Doors open to five magnificent Madison houses Dec. 1

 

WRITTEN BY GREGG L. PARKER

PHOTOGRAPHS BY JOSHUA BERRY

 

Visitors can view turn-of-the century charm, opulent furnishings and beautiful holiday decorations during the Christmas Tour of Homes in downtown Madison.

Madison Station Historical Preservation Society is sponsoring the tour Dec. 1 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The tour homes are located on Martin, Front, Maple and Church streets in the downtown historical district.

“The Christmas Tour of Homes is the kickoff of a full year of celebration for Alabama’s 200th Anniversary and Madison’s 150th Anniversary,” tour chairperson Joni Haas said. “There will be an event each month to celebrate.”

To view monthly activities during 2019, visit www.madisonal.gov/Madison150 or Madison150AL200 on Facebook.

The 2018 Christmas Tour of Homes showcases five houses with distinct and varying construction trends of their era:

  • Anderson-Sensenberger Home, 17 Front St., Tony and Cindy Sensenberger.
  • Lewis-Wann-Powell Home, 302 Church St., Teddy and Rikki Powell.
  • Pride-Bashore Home, 320 Martin St., Charles and Jennifer Bashore.
  • Thorson-Haas Home, 113 Maple St., Joni and Scott Haas.
  • Thomas-Wheeler-Vaughn Home, 307 Church St., Thomas and Laura Vaughn.

“The time of construction for these houses is close, but the architectural style of each house varies. You won’t see the same thing twice,” Haas said.

In addition, visitors can enjoy the charm of historic churches. Carolers, dressed in period costumes, will sing at the Madison Gazebo and “will surely put everyone in the Christmas spirit,” Haas said.

“Madison is fortunate to have so many beautiful historic homes and even more fortunate that these wonderful homeowners are so generously sharing them with us all on Dec. 1,” historical society president Debbie Overcash said. “Dec. 1 promises to be a wonderful day in Madison.”

Tickets cost $15 each and are available at Main Street Cafe, 101 Main St.; Noble Passage Interiors, 202-204 Main St.; and Madison Station Antiques, 100 Main St. Dec. 1, society members will sell tickets at The Roundhouse on Front Street.

“We hope all of our downtown merchants will join in the Christmas spirit and hold open house Dec. 1,” Haas added.

The historical society sponsors the Tour of Homes every other year. For more information, visit historicmadisonstation.com or Madison Station Historical Preservation Society on Facebook.