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Taylorville Christmas Home Tour and Tea Feature 19th-Century Rehabs and 'My Fair Lady' Themes

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[November 23, 2007]  TAYLORVILLE -- A holiday high tea and a home tour will be presented Dec. 7 and 8 by the Taylorville Tourism Council. Proceeds from both events will help fund reconstruction of the 1902 rotunda on the third floor of the Christian County Courthouse on the Taylorville square.

Two talk-of-the-town restorations and six other sparkling locations will open their doors to the public for "Carriage Lane," the 18th annual Christmas Home Tour to be presented by the Taylorville Tourism Council.

Scheduled for Dec. 7 and 8, the pilgrimage will showcase triumphs of history achieved by imaginative local rehabbers who saved a 1911 carriage house on East Market Street and rescued a turn-of-the-century residence on East Park Street.

Situated on heavily traveled streets, both revivals slowed traffic and drew throngs of sidewalk superintendents as work progressed. A rare survivor of Taylorville's gilded age, the carriage house inspired organizers to coin "Carriage Lane" as the tour theme.

In the spirit of the season, the eight destinations on this year's tour will be festooned in Christmas splendor. Previews from host families indicate a banner year for twinkling lights outside and rooms aglow inside. On the pilgrimage will be:

• Carriage house of Dan and Joyce Marsango, 402 E. Market St. Tour-goers will be the first to view the meticulous restoration of the formerly rundown structure, once a grand mansion known in its later years as the Colonial Hotel. The mansion succumbed to the ravages of fire and the elements, but the revitalized, two-story, 3,000-square-foot carriage house is poised for a new century with brick tick walls and "reserved" buggy parking. Fancy fare will be served all day, both days, at the carriage house during the tour's annual complimentary tea.

• Tour-goers will feel they're let in on secrets when they wend among seldom-seen artifacts from the Christian County Historical Society Museum, including an 1864 coin minted for Abraham Lincoln's re-election. Items will be on display both days at the carriage house, which soon will become the law office of attorney David F. Fines.

• Home of Donnie and Sherry Mathon, 614 E. Park St. The rehab of this old house evolved over nine months as the couple guarded Old World grandeur and installed 21st-century updates. Basking in the glow of three chandeliers are turn-of-the-last-century millwork, a grand staircase, hardwood floors and fireplace. Tour-goers will visit the first, second and third floors, totaling 4,000 square feet, and Donnie's basement getaway, complete with heated floor, saluting NASCAR and Harley-Davidson.

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• Home of Sam and Angie Calandro, 9 Laurel Court. French doors open to a new glass-walled, slate-floored sunroom warmed by a black granite fireplace. A dramatic living room and Tuscan kitchen evoke the family's Italian heritage with style and sentiment.

• Home of Bev Graham, 700 W. Main Cross. Outdoor lights and fanciful figures create a winter wonderland around this 1905 classic home. With a decorated tree in every room amidst heirloom furnishings, original five-panel doors and stained glass windows, the interior showcases generations of toys and ornaments that peel back the decades.

• Home of Dale and Mary Etta Smith, 801 W. Pauline St. Mary Etta's bold and beautiful decorating style is a singular sensation. The marquee attraction will be a brilliantly decorated tree filling a bow window and known as the neighborhood's "jewel box." Brown, almost black living room walls, an "out of Africa" bedroom and English cottage kitchen dazzle the senses.

• Home of Norman and Ruth Ann Ward, 3941 Kennedy Road. Newlyweds Norman, a retired coal miner, and Ruth Ann, formerly principal of South School, chose this enchanting white cottage with red shutters as their retirement haven. The amazing Technicolor great room, garage turned yellow-dappled sunroom and Norman's Kansas City Chiefs hideaway define their new lives.

• First Presbyterian Church, 116 E. Franklin St. Hand-poured chocolates, homemade baked goods and other treats will be stocked at a candy shop-out. Live music will be performed by local groups, The Backyard Gang and Harmony. Celebrating its 150th anniversary year, the church will open its gloriously decorated sanctuary, featuring golden angels, both days the same hours as the tour.

Priced at $8 in advance and $9 starting Dec. 3, home tour tickets may be purchased at Collage Rose Gifts and Crafts on the east side of the Taylorville square, The Top Drawer in Springfield, Junction Garden Center and News-Palladium in Pana, Red Rooster Inn in Hillsboro, and Ishmael Insurance Services in Nokomis. Children 12 and under can participate free with an adult. On tour days, tickets will be sold at all homes and Cottage Rose.

A portion of tour proceeds is designated for reconstruction of the 1902 rotunda on the third floor of the Christian County Courthouse on the Taylorville square.

(Home tour)

For more information, call 217-824-9447.

[Text from Taylorville Tourism Council news release]

'My Fair Lady' Will Take Tea in Taylorville

"My Fair Lady" is the theme of the 11th annual British-style tea to be presented Dec. 7 and 8 by the Taylorville Tourism Council.

All tables will be set by local hostesses using their own china, crystal and silver. Fanciful centerpieces reflecting holiday themes and distinctive tableware, including museum-quality heirlooms, create a sparkling vista. The arrangements are so elaborate that even chairs wrapped in tulle and satin add to the pageantry.

At the start of each tea, one attendee will be chosen by random drawing to reign as "My Fair Lady" over the event. Each day's winner will be "crowned" with a magnificent hat created for the occasion by local artisan Jane Kutch. Winners will keep the hats as a memento of teatime in Taylorville. The hats will be adorned in ruffles and flourishes that evoke costumes worn by Audrey Hepburn as Eliza Doolittle in the Oscar-winning file "My Fair Lady," the inspiration for this year's tea.

The annual vintage style show, narrated by tea chairman Charry Fines, will feature fashions from Yolande Perkins Oglesby, a great-granddaughter of Taylorville pioneer Horatio Vandeveer, who rode the old 8th Judicial Circuit with Abraham Lincoln. Highlighted by a flapper-style dress, the apparel will be modeled by local students.

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Each guest will be served a sumptuous menu comprised of six sandwiches, a scone and five desserts, all prepared by celebrity chefs, and hot raspberry tea. Among delectables will be the "Henry Higgins Cucumber Sandwich" from Marylee Lasswell of One-East Market Restaurant and Ann Bandy's "Get Me to the Church on Time Wedding Cake."

Priced at $20 each, tea tickets may be reserved at Cottage Rose Gifts and Crafts, on the east side of the historic Taylorville square, or call the shop at 217-824-9447. The ticket price includes a keepsake cookbook.

The tea is a special event of the annual Christmas Home Tour on the same dates, organized by the Taylorville Tourism Council.

Proceeds from both events will go toward reconstruction of the 1902 rotunda on the third floor of the Christian County Courthouse on the Taylorville square.

(High tea)

For tea and tour information, call 217-824-9447.

[Text from Taylorville Tourism Council news release]

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