LAURINBURG — There’s no place like the Junior Service League’s Christmas Tour of Homes for the holidays. The tour takes place on Tuesday from 5 to 9 p.m.
This year’s tour focuses on four historic residences in the area.
The annual event begins at the home of the late farmer and inventor, John Blue on X-Way Road. The mansion, constructed just after the Civil War, was built to look like a Mississippi riverboat. It will be decorated to reflect the style of early 1900s Christmas traditions.
Also on the tour is the home of retired Cols. Bill and Terry Parker in Mason’s Cross, where life-sized nutcrackers stand watch as visitors enter through a garland of magnolia and red ribbon. The two-story house was built by W. Frank Wright in 1911.
Terry Parker loves Christmas and it shows, even when not participating in the tour.
“This is the way I decorate my house every year. I’ve been doing it this way for over 20 years,” said Parker who has six trees in the downstairs area.
Glittering miniature deer and flocked greenery adorn a dining room table graced by pieces of Parker’s large china collection. In her English room, a band of angels play among old fashioned angel’s hair garland watched over by blue china nuns atop a secretary.
Parker, a former military nurse, said anyone who had ever been in the military would recognize the where the family had lived based on the furniture and decorations.
Each room is decorated with furniture Parker and her husband picked up in their travels throughout the world.
The Asian breakfast room boasts chests, screens and paintings from Thailand, Korea, and China. The tree is decorated in shades of red and gold, colors significant to Asian culture.
“There’s a story behind every room. This house is a reflection of our life.”
In Gibson, participants will visit the home of Randall and Cecilia Pearson. Their home was constructed in 1910 and was the former home of Dr. John W Neal IV and his family.
The last home on the tour is The Heritage House in Laurinburg.
The Heritage House will also host the Junior Service League’s holiday kitchen. The kitchen will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and during the 4-hour tour.
“The holiday kitchen is a place where The Laurinburg Junior League has baked goods for sale. We have sweets: pies, cakes, cookies, etc. and we also have casseroles that we freeze that people can buy and cook during the holidays with their families. We sometimes have breads, and muffins too” said Katherine Campbell, director of this year’s event.
Tickets are available at Bob’s Jewel Shop, Harley’s Tuxedo and Gifts, and Art by Design, The Red Willow Hair Studio, Bill Evans Company, and Haney’s Tire or from any member of Laurinburg Junior Service League. Tickets are $15.
Proceeds are used to support the community.
“We strive to find charities or projects that are not well known and often overlooked and underfunded,” Campbell said.
Some of the charities that benefited from last year are: Marie Pate Scholarship, Laurinburg Junior League Scholarship, Diba John Scholarship, Habitat for Humanity, Scotland County Department of Social Services LINKS (Foster Care), Tommy Britt Memorial Scholarship Fund, Humane Society, Domestic Violence and Rape Crisis Center, Scotland County Literacy Council, Project In As Much, Covington School Running Program, Church Community Services, Stop Hunger Now.
The group hopes to be able to support those charities again in the upcoming year.
“We hope that everyone grabs a ticket and comes out for all the fun and to celebrate Christmas,” Campbell said.
Homes on the tour:
John Blue House
13040 X Way Road, Laurinburg
Bill and Terry Parker
8521 X Way Road, Mason’s Cross
Randall and Cecilia Pearson
5761 Scotland Avenue, Gibson
The Heritage House
713 South Main St., Laurinburg
