Residences in the Albany and Old Decatur
Historic Districts are not normally open for public viewing except when a select
number of homes open their doors during the annual holiday tour. This year’s tour features five stunning homes, along with
the Girl Scout Little House and a special event venue, The Columns of Decatur.
Homes participating this year include the Henkel-Cox House, the Barrett-Faison
House, the Edwards-Digges House, the Dancy-Polk House Inn, and the
McEntire-Bennett House. The Dancy-Polk home and McEntire-Bennett home join the
tour this year in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil
War.
Along with the tour
of homes, neighborhood churches will open their doors for inspirational concerts
and refreshments. The Brass Choir, Handbell Choir and other vocal and instrument
ensembles of the First Baptist Church music ministry will perform, First
Presbyterian Church will present “Jazzin’ the Season” featuring Trish Brown
along with Keith Taylor, and First Presbyterian and Westminster Presbyterian
Churches will feature Carillion Christmas Music. “A Collection of Nativities”
will be on display at the First United Methodist Church Wesley Fellowship Hall
and First Baptist Church will host a guided, narrated tour of the 111 year old
Stephenson Chapel beautifully decorated for the holiday season.
Carriage rides will
be offered beginning at 4 p.m. at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center or at Delano
Park near the tennis courts. Cost for the carriage ride is $10 per person.
Shuttle bus service will also be available from First United Methodist Church to
the tour sites. Many merchants and restaurants throughout the downtown area will
also be open during the tour.
Tickets are $15 each
and can be purchased in advance at the Decatur/Morgan County Convention &
Visitors Bureau, Bank Street Antiques, Trish Land Designs, the Carnegie Visual
Arts Center, and Jimmy Smith Jewelers. On the day of the tour, tickets can also
be purchased at Trish Land Designs, Bank Street Antiques, Jimmy Smith Jewelers,
and the Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors Bureau from 10 a.m. to 5
p.m. and at the Old State Bank, the Carnegie Visual Arts Center, and First
United Methodist Church from 3 to 7 p.m. For groups of ten or more, tickets are
$10 each and must be purchased in advance at the Decatur/Morgan County
Convention & Visitors Bureau. Proceeds from the tour are used for
neighborhood improvements such as tree replenishment and neighborhood public
parks restoration.
Combined, the Old Decatur and Albany Historic
Districts represent one of the finest and largest
collections of Victorian and earlier 20th century craftsman and
bungalow homes in Alabama. The homes date back, in some instances, to the
early 1800s, while most were constructed around the turn of the 20th
century.
A walking/driving tour map of the historic
districts is available from the Decatur/Morgan County Convention & Visitors
Bureau. For more information, call 256.350.2028. For a schedule of events and
more information on the historic homes, visit www.decaturchristmastour.com or www.historicalbanyalabama.com.