18th annual Christmas Tour of Homes to be held in Greenfield

It is time for the 18th annual Christmas Tour of Homes in Greenfield, hosted by the Greenfield Historical Society. The $10 tour will be held Sunday, Dec. 8 from 12:30-4:30 p.m. and will feature five homes and the B&O Depot.

A chicken noodle dinner will precede the tour at the Grain and Hay Building from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. The cost of the meal is $12 and includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, slaw, roll and butter, drink and a choice of cakes.

Our first house will be the home of Cassie Broyles at 440 North Street. It is a Tudor-style home built in 1938, and Broyles has lived there since 2021.

During that first year, the walls were painted throughout, and a new kitchen was completed. In 2023, new windows were added and the outside trim was painted, along with new light fixtures in the interior. In 2024, the bathrooms in the home were remodeled.

Broyles’ decorating style is farmhouse country. Her Christmas decorations include a Christmas tree with ornaments from everywhere they have traveled and a lot of Santas.

Broyles fell in love with this house because of the architectural style and is amazed at the transformation over the last few years. She is very happy with her purchase and looks forward to sharing it with the guests.

Our second house is the home of Roger and Elizabeth Murphy at 12316 Lovers Lane. This house was built in 2024 after a total loss fire in January 2023.

Because the property was so peaceful and beautiful, they decided to rebuild on the same site. It is an Amish-built Barndominium that has been nicknamed “The Black Sheep Barn.” Their decorating style is organic modern with touches of vintage and farmhouse. While the outside is black, copper and cedar, the white interior is accented with these colors and uses vintage pieces, dark wood and greens and blues to make it feel cozy.

Due to the fire, new Christmas decorations were obtained from thrift stores and auctions. There will be a 12-foot tree and dozens of other smaller trees throughout the home, along with other wooden accents, cedar and pine garland.

One of the most important features was to make the home a zero entry and as accessible as possible to be their home forever. Their favorite items in the home are a barn beam made into a mantle, an old door for the pantry, a stained-glass window from the First Baptist Church and crocks and a stool salvaged from the fire that belonged to grandmothers.

Our third house is the home of Melinda Pheanis Preston at 13113 state Route 41 North. Preston got her inspiration from a magazine photo that she thought would look wonderful on the small hillside of her family farm. Her builder developed the design, starting in 2019 and finishing in 2021.

Her decorating style is mostly traditional, using some furnishings handed down through generations and some newer things to make it comfortable and cozy. Included in the home are things her parents, Dr. Charles and Marvella Pheanis, had, like her mother’s Tiffany lamp and furniture in the west bedroom, quilts made by mom and afghans crocheted by her dad, and dad’s recovery couch from his dental practice, now reupholstered. There is also a downstairs apartment, so she has room for a caregiver when needed.

The Christmas trees will be decorated with several series of Hallmark ornaments and with ornaments collected from her travels. She will also have an assortment of Department 56 Original Snow Village buildings and decorations. Preston especially loves her nativity set with a stable that her mom built.

Preston and her dad were the family gardeners with an acre devoted to vegetables each year. She continues to grow vegetables and enjoys her farm because it is “her dirt’ and it is so special to her.

Our fourth house is the home of Jason and Ali Vesey at 333 Weller Lane. This is a new home built in 2021 with a custom floor plan. The house is a two-story building on 7.5 acres with a barn, patio and inground pool. The family enjoys sitting on the front porch and watching sunset views and wildlife that roam throughout the seasons.

Their decorating style is modern farmhouse with cozy touches. These include special items from family trips, items from outdoor adventures and art from Ali’s great grandmother and grandfather which have been displayed in the History Colorado Center and the White House.

Their family tradition is one of cutting down their own Christmas tree for the living room. Their first tree was a ball and burlap tree, which is growing next to the barn now. Jason loves the holiday movie “It’s a Wonderful Life,” so there will be a variety of movie memorabilia adorning the walls.

The most unique features to the house are custom made furniture made by Jesse Hall, a student of Jason’s when he was principal of Ohio Valley Career and Technical Center in Adams County. Hall is visually impaired and known as The Blind Blacksmith and has made many pieces for the home, including a hand-hewn fireplace mantle.

Our fifth house is the home of Rob and Kris Davis at 301 Weller Lane. In 2020, Rob came up with the idea of selling their home of over 30 years and build their own barndominium next door to their daughter, Ali Vesey.

In August 2020, they listed the house and bought two acres of land from Ali and Jason. In October, Rob designed the home using a computer and broke ground in November of 2020. In January they moved into a fifth-wheel trailer onto the property. In March 2021 Hurless and Sons began building the shell. By November 2021, the fifth-wheel was moved into the garage, and by November of 2022 they moved in the house.

Their decorating style is neutral tones with added pops of color and texture. There are elements of farmhouse mixed with modern accents to make them feel cozy and unique, including a season/holiday changing gallery wall. Christmas is everywhere in the home, and Kris will probably have a tree in each room.

Finally, the B & O Depot will be open to visitors. The historical society wants to share with the community the wonderful model of Greenfield Throughout the Years given to them by Tom Adams. The depot has been remodeled in the past three years with a lower ceiling, new windows and door, lighting and paint. Adams has rearranged his display, added to it and improved the signage and information.

Adams also features Christmas displays in the downtown stores again this year. His beautifully handmade scaled models of our town are amazing to look at and remember our town in the years of 1920-1950.

All five families are excited about the tour this year and hope many visitors come through to see all their hard work and Christmas decorations. The historical society truly appreciates all their time and effort. The tour helps the society carry on its work to preserve and share Greenfield’s history.

The tickets are $10 for the tour and are available at the Community Savings Bank, Nov. 22 through Dec. 6. Tickets will also be available the day of the tour at the Grain and Hay building and at the homes.

Also, if you need gifts for Christmas, we have many ideas available, including our book on McClain High School available at the Grain and Hay building. We also have the 2022 and 2023 Christmas cards that sell 10 for $10.

Remember, a meal will be available at the Grain and Hay from 11:30-1 p.m., costing $12. Come out and support the Greenfield Historical Society and these families who have generously opened their homes for the Tour.

Publisher's note: A free press is critical to having well-informed voters and citizens. While some news organizations opt for paid websites or costly paywalls, The Highland County Press has maintained a free newspaper and website for the last 25 years for our community. If you would like to contribute to this service, it would be greatly appreciated. Donations may be made to: The Highland County Press, P.O. Box 849, Hillsboro, Ohio 45133. Please include "for website" on the memo line.