‘Living in a Christmas Movie’ is how the Historic Weston Candlelight Homes Tour for 2023, has been described. After 42 years of the tour, it remains one of the most anticipated highlights of the year for local residents.
This year’s tour will be on Dec. 2 and 3 from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Weston. Shuttles will run all day so attendees won’t have to worry about driving and parking. The shuttles will be available in a continuous loop throughout the tour. Those on the tour can just look for the Weston Stagecoach’s red bus for service and hop on and off. The shuttles run continuously and there will be shuttle stop signs where people can get on and off.
Tickets are good for either Saturday or Sunday, and people are welcome to use their ticket to view some of the houses on each day if they wish.
There will be five homes on this year’s tour, along with a little, secret event space. The locations will be the Hatchery House at 618 Short St., the Roost at Hatchery House, also at 618 Short St., the Spinner House at 605 Short St., the Apartment above Cactus Creek at 400 Main St., and two houses at 930 Washington St. and 901 Welt St.
Father Christmas also will be available at his new workshop at 523 Main St. and at the Christmas Tree at Main and Thomas streets for photos.
The tour is organized by volunteers at the Weston Chamber of Commerce. Each year they strive to offer never-been-seen homes, and historic homes must wait at least seven years before being on the tour again.
The tour will offer an opportunity to get a glimpse of local history. The Hatchery House, which will be on the tour was built in 1847 by Benjamin Wood. The home is a Weston treasure and a display of the wealth acquired by early Weston pioneers. It’s right across the street from a home that was used by the Union Army during the Civil War. In 1872, it was sold to David Holladay (brother of the Stagecoach King Ben Holladay). In the 1930s, Herbert Doppler turned it into a rooming house and young wartime couples began having babies resulting in the nickname, “The Hatchery.” Today, this five bedroom B&B is a popular visitor destination.
The home at 930 Washington St was once called Winburn Hall. Built around 1900 by a wealthy farmer, Clifton Winburn. This home was considered one of Weston’s finest homes. It has two and a half stories, five bedrooms, a formal dining room, and two parlors.
Cactus Creek is one of Weston’s most popular shops, offering clothing, jewelry, hides, gifts and vintage treasures. The building itself is the site of Weston’s earliest retailer, Cody’s Hemp House, owned by relatives of Buffalo Bill Cody. At the turn of the 1900s, it reopened as Doppler Mercantile, and for more than a decade, it’s been home to Cactus Creek.
Upstairs is the owner’s residence and this year it is going through a total remodel. The tour’s organizers thought attendees might enjoy seeing what it takes to remodel an apartment more than a century old and what it’s like to live on Main Street.
A young family recently moved into 605 Short St and agreed to open their doors for the Homes Tour.
Referred to as the Baker-Gabbert-Spinner Home, it is an early Federal style design with a welcoming porch, winding staircase and tall ceilings. During the Civil War, it served as the Command Post Headquarters for Union officers. In its early days, it was heated through steam pipes from the neighboring Weston Brewery.
For the organizers of the event, the best part of the homes tour is how grateful the visitors are.
“They truly appreciate the opportunity to see inside these homes and the homes’ hosts do such a magical job preparing for the holidays, Lorri Stanislav, vice president/director of the Weston Chamber of Commerce said. “Each year, prior to dusk, the Boy Scouts light the luminaries leading to each home - that is such a special look and has a real holiday feel. This year’s home tour has a movie theme feel because visitors always say that Weston looks like a Christmas movie. Visitors will see some classic references to classic movies.”
Tickets are available online at westonmo.com or through the chamber office Tuesday-Sunday 10 a.m. To 3 p.m.