vienna.
The GFWC Parkersburg Woman's Club House at 323 Ninth St. was also part of Sunday's tour, where refreshments and entertainment were provided.
Event chairman Judy Parrish, with the club, said the rain didn't seem to have a negative impact on attendance, with many people coming out despite the weather to tour the homes on display.
"Overall, it was a great day," she said Sunday evening. "We had well over 500 (people), although it's too early to have an exact count."
Homeowner Karen Fritz-Weber said Sunday's tour was her first experience opening her home to visitors in that type of event, but it was one she wanted to do after becoming a member of the Parkersburg Woman's Club this year.
"It's a great event, it raises a lot of money for the community, for scholarships and a lot of programs that the Woman's Club helps the community with," she said.
Christina Lough of Williamstown, Shelia Carroll of Vienna and Kelly Carr of Parkersburg were visiting the homes on Sunday's tour together, beginning with the two in Vienna before going to Parkersburg.
Carr said she has lived in Parkersburg for 44 years and always wanted to try the holiday tours, but Sunday was her first opportunity and she thought it was "wonderful."
"These homes are beautiful and at this time of year everyone loves Christmas decorations," she said.
Carroll was also participating in her first tour in Parkersburg and was enjoying the experience.
"It's wonderful to showcase these beautiful homes," she said.
Carroll said her holiday decorating is "in process" as she waits for her oldest daughter to return from her first semester in college to help as part of the family's traditions. She hoped to come away from Sunday's tour with some new decorating ideas.
Chuck Helmick, of Vienna, was participating in Sunday's tour with his wife, Deanna, as they have many times in the past, often getting ideas for things they might like to try at their own home.
"I like seeing how people decorate and the different decorations," he said, adding he especially appreciates the hospitality shown by the homeowners who open their residences to streams of visitors.
Columbus resident Julia David was touring the homes Sunday with her mother-in-law, Donna Hart, of Washington, W.Va.
"It's been really nice, I've really enjoyed it. There are a lot of beautiful decorations and some beautiful homes in Parkersburg that I didn't realize were here." David said of the Holly Trail Tour of Homes, adding she would like to come back in the future.
