Holiday Home Tour to feature five homes, one church
Five of Hillsboro's finest residences will be spotlighted during the annual Holiday Home Tour, scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 8, from 4 to 7 p.m.
A wide variety of homes are on this year's tour, ranging from a new Willow Glen residence to two adjoining duplexes on South Cedar. First Mennonite will be the featured church, with a variety of table displays and collections alongside food and drink refreshments.
The Home Tour is sponsored by the Hillsboro Arts and Crafts Association, but the event is organized by a committee of five women. Chairing that committee is Judy Klein.
Finding different homes to list on the tour each year is always a challenge, Klein said. The process started back in June.
All the houses on the tour list this year have never been featured before, she said.
Tickets are $5 per person, and they can be picked up in advance at Nancy's Fashions, Emprise Bank, and Dale's Supermarket. Along with the ticket, each person receives a map of the homes and some brief information about each one.
Although you can buy your tickets now, most people generally get theirs at the houses, Klein said. Tour-goers can start at any house.
All proceeds from the tour go toward the Hillsboro summer children's theater.
Each year, the committee tries to get a wide range of homes, from older areas of town to the new addition like Carriage Hills and Willow Glen, Klein said.
Last year was an exceptional year for the tour, with fine weather and great homes drawing more than 550 people to the tour, she said.
The homes featured on this year's tour are:
— Randal and Carolyn Brazil, 516 S. Wilson. The Brazil home has a Christmas tree in each room and a variety of nativity scenes. It's located in a wooded area adjacent to a pond.
— Ken and Ruby Schroeder, 15 Park Ave. The Schroeder home is located amid the duplexes near Parkside Homes. Highlights at the Schroeder home include a 15-piece nativity scene and a china cupboard made from a walnut log.
— David and Linda Mathis, 200 Willow Glen Lane. The open design of this newly constructed house will feature the Mathis' collections of clear glass candle holders and family ornaments.
— Nadine Friesen, 304 S. Cedar. Friesen's home is decorated with a bevy of angels and doves on the upper level, with her snowman collection on the lower level.
— Deanne Duerksen, 306 S. Cedar. Duerksen lives south of Friesen in the adjoining duplex. A Victorian Christmas tree of angels will be a highlight in her home.
