Historic Parkersburg homes open doors to public for Holly Trail tour
Cookies, punch, tea, and coffee were available at the Parkersburg Woman’s Clubhouse with live music by several pianists. From left, pianist Rachel Johnson, club member JoHelen Beckley, Larry Johnson, Rachel Johnson’s husband, and Holly Trail chairperson Judy Parrish serve hospitality to attendees of the Holly Trail. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
Pianist Rachel Johnson was one of several pianists that provided entertainment for patrons of the Holly Trail. Johnson has played for the Holly Trail in previous years of the event. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
The Phelps-Tavenner House was one of several homes included on the Holly Trail. The home is where the origins of Wood County can be found. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
Inside the Phelps-Tavenner House is a period accurate Christmas tree found in front of the foundations of the original stairway of the home. The house is the oldest occupied home in Wood County. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
Built in 1808, the Mazza-Swearingen house is home to the original carriage house called “The Lion’s Gate” and was built as a stable house and inn around 1865. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
Tom Hoffman and Charlie Smith’s house was home to the Gerwig and Nedeff families, constructed in 1918 and contains nine working fireplaces. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
An Italianate/Victorian Gothic home, the McCandish-Sammel-Burdette house includes the original 174 year-old “Eldorado Gold” wallpaper, dating back to 1849. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
Cookies, punch, tea, and coffee were available at the Parkersburg Woman’s Clubhouse with live music by several pianists. From left, pianist Rachel Johnson, club member JoHelen Beckley, Larry Johnson, Rachel Johnson’s husband, and Holly Trail chairperson Judy Parrish serve hospitality to attendees of the Holly Trail. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
Pianist Rachel Johnson was one of several pianists that provided entertainment for patrons of the Holly Trail. Johnson has played for the Holly Trail in previous years of the event. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
The Phelps-Tavenner House was one of several homes included on the Holly Trail. The home is where the origins of Wood County can be found. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
Inside the Phelps-Tavenner House is a period accurate Christmas tree found in front of the foundations of the original stairway of the home. The house is the oldest occupied home in Wood County. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
Built in 1808, the Mazza-Swearingen house is home to the original carriage house called “The Lion’s Gate” and was built as a stable house and inn around 1865. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
Tom Hoffman and Charlie Smith’s house was home to the Gerwig and Nedeff families, constructed in 1918 and contains nine working fireplaces. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
An Italianate/Victorian Gothic home, the McCandish-Sammel-Burdette house includes the original 174 year-old “Eldorado Gold” wallpaper, dating back to 1849. (Photo by Gretchen Dowler)
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PARKERSBURG -- Although the surrounding area was a bit dreary Saturday evening due to rain, Christmas cheer was found inside several homes along the GFWC Parkersburg Women's Club Holly Trail.
"Our trail this year is very unique," said Holly Trail Chairperson Judy Parrish. "Most of the homes are in one area, so you'll be able to get to all of them quickly without any traffic."
Parrish, among other club members, served refreshments for those that attended the Holly Trail during the weekend. JoHelen Beckley, the most-seasoned member of the club, was also serving refreshments. Cookies, punch, tea, and coffee were available at the Parkersburg Woman's Clubhouse with live music by several pianists, including Rachel Johnson, who has played for the event before.
Members of the club said that there was no specific way to start the trail and that it was up to personal preference.
"It's not just one of us that pulls this together," Parrish said. "It takes a tribe, and there are about 50 volunteers involved in the Holly Trail from our members to the house owners."
Found along the trail was the Phelps-Tavenner House, where Wood County's origins lie; the Mazza-Sweringen House, containing the 1885 carriage house called "Lion's Gate"; the Gerwig/Nedeff House, a Spanish style home where 13 children were raised; the McCandish-Sammel-Burdette house, the site of the original 174 year-old "Eldorado Gold" wallpaper; and the Batemans' house, a Victorian style home full of family energy.
Many of the homeowners on the trail agreed on one thing, the history of the homes enlightened not only the Christmas cheer of the season but also the heart of the area.
"It's an important historical part of Parkersburg," said co-owner of the Gerwig/Nedeff house Charlie Smith. "People don't know what we have here and this trail shines a light on them."
Gretchen Dowler can be reached at gdowler@newsandsentinel.com.