By ROWENA PLETT

Staff writer

Viewing the holiday décor is a big part of Marion City Library’s Christmas Home Tours, and the people on this year’s tour are eager to show off their homes, as well.

93 Lakeshore Drive

Doug and Lori Heerey have lived at 93 Lakeshore Drive for about a year. The A-frame house features a beautiful view of Marion County Lake from the main floor as well as from a balcony.

The house was built in 1962 as a seasonal lake home on piers, with no heat or air conditioning.

It was purchased in 2010 by the late Garry Dunnegan who remodeled it into a contemporary work of art.

The Heereys have decorated their house with items passed down from their parents and grandparents or purchased as remembrances of their childhood. Each item has a story.

“We like to display things with memories,” Doug Heerey said.

For example, a mid-century silver tree is decorated with antique glass ornaments from both Doug and Lori’s parents’ trees once used in the 1950s and 60s.

The home features Christmas lighting, garland, and other décor.

A cozy, decorated fireplace complete with family stockings will greet visitors as they walk in the door.

A collection of fabric Santas is displayed on an heirloom mid-century plant stand. A screened porch off the master bedroom features a large iron snowman and a snow shovel used by Doug’s father in the mid-nineteenth century.

An upstairs bedroom will feature Christmas bedding and other holiday decorations. And the view from the balcony will be spectacular.

19 Lois Lane

Stan and Karen Williams’ elegant limestone house at 91 Lois Lane was built by Dave and Jackie Crofoot. It features a very high vaulted ceiling with wood beams and a large window wall facing the lake.

The couple has lived there for more than a year. For Karen Williams, the home is a dream come true.

“I always wanted to live at the lake,” she said.

The foyer is separated from the living area by a large, free-standing entertainment center.

The Williamses will display 16 miniature lighted winter scenes, many with moving parts, on the shelving. Karen Williams said the scenes were stored in boxes for several years.

“I so looked forward to displaying the village scenes every year, and it was fun to do it again,” she said.

The kitchen has a natural Christmassy look to it because of its rich red cabinetry and dark green trim. It has large windows that overlook the lake.

The kitchen and living areas both have double doors that open onto a large concrete veranda that will be decorated with lights, a Christmas tree, and greenery.

Three Christmas trees adorn the main floor, including a 12-foot tree in the living room. Four trees stand in the basement. All are artificial because Stan is allergic to pine, Williams said.

One tree is topped by a star that was passed down from Karen Williams’ grandmother. Many of the ornaments also were passed down.

The Williamses were planning to add more holiday décor before the home tour.

513 N. Lincoln

Chris and Paige Costello moved into their new home at 513 N. Lincoln in May. Finishing touches are still being made to landscaping.

Paige Costello said they wanted to create a modern farmhouse. A vaulted ceiling with walnut beams spans a large rectangular kitchen, dining, and living area. Large windows overlook an expansive bottomland.

The Costellos enjoy a screened-in porch at the end of a stamped concrete patio that spans the length of the house.

“We see turkeys and other wildlife,” Paige said. “One day, we spotted a fox near the house.”

Christmas decorations are still a work in progress before the tour. There will be Christmas trees in every room.

“We’re winging it as we go,” Costello said.

411 S. Freeborn

Dr. Randolph Whitely was seen in the Nov. 20 issue of the Marion County Record painting the walls of his home at 411 S. Freeborn in Marion in preparation for the tour.

He has been renovating the house since he bought it a year and a half ago.

His theme is “Christmas at the Tree Farm.” When the decorating is done, the house will be filled with Christmas trees large and small, on tables, on the floor, everywhere imaginable — even along the driveway, he said.

Whitely plans to have visitors try and guess the number of trees he has.

Tickets for the Dec. 8 home tours are $5 each and are on sale at the library. They also can be purchased at each home.