(Editor’s note: This is the first in a two-part series on the Tour of Homes)
The Dublin Garden Club’s annual Tour of Homes is set for Sunday, Dec. 8 and tickets are now on sale.
The viewing of homes will be from 2-5 p.m. with refreshments served at The Little Church on Grafton from 2-5:30 p.m.
Tickets are $15 each or two for $25 and benefit the Garden Club’s annual $500 DISD scholarship presented to a senior.
Tickets may be purchased in advance from any Dublin Garden Club member, Dublin Floral, Dublin Insurance Agency, Titan Fitness or the day of the tour at any home on the tour.
Homes on the tour include Steven Chambers’ home (1069 CR 305 in Dublin), Roxanne McInroe’s home (502 W. Clinton Street in Dublin), Denise Weems’ home (203 N. Davies Street in Dublin), the William T. Miller Grist Mill (Corner of Elm St. and S. Park St. in Dublin) and The Little Church on Grafton (301 N. Grafton in Dublin.)
Historic and familial signifi cance of the homes is part of the enjoyment of the tour and the Chambers home, located at 1609 CR 305, is one of the highlights, featuring a slew of decorated Christmas trees.
The 3,500 sq. ft. home is currently owned by Steven Chambers and the original two-room house was built by his grandparents in 1924. Over the next few decades the home was added on to and it now showcases six bedrooms and four baths.
The home didn’t have electricity until 1953 and didn’t have indoor plumbing until 1963, Chambers said.
“It was just a farm house for a long, long time,” he said.
The last addition was in 2003 when Chambers added on a spacious dining room showcasing the family’s name of Stroud as well as skylights and windows to let in extra light.
Each tree will feature a description accompanying the decor. Chamber and his cousin spend about 36 hours each year putting up all of the trees.
The home also showcases a quilter’s studio, a spacious kitchen decorated with Coca-Cola and a library.
“I love the history of it and just the fact that we have been here for so long,” he said. “Every single room has memories associated with it and family members. Nobody has roots this deep [much] anymore ... to say you’re the fourth generation of a family to live on a place, nobody can say that much anymore.”