The Holiday Season is a festive time in Gordon County with special musical programs, Christmas church services, school events, Christmas parties, and much more. One event that has become a tradition in Calhoun is the Christmas Tour of Homes, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Calhoun.

This year the Tour features three family residences and one historic former residence that is now the home of The Gordon County Historical Society. The Rodney and Susan Cole home at 104 Mims Drive, Russell and Christy McBrayer’s home at 700 Lance Road, the Joann Meadows home at 105 Woodridge Drive and Oakleigh House at 335 S. Wall Street are the featured residences this year.

The Cole and McBrayer Homes

The traditionally styled two-story home of Rodney and Susan Cole features 3,500 square feet of warmth and beauty. This lovely four bedroom family home was built in 1975 and has been beautifully decorated and maintained through the years. The home features rich tones such as glazed copper walls, chocolate, sage and gold palettes, yet one may be surprised at the touches of whimsy such as seen in the red Alabama/Georgia themed kitchen.

Rodney and Susan’s artistic taste and touches can be seen throughout the house such as in the hand-striped gold and crème walls in the dining room and the elegant decor of the home. From the front door to the backyard pool, you will be entranced by the way this house welcomes you. You are invited to come visit this lovely home during the Tour of Homes from 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4, graciously shared with the public by the Coles.

The McBrayers have also generously opened their home to the public for the Tour of Homes this year. This spectacular 20,000-plus square foot home, designed to look like Washington’s Mount Vernon from the front and Jefferson’s Monticello from the rear, was the former residence of Bert and LaBelle Lance at 700 Lance Road. Renovations are nearly complete, but the McBrayers caution that this is a work in progress. The three-level home features eight bedrooms, 11 bathrooms, four dens or living rooms, as well as multiple dining areas, two kitchens, maids’ quarters and two offices. Visitors will be wowed by many of the architectural touches, such as intricate moldings, burl wood paneled walls, cedar lined closets, as well as the large-scale feel of each of the rooms. A sense of place and history is achieved in the reclaimed bricks from a local elementary school that once stood where First Baptist Church is now located, as well as a vault from the original Calhoun National Bank.

This home is full of history and if walls could talk we would hear of visits by President Jimmy Carter and Roselyn, sheiks, celebrities and television personalities such as Tom Brokaw and Ted Koppel, as well as a long list of politicians.

Come step into history and enjoy this beautiful home on Sunday, December 4 from 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Tickets are $20 each and may be purchased at Century Bank, GB&T, Gordon County Chamber of Commerce, Harris Arts Center, WJTH Radio Station or from any Kiwanis member. Tickets are also available on the day of the Tour at any of the featured homes. All proceeds from ticket sales go to provide college scholarships for local students. Call 770-548-3233 for further information.