33rd annual Delta Theta Tau Holiday Home Tour set

The 33rd annual Holiday Home Tour, presented by Theta Chapter, Delta Theta Tau Sorority, will be on Sunday, Nov. 22 from 1-5 p.m.

Tickets, priced at $8, are available at Myers' Market, Eitel's Florist, Almost Home, and from any Delt member.

Tickets and cheese balls will also be available next Saturday, Nov. 14 in the Delt booth at the Ridpath Primary School Bazaar.

All of this year's featured homes are in Greencastle and include: Phillip and Georgenna Gick, 911 E. Washington St., Jay and Jackie Hopkins, 1913 Wildwood Dr. (Edgelea), David and Joyce Johnson, 218 W. Seminary St. (Asbury Village), Eric and June Wolfe, 1001 Crescent Dr., and Autumn Glen Assisted Living, 98 N. 10th St.

Phillip and Georgenna Gick are in the process of restoring one of the most significant Italianate homes in Putnam County. It is believed that five different families have owned this home, named "Sunny Hill" by its original owner, Richard M. Hazelett, who had it built in 1868.

The Gicks purchased the home in April 1994 and began the restoration process upon his retirement from the Army in 2006. The grand old home is now listed on the National Register and its restoration is an ongoing labor of love.

To return the structure to a single-family home after decades of being divided into four apartments required removal of the kitchens and bathrooms and several subdividing walls. The solid brick exterior and interior walls presented many challenges.

To date, the house has been stabilized, new wood windows and slate roof installed, and the porches and widow's walk reconstructed. The heating, plumbing and electrical systems have been upgraded with a geothermal system with hot water heating units linked to the system and utilizing a recirculation pump which provides hot water on demand. The nine original fireplace boxes have been restored and made ready for gas logs.

The Gicks brought to this home their collection of furnishings

from around the globe, including 17 chandeliers from Europe and five more from the U.S.

For the holidays the house will be dressed out with five themed Christmas trees, more than 70 German nutcrackers, 14 wrought-iron German Christmas tree stands (used as candle holders), numerous ceramic and porcelain Christmas displays, multiple German Christmas novelties (such as spinning Christmas pyramids) and both red and blue Waechtersbach Christmas dish settings in the Morning Room and Dining Room, respectively.

Many more details about the restoration of this grand home and grounds will be available on-site during the tour.

Jay and Jackie Hopkins are about to enjoy a second holiday season in their three-bedroom, 2˝-bath home in the Edgelea subdivision on the north side of Greencastle. The finished partial basement, with carpet and tiled flooring, is equally comfortable for entertaining friends or a quiet evening of reading or watching TV. The 12-foot bar is made of 100-year-old solid ash from Putnam County.

The home's exterior bricks, and those around the living room fireplace, came from a distillery building in Louisville. Rich wood cabinetry and furnishing are complemented by hardwood flooring and carpet upstairs.

It is obvious that Christmas is a favorite time of year for the Hopkins family as you will find at least five fully decorated trees throughout the home along with several smaller tinsel trees. The dining room glitters with decorations of gold while the trees in each bedroom are themed to match the existing décor. You won't want to miss anything this home has to offer.

After selling their small farm east of Cloverdale, which had been home for David and Joyce Johnson for 37 years, they opted for a completely different lifestyle -- a 40-foot trawler and the Florida Keys became their new home. While living on the boat they traveled "The Great Loop" for eight months. The Great Loop is the circumnavigation of Eastern North America, a continuous waterway connecting inland lakes and rivers with the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway and the Great Lakes. The trip varies from 5,000 to 7,500 miles depending on the options used.

They have recently settled into a less adventurous life in this charming retirement cottage in Asbury Village. On the wall in the office you will find a map of their Great Loop excursion and a power-point slide show running on the computer. The tree in this room is also a remembrance of their many travels -- both on and off the waterways. Another tree in the living room and lots of other Christmas decorations combine with pictures by family artists and a gifted friend to set a festive mood for the holidays.

Eric and June Wolfe enjoy the convenience of living close to everything the city has to offer, but also the feel of country living. Every room and window in this 3,600-square-foot home offers a view of the woods and abundant wildlife. There is something to enjoy every season, whether it's a walk on the two miles of wooded trails, a swim in the 50'x25' pool, or relaxing by the fire. The limestone exterior of this six-bedroom, four-bath home, built in 1979, is complemented by the large limestone fireplace in the great room which is flanked by large windows floor to ceiling. Since acquiring the home the Wolfes have added solid oak hardwood flooring and refinished some existing floors.

Holiday guests can mingle throughout the two-story great room, kitchen, dining, and sunroom areas with ease. A guest suite on the main floor and two bedrooms on the second floor can accommodate overnight guests while preserving the privacy of the spacious master suite.

For the holidays, trees of red and gold, white, green and blue, and one filled with vintage ornaments of the 1960s and '70s help set a festive mood.

There is limited parking at the house and in a small area along the drive, so if walking the long, paved drive is not a problem please park on Crescent Drive.

The Autumn Glen Assisted Living facility on the near-east side offers the options of studio and one-bedroom apartments and multiple common areas where residents can join together for some fun, visit with family and friends, or just enjoy a change of scenery.

Prepared meals are served in a beautiful dining room or residents can prepare their own meals and snacks in their private kitchenette. Other amenities include a card room, cozy TV room, and a library (each with an adjacent enclosed porch), laundry rooms, a hair salon and exercise/physical therapy room. At least one apartment will be open during the tour but we do ask that everyone respect the privacy of the residents and do not knock on or open closed doors. Come see the festive holiday decorations, explore the common areas and enjoy refreshments in the living room.

Once again several Greencastle merchants and restaurants are offering discounts to Home Tour participants. Check the back of your ticket for details and dates of availability and support our local businesses by presenting your Home Tour ticket and enclosed coupon at time of purchase.

Proceeds from the Holiday Home Tour support the Delta Theta Tau Scholarship Fund and philanthropy donations to Putnam County programs. The members of Delta Theta Tau look forward to greeting you at these homes and wish you all a happy holiday season.