The Friends of the Wayne County Museum hosted the biannual Holiday Tour of Homes on Nov. 15 and 16.
This year’s theme was “Christmas Country Tour of Homes” and the tour included the homes of Melissa Dobbins, Elizabeth King (Rose Cottage), Karen Longe and Mark Hill, Laura and Randy Nelson (Dreamer’s Place) and Rhonda and Ron Sebade.
The purpose of the event is to raise money for the museum in order to help maintain the building.
“The museum runs strictly on donations,” Elizabeth King, president of the Wayne County Historical Society and member of Friends of the Wayne County Museum, said. “Because of our limited time being open, we really do not get the money that we need just having tours. Everything that we raise on this tour, with the exception of our expenses, goes back toward the upkeep and maintenance of this beautiful museum.”
The Wayne County Museum has a rich history that goes back to the early 1900s when it was built by Dr. W. C. Wightman.
“It was originally built by a prominent doctor here in Wayne in 1900,” King said. “Around 1904 he sold it to the Ley family, and they had it for decades. It was not until the 70s that they gifted it to Wayne County. The Ley family is extremely generous within our community.”
Different homes are chosen each year for the Holiday Tour of Homes. This year, for the first time, three of the homes chosen were in the country.
“This year I thought it would be fun to have a Country Christmas theme,” Kaki Ley, a member of the Friends of the Wayne County Museum, said. “I knew of three people that had lovely homes in the country, and it is the first time we’ve ever done country homes.”
People who bought tickets were able to enjoy cookies, bars and hot apple cider before going out to tour each of the different homes. Each house was uniquely decorated for the Christmas season.
“I love seeing the different homes how people decorate them,” Ley said. “They’re always a little nervous doing it because they think their home isn’t special or something, but it’s just fun to see what they do with their homes. I try to find homes that are kind of unique from each other.”
The event was a success with a total of 270 tickets sold and $8,100 grossed. This money will help maintain the Wayne County Museum and allow it to continue provided tours and sharing its history.
“It is an absolute gem in Wayne county’s crown, and I say that because not only of the history behind this home, but all of the amazing architectural details that still survive within that building,” King said. “It is just such an honor to be able to be one of the care takers of this home.”
