Rain or shine, it's time for the Wake Forest Historic Home Tour on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 1-7 p.m. This year's holiday tour will take you through more than 150 years of Wake Forest history from the oldest, circa 1807 Oakforest home, to the 1973 Mutschler House. The first floor of the properties will be open for the tour, with each home hosting a volunteer docent to share information about the properties. The holiday tour, presented by the Wake Forest Historic Preservation Commission and the Wake Forest Woman's Club, is a festive stroll down memory lane only offered during even-numbered years. The homes will be decorated to the nines, allowing you to imagine Christmastimes from long ago. Here are a few on the touring list. You may show your ticket at any tour property to start the tour.
1. Dr. Calvin Jones House, ca. 1820
This Federal-style house was moved three times landing in its current location in 1956. In the 1960s, the Wake Forest College Birthplace Society restored the home.
2. Vann-Sikes-Lake House, 1890
This Folk-Victorian cottage features a wraparound porch with chamfered posts and sawnwork brackets, a central entrance with transom, and diamond-shaped vents in the gables.
3. Ailey Young House, ca. 1875
The Saddlebag form house, built for rental housing after the Civil War, has two dwelling units with a shared chimney in the middle.
4. John Benjamin Powers House, 1893
Built by the local physician, this Italianate-style house includes a porch with turned posts, a balustrade, and brackets.
5. Ledford Student Center, 1934/1980 (former Gore Gymnasium)
The gymnasium was built for Wake Forest College from 1924-1935. It hosted many college basketball games until the college moved to Winston-Salem. In 1980, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary expanded the building adding the student center.
6. Wake Forest Community House, 1939-1942
The Colonial-revival style house and pool were built as a Works Progress Administration project.
7. Wake Forest Christian Church, 1940
This Romanesque Revival-style building was designed for St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church.
8. Oakforest, 1807
Originally constructed in the Federal style, later a Greek-Revival addition changed the front entrance.
9. Forestville Baptist Church, 1860
This is one of the best-preserved antebellum churches in the county. The church cemetery has markers dating back to the early 19th century.
Don't miss this interesting Wake Forest Historic Home Tour with several other houses on the list. Tickets for this holiday tour are on sale until 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 1. And to keep that holiday spirit intact, drive through seven acres of Christmas lights at Piper Lights.
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