This has been a historically busy year for the Washington Historical Society.
In addition to helping the city celebrate its bicentennial, the not-for-profit organization was involved in the painting of murals, including two on the former eyesore railroad trestle that crosses Washington Street, the placing of a state historical marker on the downtown square, and the publication of two books: "Washington Rewind" by John Stromberger and "Ricky's Rocket" by Mary Penn.
Founded in 1980, the society is celebrating its own history this week with the 40th anniversary of the society's Christmas Home Tour.
The society's lone annual fundraiser attracts about 300-400 people each year, mostly from Washington, but several from surrounding communities.
The only time the normally five-home tour has been canceled in its history was in the aftermath of the Nov. 18, 2013, tornado that devastated Washington.
"All the homes on the tour that year were fine after the tornado. But we didn't think it was a good idea to hold a tour when 1,000 homes in the city were just damaged or destroyed," said Sue Freeberg, who has organized the tour for nearly 20 years.
Years ago, Freeberg said, before she started as tour organizer, a blizzard postponed the tour for a week.
There's a new wrinkle on this year's tour, which runs from 1-4 p.m. and 6-9 p.m. Tuesday. For the first time in 40 years, an Airbnb is one of the homes.
It's "Little Brick Haven," a one-bedroom, one-bathroom home at 301 S. Main Street, two blocks from the downtown square, owned by Kevin and Katie Beale.
Built in 1955, the home once was a dental office. It became an Airbnb in June and has hosted guests from Michigan, Minnesota and Massachusetts, among other places.
"It's cutely decorated," Katie Beale said.
The other four homes on the tour are at 1752 Kingsbury Road (owned by Dan and Maggie Bagley); 1110 Dixon Street (owned by Phoebe Lersch); 1401 Aspen Drive (owned Scott and Stefani Lindsey); and 1 Winterberry Court (owned by Ryan and Jenny Winne).
"I try to get a variety of homes each year from recommendations and people I contact," Freeberg said. "We don't have any older homes this year. Homeowners, especially who own older homes, have been so generous with their homes through the years. Some have hosted two or three times. I didn't want to keeping asking them.
"I've gotten so many calls after a tour from hosts thanking me for getting them involved. People think it's a lot of work to host a tour stop, but it doesn't have to be. It's anything you want to do."
Freeberg provides "booties" and plastic runners for homeowners on the tour who are worried about snow being brought into their home. Often, those items aren't needed.
"Some people take their shoes off when they enter a home," she said.
Shelley Leman, who formerly was involved with the Eureka Christmas Home Tour, is helping Freeberg this year by providing publicity for the tour.
Tour tickets are $20 and available through PayPal at washingtonilhs.com, or at Nena Ace Hardware, Step Back in Time and Homespun.
Tickets will be sold from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the society's office at 128 Washington Square. Refreshments will be available Tuesday at the office, which also is decorated for Christmas.
For tour information, call Freeberg at 1-309-360-8391.
