CHECK BACK LEADING UP TO THE DAY OF THE TOUR FOR UPDATED INFORMATION!
Sunday, December 6, 2026
3:30pm – 8:30 pm
We are excited for you to join us for the enchanting world of our Christmas Candlelight Tour of Homes! Immerse yourself in the holiday spirit as we showcase the festive splendor of 9 charming historic homes and sites.
This magical tour, which began 46 years ago in 1980, takes you through a winter wonderland of beautifully decorated homes, each telling its own unique holiday story. Some homes are old where others are new, some historic and storied while others beginning their own special legacy. As you venture into each, marvel at the timeless architecture or unique character, delight in the festive decorations and displays that capture each homeowner’s warmth and joy of the season.
TOUR DATE and TIME:
Sunday, December 6, 2026
3:30pm – 8:30pm
Reminder: Be prepared to show your e-ticket(s) or paper ticket(s) at the first home stop that you choose. Wristbands will be provided for entry to the rest of the homes.
ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FOR THE TOUR:
RAFFLES FOR 50/50, WREATHS & DINING PACKAGES
TOUR MYSTERY ITEM HUNT – Clues will be given to search for an item located in one of the tour homes. No touching necessary! A winner of a $50 dollar gift certificate will be randomly drawn from all correct entries identifying the item and which home it was located. Please submit your entry to our email at: tourofhomes@oldhouseguild.org
The mystery item hunt clues are (TBA):
LIVE MUSIC – Instrumental or choral entertainment at various locations during the tour
DONUTS & HOT BEVERAGES – Available to purchase at certain locations during the tour
VISIT THE WEBER HOUSE – (414 Wayne Street)
You may purchase raffle chances at $1.00 each or 6 for $5.00. You must have a tour ticket/wristband & register at the Weber House at 414 Wayne Street, Sandusky, OH on the night of the tour. One additional door prize entry is given for every 6 wreath chances you purchase for $5.00. Here is where the other raffles will take place. GOOD LUCK!!
Winners for all the raffles and door prizes will be drawn following the tour and you will be contacted if you are a winner.
LOCATIONS FEATURED FOR 2026 (click on the address for directions):
TO VIEW A CITY MAP OF LOCATION POINTS CLICK HERE
In respect to the property of each home on the tour, please remove your shoes (no bare feet!) upon entering each home. We suggest bringing a bag to carry your shoes in. No interior photography permitted without the homeowner’s expressed permission. Thank you for your cooperation!
414 Wayne Street – Weber House
414 Wayne Street (Harlequins Theater)
2917 Milan Road (Cemetery Chapel) –
Follett House Museum – 404 Wayne Street – This home was built between 1834-1837 for Oren Follett.
INTERESTING FACTS OF THE 2025 HOMES FEATURED:
414 Wayne Street – Built in 1872 by Jay. O. and Frances Moss. Jay worked with his father, Augustus H. Moss, at the Moss National Bank in Sandusky, subsequently coming its president. He was also president of the Sandusky, Mansfield and Newark Railroad, and later associated with the Sandusky Street Railway. Frances, through her acquaintance with Andrew Carneige, appealed for and was awarded a $50,000 grant to build a library in Sandusky. In 1917, Herbert Ferrell Sr. acquired the home and sold it in 1926 to the Sandusky Business Women’s Club. They used the home for civic club meetings, service groups, wedding receptions, dinners and the like. In 1970, the Harlequins Theater group purchased the home since they had been renting the coach house at the rear of the property for many years. They sold the home to George and Francis Gilbert in 1973 retaining a 99-year lease on the coach house. In 1984, after using the home as their residence for over a decade, the Gilberts sold the home to the law firm of Wickens Herzer Panza. After consolidating the firm to Avon, they sold the home in 2023 to Andy Weber and Christine Parthemore. Their plans are to return the home to community events as the Business Women’s Club had done. They will maintain offices for themselves as well as offer a one room Airbnb in the basement.
414 Wayne Street (Harlequins Theater) – Built in 1882 along with the home in front, the coach house is where the carriages, buggies, horses and supplies were kept before the advent of the automobile. The Harlequins is Ohio’s oldest continuously running community theater, having staged its first performance in September of 1927. The year 2027 is the organization’s 100th year and is looking to showcase its longevity. They originally didn’t have a permanent home for staging productions, so they used local schools, churches, an attic and a warehouse. In 1940, they found a permanent home inside the coach house of the historic mansion in front. They cleared out horse stalls, poured a concrete floor, built a stage addition and converted the loft into a green room and storage for costumes and props. In recent years, they have added new light and sound systems, and with the aid of Lewco Inc. added support beams, formed a new light and sound booth above the audience at the rear of the theater. They have regularly received top awards from the Ohio Community Theater Association.
733 Wayne Street – Built in 1888. It had been the home of D. C. Powers who had a dry goods store in downtown Sandusky. Between the 1920s or early 1930s, the home was converted into two apartments. Previously it was owned by Terry Robinette and later Lease Schock. While living in Massachusetts, Chris & Gregg had searched online for a Victorian home to restore to its original charm. Finding this one, they bought it immediately in early 2016. Began returning it to a single family home, removing an upstairs kitchen. Only 10 months into their work, the home was featured as a work in progress on our 2016 tour of homes. Although still a work in progress many nice changes have occurred. Descendants of the Powers have given furnishings and pictures that were originally in the Powers’ home during that bygone era. A magnificent Victorian bedroom set was purchased by Chris & Gregg that was picked up in Michigan. They added two spectacular crystal chandeliers adorning the parlor and dining rooms. The 1920s kitchen has antique appliances. There is a spectacular vintage bathtub in the bathroom. Look for the 1950s aluminum Christmas tree, abundance of depression glassware, a collection of green uranium glass pieces that glow under black light, vintage Christmas twinkle lights and items of Gregg’s artwork.
328 Fulton Street – Built in 1870. In 1994, Paula spied the home for sale while driving by and was immediately drawn to it. The home was not occupied but exuded charm despite its pink painted exterior. A neighbor across the street, who was a real estate agent, showed her the home. She bought it on the spot from owner Mabel Cronenberger, widow of Marshall. Although Mabel was living with her daughter at the time, she hoped the house would be preserved as it was. Paula was thrilled that the exterior was all original and untouched and was amazed at the ornate front door. She has maintained all the original hardwood floors, moldings, upstairs bathroom fixtures and parlor fireplace mantel and tile surround. She has enjoyed 32 years raising her family in the home. The only modernization was the kitchen and a downstairs bathroom. A note of interest is the hole in the ceiling of the dining room. A previous occupant was cleaning a gun in an upstairs room and it discharged, going through the floor and ceiling below. It has been there since the purchase. Paula has left it as a curiosity and in relevance to the home’s history.
311 46th Street – Built in 1949. Constructed by Sandusky Lumber, it was designed and the first home of Lynn & Ruth Curtis. The next owner was their nephew, Bernard Palmer, who happened to be Jim’s Perkins High School guidance counselor. In 1992, Palmer sold the home to Rodney & Kathleen Scott, who sold the home in 2005 to the McGookeys. The home was everything Jim and Anne were looking for and it had a warm comfortable feeling from day one. Having lived here for 22 years, they exposed the beautiful hardwood floors. They converted a downstairs bedroom into an office for Jim. It has a rug from Morocco and in the hallway is a mirror from Turkey. They still have the original blueprints from which the home was created. The kitchen dining table, chairs and baker’s rack along with the scenic painting of the wall were from the Scott’s tenure. Note the Christmas village that Anne’s father made and the garland around the front entry which came from a display window of the Halle’s department store in downtown Cleveland.
402 46th Street – Built in 1931. The home was first owned by Henry and Josephine Holzaepfel who had a novelties store in downtown Sandusky from 1908 to the 1950s at 157 Columbus Avenue. By the 1920s, the store transitioned to sporting goods and the first Kodak film processing. In 1975, Lee and Sandra Jewitt obtained the home, selling to the present owners in 2010. She was attracted to the home having a New England background and liking the floor plan and neighborhood. Owning the home for 16 years, it is a sanctuary after a busy work schedule. The original hardwood floors were uncovered. Wanting a complete chef’s kitchen, one was created by joining the dining room with the original small kitchen. In 2024, an outdoor kitchen was added for their entertaining purpose. In 2017, an addition to the home created a first floor master bedroom and bath with deck and pool just outside. A new 3 unit HVAC system replaced the old boiler heating system in 2019. In respect to the home’s heritage, the old cast iron radiators, though now inoperable, were kept in the kitchen and living room. The moldings and French doors were preserved, and replicated with the changes to the home. Look for the hydrangeas in the holiday decorating.
2917 Milan Road (Cemetery Chapel) – Built in 1885. The chapel was constructed at the same time as the sexton’s home and cemetery office. It was used for funerals and to store bodies in the basement during the winter months when the ground was too frozen to dig a grave. Back then, graves were dug by hand and shovel which was a slow difficult task. Over the years, the chapel fell into disrepair and was vandalized. In 1967, mention is made of the roof and steeple needing repairs along with other possible improvements. In the fall of 1969, a new ceiling was completed. In June of 1971, the steeple was replaced with the involvement of the Sandusky High School adult education apprenticeship program. In 1975, the stained glass windows were repaired and covered with a protective material. A $5000 grant from Mrs. Leola Gangware, daughter of J. J. Dauch, was made in her father’s memory towards the chapel’s restoration. It was entered into the National Registry of Historic Places in 1983. It is still used today in inclement weather when graveside committal services are not possible.
404 Wayne Street (Follett House Museum) – Built between 1834-1837. It was the home of one of Sandusky’s most prominent early citizens, Oran Follett. The home remained in the family until 1894 when James Flynn Sr. purchased it. He sold it in 1896 to Sarah Palmerton. She and then her descendants remained in the home until 1929. The house was rented for 2 years by the WPA for its headquarters and then remained vacant until 1939 when the Sandusky Board of Education purchased the house. With the completion of a new addition to Sandusky High School in 1973, it was no longer needed. The house was leased to the Sandusky Library Association on January 1, 1974 for the purpose of establishing a museum, further ensuring the preservation of this historic stately old house. It is considered one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the state of Ohio. Today it houses Sandusky and area memorabilia and artifacts. In good weather, the widow’s walk is a sensational treat with a spectacular view.
Disclaimer: The home owners and organization mentioned in the ticket disclaim any liability for any bodily injury or damage to property which may occur during the tour to which the ticket applies. Those participating do so at their own risk and responsibility.
To learn more, email us at: tourofhomes@oldhouseguild.org
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