MAGNOLIA MANOR: HOLIDAY HOUSE TOURS OF CAIRO'S HISTORIC MANSION CONCLUDE TODAY

The kitchen has a custom-made wood cook stove that was built in Cincinnati.

Christmas ornaments decorating the home are for sale.

The master bedroom is decorated for the holidays in traditional fashion along with the rest of the house.

CAIRO, Ill. -- Tim Slapinski weaved through the card tables and chairs in the drawing room as he began a tour of the historic Magnolia Manor.

He apologized for a raspy voice, the price a museum curator pays during a busy holiday season.

Several pieces of historic furniture had been moved aside to make way for holiday luncheons. Already that day, more than 60 guests had dined in the drawing room as part of the annual Holiday House celebration at Magnolia Manor.

As the tour started, two visitors appeared at the door, wanting to take a look at the 127-year-old house. Sure, said the volunteers. There's always room for more.

The four-story, red brick Victorian mansion was built by Charles Galigher, owner of a successful flour mill in Cairo. He accumulated his fortune by selling flour for hardtack to the government during the Civil War. He also became friends with Gen. U.S. Grant.

Galigher designed much of the house himself, including unique round bricks used as decoration on the chimney and other places in the mansion.

From 1871 to 1952, the 14-room mansion was home to four private owners: Charles Galigher, H.H. Candee, P.T. Langan and Fain W. King.

In 1952, the Cairo Historical Association formed and decided to undertake preservation of the home as its first project. The Galigher home became Magnolia Manor.

Galigher's youngest son, C. Fred, donated many original family pieces to the museum and helped the historians place items like an umbrella stand, paintings and china in the places they held when he was a child.

Each year, partly as a fund-raising effort, the house is decorated for Christmas. The decorations are all for sale and proceeds are used to maintain the manor. Tours of Holiday House have become an annual event for many along with the luncheons.

Today is the last day for the Holiday House tours, from 1 to 5 p.m.

The theme is "Angels We Have Heard on High" and angels dominate the decorations. A number of whimsical Santas can be found in the library.

Starting this week, holiday decorations will be removed. But the manor is open year round for tours.

As Slapinski walked from room to room, he pointed out furnishings from the Galighers and told stories about the family.

For example, the dining room table with seven leaves seats 25. Galigher had the chairs made in different sizes so everyone would be able to find a comfortable chair.

In the bedroom of the Galigher's oldest son, Frank, a top coat lays over a chair. The room is often called the Grant room, because U.S. Grant, after serving as president and on his way home after a world tour, stayed at Magnolia Manor in this bedroom.

Slapinski tells a story unique to the manor. Grant was sleeping late one morning when servants announced that he had visitors downstairs. Grant dressed in traveling clothes and went downstairs to greet the visitors. As he descended the curved staircase, Grant saw that his visitors were dressed in top coats and hats. He dashed back up the stairs and borrowed a top coat and hat from, Frank. The coat Grant borrowed is on display.

Back in the dining room, volunteer Libby Morin quietly organized the next holiday luncheon. Morin, who had married into the Langen family, lived in the house when she was first married. Her children, she recalled, rode in the dumb waiter and slid down the banister. Occasionally, they climbed out the windows of the square cupola to play on the roof.

From the cupola, a view of both the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers could be seen at the time the house was built. In winter, a view of the Ohio is still possible.

"I have wonderful memories here," Morin said. "It is a wonderful old house."