The 2011 Holiday Tour of Homes displayed some of the mostbeautiful and bright Christmas-decorated homes Brookhaven has tooffer Saturday evening.

 

    Sponsored by the Lincoln County Historical and GenealogicalSociety, hundreds came to tour the four homes and one church filledwith Christmas trees, ornaments, lights and décor.

    “I received the tickets as a gift, and I love it so far,” said tourparticipant Ginny Shirley. “Everything is so gorgeous!”

    The magazine-worthy homes did not disappoint, showcasing elaborateand intricate ornament-decorated fireplaces, chandeliers and frontdoors.

    One of the homes on the tour is owned by Dr. Michael and LeahStewart. The Stewarts’ traditional country French brick designedhome exhibited a Christmas “Candyland”-themed kitchen.

    “I did all the decorating myself,” said Leah Stewart said. “I havebeen working on the decorations for six weeks.” 

    Rita Rich, Lincoln County Historical and Genealogical Societypresident, explained that many hours of hard work go into getting ahouse ready for the Tour of Homes. 

    “We have had great homes in the tour before, and this year is noexception,” Rich said. “The homes are absolutely beautiful.”

    Perhaps the house with the most history on the tour was the SniderHome, built in 1956 by the late Valarie Campbell Mills. About ayear ago Dean and Carla Snider purchased the home, which wasoriginally built by the architect Canizario. They have beenremodeling since.

    Aided by up-and-coming local interior designer and owner of ChitChat Furnishings Cathy Pigott, Carla Snider has redone the wholehome except for the bathrooms.

    “This is my first time doing the Tour of Homes, and Cathy helped medecorate my home for this occasion,” Carla Snider explained.

    Another home on the 2011 tour designed by Pigott was the Wesley andLeWaire Harvey Waycaster home. Built in 1975, the four-bedroom,two-and-a-half-bath home just went through a complete makeover aswell and showcased a mixture of modern and vintage Christmasdécor.

    According to Rich, this is the first year the Tour of Homes hasbeen run by the Lincoln County Historical and GenealogicalSociety.

    “Ticket sales go toward running the Lincoln County Historical andGenealogical Society and Jewish Heritage Museum,” Richsaid. 

    In addition to the tour, Rich said the group is also sellingreprinted 1904 cookbooks, which can be bought at the museum Tuesdaythrough Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.

    According to Rich, Saturday’s tour was not only a good way to raisefund to help keep the museum up and running, but also a perfectopportunity to show off the beautiful homes Brookhaven has tooffer.

    “We have so many beautiful and historical homes in Brookhaven,”Rich said. “Why not show them off?”