The West Liberty Business Association announces the West Liberty Christmas Tour of Homes is slated for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 12, featuring three private family homes in the area.
New this year, the event also includes a village-wide Christmas Lights Contest that is designed to get the entire community involved, business association representatives said.
“Everyone living within the village of West Liberty is encouraged to decorate the outside of their home for Christmas by Dec. 12. Then residents and tour attendees alike are encouraged to drive around the community and upload a photo to Facebook of their favorite decorated home using the hashtag #wlchristmaslights,” association members said in a press release.
The home that receives the most votes will win $50 in Liberty Bucks to be spent shopping locally for the holidays.
Tickets for the Christmas Tour of Homes can be purchased the day of for $20 per person at the Liberty Township Room in the Town Hall or discounted tickets can be purchased for $15/person ahead of time at Solomon’s Garage, Civista Bank or the Town Hall office.
Here’s a look at three tour stops:
• The first stop is Jack and Angela (Ginn) Garrett’s home, 208 N. Detroit St., located just two houses north of C&R Pharmacy.
“It truly is a gem in the West Liberty downtown landscape. Angela has lived here since June 2018, all the while completing a major renovation and transformation, that the people of the West Liberty village have loved witnessing. Moving to West Liberty had been one of Angela’s bucket list goals,” members said.
Mrs. Garrett was first attracted to this residence because of the location and the age of the home. It was built by George Gorton in 1904, and he was a jeweler in West Liberty who ran his business out of what is now the parlor, utilizing a separate entrance.
One of the homeowner’s favorite aspects of the home is the wraparound porch and the foyer leading into the parlor, which features doorbell, woodwork, stairway and original craftsman floors.
Mr. and Mrs. Garrett were married in February 2020, at which point he moved in and began contributing to the renovation and décor as well. The homeowners enjoy collecting Civil War era relics and Victorian period antiques.
• The second stop is the Ron and Bobbie Gratz home, well-known through the area as a Piatt family landmark, and the former Pioneer House gift shop, located at 10107 Township Road 47, West Liberty, just down from the Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek.
The couple found the home on a whim when Mr. Gratz searched the Internet for homes for sale in his native Logan County. They had lived in and around Columbus and Cincinnati since their marriage in 1966, but were then searching for something closer to their grandchildren in Delaware County.
“They could hardly believe their eyes when the 1828 cabin was the first listing to pop up,” business association members said. “The rural setting, and pleasant 50-mile back road drive to their family made it the perfect getaway location.”
The Gratzes have lived at the cabin since the weekend before Thanksgiving 2013 and have kept busy since cleaning up the property, adding an outbuilding and gardens, as well as becoming involved in the community through the West Liberty Historical Society and the Garden Club. She is also an avid collector of Christmas décor and is excited to share her home on the tour this year.
Their home includes many unique features, from Dutch doors in the master and dining (welcoming) room, the original cooking fireplace, to the small room above the master bedroom where they are told a freed slave hid other slaves in transit on the Underground Railroad. The couple’s favorite feature including the sprawling back porch as well as the front porch, and they have an old picture on the front porch they featuring two figures who likely were Daniel Boone and Simon Kenton.
• The third and final stop is the Jeff and Kelli Stoner residence, 6845 Ludlow Road, Cable. They are the owners of the West Liberty Ice Cream Parlor, and parents of three children and one grandson. They also are involved in the community through Quest Community Church and as members of the Lions Club and the Business Association.
The Stoners have lived in this home since 2003, and were first attracted to the residence because of the spectacular views of the valley below. Their favorite spot is sitting on the front porch watching the sun set. They also enjoy hosting gatherings of family and friends. Their favorite pieces within the home include antiques and Grandma Stoner’s China.
Corporate sponsors of the event include Adriel, Bell Hankins Realty, Bobbi’s Bungalow, The Carpet Gallery Inc., Country Friends of Ohio LLC, Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Home & Cremation Center, Greens Hills Community, Logan Lawn & Landscaping, LT’s Uniquities LLC and Thompson, Dunlap & Heydinger.