Holiday Home Tour marks its silver anniversary, proceeds to go to charity

The 25th edition of the Holiday Home Tour will showcase six homes, including a home in Jackson built in 1890 and another in Cape Girardeau that was built in the early 1900s.

The tour, presented by Lutheran Family and Children's Services, will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Dec. 1.

Melody Anderson, director of regional development for Lutheran Family and Children's Services, is anticipating a large turnout.

"We want our silver anniversary tour to be the best ever," Anderson said. "With the mixture of traditional and modern homes for tourists to see, we expect it to be a memorable event."

Five homes in Cape Girardeau and one in Jackson make up the tour. The Jackson stop will be the Schearf House, built in 1890, and a stop in Cape Girardeau will be a two-story home built in the early 1900s. The home, located on William Street, is owned by Rob and Cindy Buchheit.

"When my husband and I moved in recently," said Cindy Buchheit, "the house was in a state of disrepair. We've renovated it and we'll have the little things finished up for the tour."

Buchheit said her home won't be filled with over-the-top Christmas decorations but will have a more subtle appearance. She also expects people to notice the home's interior.

"The original hardwood flooring in the front foyer is still intact," she said. "And after we removed plaster in the living room, we exposed the original brick surrounding a coal-burning fireplace. We also have the original hearth above the fireplace."

Buchheit is an interior designer, and while she is glad to help the Lutheran Family and Children's services by exhibiting her home for the tour, she also wants tourists to see what can be done to a home that is less cotemporary.

"We want to show others what they can do to give life back to an older home," she said.

Anderson said the homeowners and sponsors of the event are the heroes of the home tour.

"It takes a lot of time and effort," she said. "Obviously, we couldn't do this without the homeowners. And the sponsors have helped absorb most, if not all, costs associated with the event. Every penny raised will go to programs of the Lutheran Family and Children's Services. We hope to raise $25,000 in recognition of our 25th year presenting the Holiday Home Tour."

Lutheran Family and Children's Services relies heavily on the proceeds. The office in Cape Girardeau offers assisted custody-exchange programs, adoption and foster care services, crisis-pregnancy counseling and seniors counseling.

The Southeast Missourian is a co-sponsor of the Holiday Home Tour.

Tickets are $25 per person in advance or $30 at the houses the day of the tour. Tickets are also available at the Lutheran Family and Children's Services office; Bank of Missouri locations in Cape Girardeau, Jackson, Perryville and Marble Hill; Patrick's Furniture; Southeast Missouri Hospital gift shop; Sunny Hill Garden Center; and American Mattress.

For more information, contact the Lutheran Family and Children's Services at 334-5866 or at www.lfcsmo.org.

klewis@semissourian.com

388-3635