By PHYLLIS ZORN

Staff writer

For Merle and Michelle Flaming, this holiday season will be the first they enjoy in a home the couple bought last year and spent months renovating.

After the Flamings bought their house at 1729 Upland Rd., they completely remodeled it into a sunny place with a lovely view of Marion County Lake.

Walls were removed, flooring was replaced, and a modern kitchen was created in front of the original kitchen.

Flooring on the ground level of the house is gopherwood, the wood specified in scripture as used to build Noah’s Ark.

“If it’s good enough to build an ark, it’s good enough,” Michelle Flaming said.

As part of renovation work, the Flamings added a pavilion behind the home for a comfortable place to spend time outdoors.

The home is one of five that will be open for Marion City Library’s 2023 Christmas Home Tour from 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 3.

The tour, an annual tradition, is the library’s biggest fundraiser. Tickets are $5 each and available only at the library through Dec. 3.

In preparation for the tour, the Flaming house is filled with nativity scenes, trees large and small, a Santa collection, and two trees decorated in honor of two exchange students living with them this year — Alvaro Ariza, 15, of Gines, Spain, and Dominik Marcu, 16, of the Transylvania region of Romania.

Other homes on the tour will include those of Darin and Jona Neufeld, Roger and Janell Holter, and Matt and Jenna Meyerhoff.

The tour will include a visit to Kari’s Kitchen, where drinks will be half off for customers who show their ticket.

Darin and Jona Neufeld, 115 Elm St.

The Neufeld home was built in 1904 by Isaac Good. For 57 years, the five-bedroom, two-bathroom house was home to members of the Good family.

It has been owned by nine owners and has had minor renovations over the years, but its woodwork, floors, windows, and doors are original.

The basement was renovated into an apartment in 1965.

The Neufelds bought the home in 2010. They converted the basement apartment into a guest suite and are adding a master suite closet with bathroom and laundry room on first floor and an all-seasons room off the basement.

Now a six-bedroom, four-bathroom house, the home still has its original dumbwaiter between the basement and first floor kitchens, turret rooms with curved glass windows on all three floors, and its original steam heat system with cast iron radiators.

Roger and Janell Holter, 15 Back Bay Ct.

The Holter home is decorated with eight Christmas trees and lots of deer.

Janell Holter made the decorations.

Featured outside is a wooden manger scene with Peanuts characters made by Roger.

Matt and Jenna Meyerhoff, 60 Lakeshore Dr.

The Meyerhoffs tour will feature a cheerful lake cabin built in the early 1950s south of the Meyerhoff home.

It was built as a place its owners went to socialize with friends. It has had several owners in the years since.

In 2022, the cabin was purchased by Matt Meyerhoff’s sister, Melissa Ryan of Kansas City, for a vacation home. It is a favorite getaway.

The Meyerhoffs operate the cabin as a short-term rental property.

The cabin has two bedrooms, one bathroom, open kitchen and living room areas, a screened porch, a gas fireplace, vaulted ceilings with exposed rafters, original wood floors, a back patio, and a view of the lake.

The back patio and large yard area are other features to enjoy. Christmas decoration will be simple and cozy cabin themed to bring just enough holiday spirit to any stay.

Kari’s Kitchen, 301 Santa Fe St.

Kari’s Kitchen was built in 1887 and later owned by county treasurer and farmer John S. Moore. It is now a coffee shop and café.

A Polish pottery collection featuring two trees and vintage ornaments will be displayed during the home tour.

The library will serve refreshments the day of the tour. More information is available by calling the library at (620) 382-2442.