Article
Decked Out For a Good Cause
A Christmas Home Tour is a favourite annual tradition for many – an opportunity to get into the holiday mood and pick up some decorating tips. The tours are also important fundraisers for local causes, and often showcase homes which are unique or of historical interest. It’s easy to forget that the festive sparkle and glamour that you see on the tour results from months of planning and hours of work by many volunteers.
The most essential of these volunteers is, of course, the homeowners. I’ve gone on Christmas tours in previous years and thought how lucky the home donors were, getting such beautiful holiday home makeovers. Then I discovered that the glitz and glamour is all whisked away the day after the tour. What a truly generous commitment by the participants who give up their space to the legions of decorators, volunteers and tour-goers.
One such homeowner is Tiffany Driver, whose Aylmer Pine Street house will be part of Aylmer Museum Volunteer’s 8th Annual Christmas Tour of Homes. The organizers begin scouting out interesting spots several months in advance of the tour. Tiffany moved into the historic home in March 2008 and has since done extensive renovations. When she got the call, she was happy to volunteer her home.
Tiffany explains that she had done volunteer work at the Aylmer Museum during high school, under curator Pat Zimmer’s guidance. She realizes the museum’s importance to the community and is very willing to help out with this signature museum fundraiser. She notes that it is a good thing to do, but is a win-win opportunity as it will also be good promotion for the massage therapy business she runs from her home.
Tiffany’s attraction to buying a historic home came naturally – her parents live in what is thought to be the “fourth oldest home in Aylmer.” When she started looking for a place in which to live and work, they suggested the Pine Street home as the perfect layout and location. They have since helped her to put in new flooring, drywall, plumbing, kitchen counters and sink, and natural stone fireplace. Her favourite feature is the upstairs “church window.”
Home tours often include one or more homes that are of historical interest and significance, and provide a nice opportunity to get a close-up look. Tiffany’s home is a 1¾ storey Gothic building, built in 1876. It carries an Aylmer Historic Home plaque and has several classic features of the Gothic Revival style: a steep roof; double Gothic windows in front; eight-sided finials at the front and side; original porch with scrollwork supporting wooden pilasters, and original shutters.
The local architectural conservation group has even provided some history of the past occupants. The house was bought in 1914 by Melvin and Alice Gillis. He was an innkeeper at The Brown House, an Aylmer hotel, and she was a cook there. Their daughter, Eva Gillis married William Star in 1915 – they had four children Helen, Jack, Barbara and Bill.
As with all the homes on the tour, the decorating will be a volunteer effort by several businesses. Those involved at Tiffany’s house include The Prime Ingredient, Spare Moments, Roszell’s Furnishings, Elgin Furniture, Durkee’s, Shelley McVittie and Lydia Harder Pottery. They will arrive during the first week of November to come up with ideas. The flurry of decorating activity will take place throughout the second week of November.
If you participate in the tour, take a moment to notice the home’s distinctive features. Imagine the many traditions that were celebrated there in years past as you enjoy one of the nice traditions of the modern day holiday season.
Tiffany's home is one of four on this year's Aylmer & District Museum Home Tour, which runs from Fri Nov 20th to Sun Nov 22nd. There is also an annual dinner held on the Friday night. See our Events Listings (under News & Events tab) for more details and contact information.