Homes to be featured in STEP Into Christmas, a home tour fundraiser for Solutions That Empower People (STEP), have been announced and include five historic homes in the Claiborne Avenue neighborhood in Rocky Mount. The tour will be held December 7, 1-5 p.m. Tickets are available online now.
The Claiborne Avenue neighborhood, which includes High Street, has a long history in Rocky Mount. Included in the tour are two homes, built in the late 1800s which have been renovated to become a bed and breakfast and a guest house; a large home which once served as a well-known medical center, and an all metal “Lustron” home. In addition to the five homes, the tour will include a brief stop at the historic High Street Cemetery. The tour homes will each be decorated in styles unique to their owners.
“Ticket holders will have a one-of-a-kind opportunity to see first-hand the inside of some of Rocky Mount’s most distinctive historic homes,” said Marc Crouse. “People who take the tour will be able to see parts of homes not often open to the general public. They will hear about their history and stories about the families who have lived there. It’s going to be a very fun afternoon.”
The homes included in this year’s tour are owned by David and Kimberly Lang (220 Claiborne Ave.); Jim and Diane Lovell (Earth Environmental at 235 Claiborne Ave.); Amy and Matthew Vann (The Claiborne House at 185 Claiborne Ave.); Glenna and Larry Moore (The Angle Guest House at 215 Claiborne Ave.); and Dr. Richard and Teresa Harrell (an all-metal “Lustron” home at 170 High St.). The event will also feature strolling Christmas carolers and seasonal refreshments at the Franklin Center at 50 Claiborne Ave.
Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 the day of the tour. They can be purchased online through Eventbrite.com (search for STEP Into Christmas Home Tour) now and at several local retailers at a later date. Tickets can also be reserved by calling 540-483-5142, ext. 3003.
Presenting sponsors for the event include Carter Bank and Trust, Mt. Regis Center, PAC Interiors, ReMax Lake to Mountain Realty, and the Franklin County Office of Economic Development – Tourism. Other sponsors include Bassett Office Supply, El Rio Mexican Grill, Innovative Insurance Group, Ippy’s, Mid-Atlantic Data & Communications, Valley Star Credit Union, American National Bank, Appalachian Power, Arrington Enterprises, Choice Communications, Collinsville Printing, Hawk Advisers, Haywood Jewelers, Kroger, Member One Federal Credit Union, RRS Food Service, STEP Board of Directors, Virginia Office and Church Supplies, Willard Insurance Agency, and William White, CPA.
With offices in Rocky Mount, Stuart, and Martinsville, STEP offers services to low income and people in poverty in those areas as well as Bedford and Danville. Funds raised during the tour will help support these programs: Early Head Start and Head Start; youth services (LIFES Academy and Project Discovery); senior services (Meals on Wheels, transportation); supportive services (re-entry, homelessness prevention); housing and weatherization; and financial services (tax preparation assistance). STEP’s mission is to empower people to overcome barriers to economic, educational and developmental success within the communities it serves.
