CHRISTMAS HOME TOUR SPONSORED BY THE JACKSON SWIM TEAM TODAY

The home of Marilyn Landewee, 444 Hwy. 34.

The home of Vi and Norman Colyott, 802 East Washington.

Zion United Methodist Church, Hwy. Z in Gordonville.

With the holiday season fast approaching, the Jackson Swim Team has once again set its gala annual Christmas Home Tour, the largest fund raiser for the organization, to be held today from 1 to 5 p.m.

Two new homes, along with one historic house and one historic church, make up the tour. A special treat will be a reception with musical groups scheduled throughout the afternoon at the Zion United Methodist Church in Gordonville on Hwy. Z. The homes featured on the tour are those of Ron and Sheila Hecht, 6065 Hwy. 61; Marilyn Landewee, 444 Hwy. 34; and Vi and Norman Colyott, 802 East Washington in Jackson.

The Hecht Home is a story-and-a-half brick structure with a wrap-around porch in front and screened porches off the back. The great room features a freestanding staircase, a stone fireplace and a dramatic 21-foot high tongue and groove cedar board ceiling. Decorated for the holidays, their home has a classic country charm. Sweetheart Florist is assisting the Hechts with decorations.

The Landewee Home is a slate blue two-story home in the vernacular farmhouse style overlooking Meier Lake. The drive is line with lighted candy canes and gumdrops. The home also has a large Christmas tree at the top of its oak staircase. Greenery, tiny bears and Victorian colors decorate the home for the holidays. Marilyn Landewee is a drapery specialist and decorator at her own business.

The Colyott Home was built around 1908 and designed by Theodore C. Link, best known as the architect who designed Union Station in St. Louis. A historic home in the Romanesque Revival style that was popular at the turn of the century, it has been restored and converted into a bed and breakfast. Originally, the home belonged to the L.A. Goodwin family and had seven bedrooms, a huge entryway, living room, library, formal dining room, large eat-in kitchen and two sunrooms. Oak archways, staircase and wainscoting, oak and pine floors, three sets of oak pocket doors, fireplaces and stained glass windows reveal workmanship and style not often seen today. The Colyotts' hard work and vision has paid off for them and for the town of Jackson. Dalton Florist is assisting with fresh Christmas decorations.

The last site on the tour is Zion United Methodist Church. The church is situated on a hill a few miles west of Gordonville on Hwy. Z. The congregation is celebrating their 150th anniversary this year. Zion can trace its roots back to 1844 when the families of Conrad Boettcher, Conrad Deneke, Henry Meyer and Frederick Stoffregen came from Germany and settled in the area. These families built a log church that served the congregation for 28 years. The present brick structure was constructed in 1876 and, as the congregation grew, an addition was built in 1891. The Jackson Pipe Organ Company of Chester, Ill., made the organ that is still played every Sunday. The stained glass windows of the church were made in St. Louis and are post-depression style. The church has been beautifully decorated for the season with a large outside lighted nativity scene and a tall cedar Christmas tree by the altar.

Zion will sponsor a reception in the Education Building with coffee, tea and cookies. In the church, there will be special musical groups performing throughout the afternoon. Included are: Dr. Carol McDowell and Anne Marietta playing a flute duet; the Southeast Children's Choir from the Music Academy; a Gaelic Ensemble performing traditional Irish music; Mike Kasten playing the pipe organ; and other talented soloists form the area will be featured.

The Jackson Swim Team has gone from a summer-only to a year-round program. Participants range in age from four to 18 years-of-age. The money raised from the tour will go to help pay for equipment, payroll and operational funds. The parents' organization helps locate homes, prepare the publicity and tickets and gets support from area florists to help with decorations.

Tickets may be purchased at any of the homes today, or call Ruth Ziegler at (573) 243-8169, Sally Lougharty at (573) 204-1690, or Janet Statler at (573) 243-5316.