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Cindy Puckett, a horticulturist with the Gilmer-Smith Foundation, decorates a traditional Victorian-style tree at the Gertrude-Smith house on Saturday in preparation for the Christmas tour of homes that starts on Dec. 5. The tree is decorated with pheasant feathers, birds, bird nests, bird houses and decorative ribbon.
The Mount Airy Restoration Foundation Christmas Holiday Tour of Homes is in its 24rd year of existence and organizers hope this year proves to be just as exciting, if not more so, than in years past.
This year the tour is on Saturday, Dec. 5 and Sunday, Dec. 6. On Saturday, the hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, from 1 to 5 p.m.
The homes on the tour this year include those owned by Robert and Jean Preston, 606 Rockford St.; Jim and Teresa Lewis of 538 Montclaire Drive; Bill and Tina Johnson, of 140 Plantation Place Lane, Joey and Stephanie Slate of 171 Stonecroft Road; Andy and Kelly Hull of 1866 Haystack Road; and Dr. Charlie and Catherine Minton of 1118 Minton Drive. Two of the Globe Tobacco Lofts will also be on display including Rodney Gwyn in unit 206 and Dustin Bledsoe in unit 300. Flat Rock Baptist Church, at 1335 E. Pine St., will also be decorated for the tour this year.
Also, the Gertrude Smith House will be all decked out for the holiday and is part of the tour. Music will be provided by Tina Smith, who will be playing Christmas music on the guitar from 11 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday. There will be six Frasier firs decorated in the Victorian style on display. Refreshments will be served during the tour.
According to Betty Wright, president of the Mount Airy Restoration Foundation, the ante-bellum Moore house is really the main attraction on the tour. The Moore House has been on the tour every year. It was built in 1840 and is the oldest standing home in Mount Airy. The home will be decorated by all three of the local garden clubs. Tea will be served during tour hours. The house is off North Renfro Street at Moore Avenue.
Care and upkeep of the Moore House is the real reason behind the tour of homes, Wright said. The group uses the funds from the tour each year to pay for upkeep and other bills. She said in past years, about 600 to 700 visitors toured the homes. She is hoping the organization will sell around 1,200 tickets this season.
Tickets for the event are $10 and the tour is self-guided. Tickets are available at the Greater Mount Airy Chamber of Commerce, at the Gertrude Smith House, by calling Betty Wright at 786-4512, or at the individual’s homes on the days of the tours.
Contact Mondee Tilley at mtilley@mtairynews.com or at 719-1930.
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