Photo by Amy Cherry Tour participants are shown perusing the home of Suzy and Dave Saline’s home on Church St., one of the featured residences on last year’s St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas House Tours and Holiday Mixer.

By Amy Cherry

Staff Writer

Several local homes will be decked out in holiday decor for all to see as part of this year’s the St. Marys Area Chamber of Commerce’s Christmas House Tours and Holiday Mixer.

Now in it’s fifth year the tour showcases local homes and buildings, many with significant historical value, in all their holiday splendor.

The featured homes on this year’s tour include Dr. Jessica Shepherd’s home on Maurus St., the former home of  J. Hall Stackpole home; the Cozy Afghan bed and breakfast at 152 Center St., the former C.A. Lion home; Ed and Cly Hornung home at 616 Sunset Rd., the former home of William Keating and the Proctor House on N. Michael St., the former J.E. Weidenboerner home.

According Sally Wilson, executive director of the Chamber, the home tours committee contacts people who were interested in showcasing their home in previous years but we unable to do so for various reasons.

“We take into consideration people’s suggestions of home they may want to see as well as brainstorm on possible home options. It is a difficult date for some people as some do not have their homes decorated,” Wilson said. “This year we have a nice mixture of an older and new home plus a lodging facility.”

Taking place on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009, tour participants will meet in the Municipal Parking Lot on Depot St. The large group will be split into four smaller groups, each of whom will board buses traveling to separate homes. Buses, provided by Muccio Transportation, will depart the parking lot at 1 p.m. Participants are asked to arrive at the parking lot by 12:45 p.m.

Following the home tours the group will gather at The Village Peddler on Erie Ave. in St. Marys for the holiday mixer portion of the event.

The store will be specially opened for the event with tour participants receiving 25 percent on any purchases.

A menu of assorted appetizers, an assorted dessert bar, hot apple cider, hot chocolate and coffee is on the agenda. The mixer is slated to run from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Tickets for the event cost $25 and may be purchased in advance at the Chamber office at 53 S. St. Marys St. or by calling 781-3804. Deadline for reservations is Wednesday, Dec. 2 or until sold out.

Tour attendance typically ranges from 60-80 people, with the highest participation rate of 100. Wilson noted that 90 people would be considered a sellout crowd due to the group size restrictions allowed inside each home at a time.

Tours typically take two hours with the mixer lasting between 2-2.5 hours.