Gallatin Holiday Homes Tour Dec. 2nd benefits community projects

Tickets are $5 in advance from any member or at Barton’s Hardware, or $6 at any home the day of the tour.
Frank and Kay Woodruff,
1341 West Grand Street
Frank and Kay, 3-year-old Amy and 7-year-old David Woodruff moved into their brick, hip- roof new house Thanksgiving weekend 1983. It was the first time anyone had lived on the property, which was homestead- ed in 1856 when the Woodruffs came from Indiana.
The north room was added in 1996 and the breeze-way and new garage, with the old garage finished into two rooms, were completed two years ago.
Frank Ausborn Woodruff, Frank’s grandfather, planted a pear orchard on these 78 acres, in the late 1800s. Fifty train car loads of pears were shipped from the orchard in 1926 and it was recognized as the “World’s Largest Pear Orchard” at the 1935 Chicago World’s Fair.
The trees were cleared in the 1940s and Guernsey cows were purchased and milked in the barn now east of the house, by Frank’s dad, John, to make the memorable Woodruff Ice Cream, which he and Frank’s mom, Ivo, made for 50 years. Frank’s dad was one to never throw anything away.
Kay’s dad, R.L. Trimm, a WWII veteran, owned and operated a DX gasoline station for 25 years, was a rural mail carrier and loved going to auctions and collecting things. Kay grew up in the A.T. Ray home, with antique furnishings, before they were appreciated.
Frank and Kay each inherited the “collecting gene.”
Their home has an “antique- able collectique” decor with many beloved “tchotchkes.” It is quite eclectic with old and new, antiques, family and local history, and fun memorabilia. Frank and Kay believe that “three or more things are a collection,” so they have a collection of collections!
James and Nina Meals,
Gathering Place Bed & Breakfast, 23870  252nd Street
Nina Meals said she decorates mainly with a nativity in each bathroom and each room, and a Christmas tree in each room. She has collected about 30 nativity scenes from different countries, including one from Balise; one from Germany; one from Hawaii made from a coconut shell; and a couple from Mexico.
“People tell me the upstair reminds them of a kind of lodge,” said Nina. The upstairs features a huge, two-sided fireplace, standing 20 feet high.
Bill and Linda Boyd,
20282 State Hwy. K
The Boyds home will feature a “little bit of everything,” according to Linda.
Linda said she enjoys collecting sterling silver and has mainly pickle casters, and other “odd things” that you don’t see everyday. “I did everything myself as far as displays,” she said.
Linda explains that she had a birthday party for her husband and friends from Gallatin, who had never visited her house before… “Thought I needed to do the home tour really bad.”
“To me, it’s just my home,” she said. “They said it was unique. Unique how, I don’t know. It’s just the way I decorate. I take quite a bit of pride in my decorating.”
The Boyd home’s floor plan is mostly woodland and open. The tour will also feature a few Victorian era antiques, along with a little bit of family art. Christmas decorations will be displayed in the main room. Most every room has a theme of some kind. An antique bedroom will treat guests on the tour to a collection on display of local clothing, including a wedding dress, which has been authenticated. A collection of Victorian era jewelry will also be on display in that room.
J and Kate Chrisman,
212 East Berry
The Chrisman house has undergone major revisions over the past couple of years and many people have inquired about what has been done and what remains to be done. The Landmark home was on the 2005 homes tour and this year’s tour will allow people an organized way to see the progress of the remodeled 1880s home.
Kate said the house is pretty much finished, except for trim work still to do upstairs. The house is a four-square floor plan with a central hallway and four matching rooms on both floors. Two original fireplaces, and original hardwood floors are among the features.