Hollydazzle Historic Tour of Homes

Kick your holiday off with a dazzle and support two great historic Franklin County Places: The Leander Reeve Old Stone House and the Harriman-Nielsen Danish Immigrant Farmstead.
Buses sponsored by ABCM will leave from Bandshell Park to transport you through time to enjoy our Franklin County Christmas traditions from yesterday to today.

Our earliest Christmas is celebrated circa 1854 in the Old Stone House. You’ll see our scrub cedar tree, popcorn garlands and dried apple chains. Are those rag socks hanging by the stove? Santa will bring a few pieces of hard candy, new knitted caps, and maybe, if it’s been a prosperous year, a fresh orange will fill the toe. Leander Reeve built this “proper house” for his city wife. We think they’d both be honored to know we still remember his love for her.

Travel forward to 1910 when H.E. Boehmler commissioned a Prairie School architectural student to design his grand home. The home retains most of its original woodwork, stained glass, inlaid doors and fixtures. The story of the Boehmler family, their loss of a young daughter and their dashed college hopes is as interesting as the home itself. The home is decorated in period-authentic Christmas greens.

1918 Danish Immigrant Christmas. Christian and Anna Jensen Nielsen’s home is all decked out in Danish style for Christmas. Enjoy a cup of coffee and something sweet to go with it when you step back in time at the Harriman Nielsen Farm. In 125 years only three families have occupied the home. The builder, Dr. O.B. Harriman was a physician and community leader. Henry Skow, was a local contractor and built many additions to the town including the Carnegie Library, Masonic Lodge, theater, school buildings and churches. The Nielsen family emigrated from Denmark in 1905 and through much diligence and hard work was able to purchase the property in 1921 from which they operated a dairy and raised two daughters.

Carl and Sophia Borcherding were united in marriage in 1893 and to this union came two daughters and eight sons. The two eldest sons Carl and Ed helped their father (Carl) build this beautiful farmstead from a Sears and Roebuck package kit in 1920 and 1921. Carl and Verna lived here from 1921 to 1928. Tour our beautiful bed and breakfast; you’ll find a Christmas tree in every room.

Christmas traditions 2009. Tour one of Franklin County’s newest businesses when you go to Hansell’s Towns End. There in an old barn you’ll find a warm welcome as you end the tour with a warm drink or two. Taste wine from Franklin County grapes and berries. Then take some home to start your own holly dazzle Christmas tradition.

Won’t you join the fun? December 5, 2009, 1p - 4p repeating December 6, 2009, 3p - 6p. $15 in advance; $20 day of the event. Tickets are available at downtown retailers, local banks and Center One.

Visit www.oldstonehouse.org


Hampton Today made possible by sponsors like:
Michelle Hartman – Tupperware –641-373-8880
Denise Passehl – Watkins – 641-580-4052
Franklin County Farmers Market 641-456-4811
Patrick Palmer – The Computer Guy – 641-420-1234
Seven Stars Restaurant – 641-456-5378
Debra Brown – Melaleuca - 641-458-1114