Holiday Tour of Historic Homes to light up Decatur

DECATUR  – The Albany and Old Decatur Historic Districts will present their annual Historic Decatur Christmas Tour next month, inviting the public to a unique opportunity to step back in time and experience the enchanting beauty of beautifully decorated historic homes, each adorned with festive lights, ornaments and seasonal decorations.

More than a dozen tour stops of homes, churches and historic places will be open for viewing as part of the self-guided tour Dec. 9 from 3 to 8 p.m. Along with seeing some of Decatur’s most historic and architecturally significant dwellings, the festive event offers shopping, carriage rides and live holiday music.

This year’s tour features four homes in the Old Decatur Historic District and three homes in the Albany Historic District, each beautifully decorated with luminaries, fruit, greenery and thousands of lights, four historic churches, the Old State Bank Building, the Historic Decatur Union Train Depot and the Carnegie Visual Arts Center.

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.

A 150-year-old home will make its debut on the Christmas Tour of Homes. Shadowlawn is at 504 Line Street in the Old Decatur Historic District. It was given the name due to the towering oak trees that surround the stately home.

Participating properties include:

Albany District

• Brueggeman House, 614 Sherman Street SE
• Henkel-Naumann House, 632 Jackson Street SE
• The Stone House, 619 Jackson Street SE

Old Decatur District

• Shadowlawn, 504 Line Street NE
• Hunt-Vaugh-Perrin House, 406 Canal Street NE
• Lampkin-Guy-Conkle House, 601 Oak Street SE
• L.R. Nash House, 415 Walnut Street NE

Other Sites

• Westminster Presbyterian Church, 801 Jackson Street SE
• Vintage Faith Church, 411 Sherman Street SE
• First Baptist Church, 123 Church Street NE
• Central United Methodist Church, 616 Jackson Street SE
• Historic Depot and Railroad Museum, 701 Railroad Street NW
• Old State Bank, 925 Bank Street (headquarters)
• Carnegie Visual Arts Center, 207 Church Street (secondary headquarters)

Along with the self-guided tour, this year’s schedule includes a holiday market at Westminster Presbyterian Church and Decatur Methodist Church will host a live Nativity.

Entertainment at the Carnegie Visual Arts Center includes an appearance by Santa Claus  and carriage rides ($20 per person and weather permitting).

Adding to the festive and enchanting experience, costumed Christmas carolers will be performing at the Old State Bank and other sites, food trucks will be in front of the Old State Bank and downtown merchants and restaurants will be open before and during the tour.

Tickets for the Historic Decatur Christmas Tour are $30 each and can be purchased online at https://decaturchristmastour.com/itinerary-tickets/. Admission is free for children under the age of 12. Tickets also may be purchased in advance at 810 Antiques, Bank Street Antiques, Decatur Morgan County Tourism, Jimmy Smith Jewelers, Miss Muldrew’s, Tammy Eddy Antiques and Interiors, Carnegie Visual Arts Center and Hartlex Antique Gallery (Madison) and on the day of the tour at Carnegie Visual Arts Center and Old State Bank.

Proceeds from the tour are used to preserve, protect and enhance the character and legacy of the historic neighborhoods.

For a schedule of events and more information on each property, visit www.decaturchristmastour.com or contact Historic Decatur Association President Michael Rogers at 256-758-3405 or [email protected].