As a soft blanket of light snow fell, more than 200 people went on the Short Hill Historical Society’s Christmas in Hillsboro Historic Homes Tour. Five homes in the small town that had been meticulously decorated with fresh greens in a colonial style were open to ticket holders from noon to 6 p.m. Volunteer docents in each home shared information, pointing out various architectural features, historical details, and items of interest. The Christmas in Hillsboro Historic Homes Tour is the signature event of the Short Hill Historical Society, a local non-profit organization in its 41st year.
Preparing for the Christmas in Hillsboro Historic Homes Tour takes months. After agreeing to open their homes for the tour, homeowners spend a considerable amount of time preparing their homes, researching the histories of the homes, and working on information that the docents use. Decorating chairs are recruited for each home and they plan the decorations, pull together teams of people, and make all of decorations that fill each home. As the day of tour approaches, there are two weeks of intense activity gathering loads and loads of fresh greens that will be used to make the decorations, participating in a greens workshop where all of the teams gather to make the decorations before moving on to place the decorations in the home and make final touches. About two months before the event, the Short Hill Historical Society puts out a call for volunteers to help with all aspects of the tour, as the non-profit needs about 100 volunteers for the Christmas in Hillsboro Historic Homes Tour. The Short Hill Historical Society thanks the homeowners and decorating chairs for this year’s tour: Stephen and Emilie Moskal, Claudia and Andy Forbes, Kim and Steve Zurchmeide, Greg Burnside, Bonnie and Chris Miskovich, Bill Johnston, Nez Morgart, Dot Shetterly, Dee Taplin, and Belle Ware.
Along with the volunteer support, many local businesses offer their support through sponsorships. The Short Hill Historical Society thanks the following for their generosity in sponsoring the 2017 Christmas in Hillsboro Historic Homes Tour: The Purcellville Gazette, Alta Terra Farm Bed and Breakfast, Bank of Clarke County, Birch Hollow Yoga, Browning Equipment, Doukenie Winery, eink, Fieldstone Farm Bed and Breakfast, Hillsborough Bed and Breakfast, Hillsborough Vineyards, Hunt Country Jewelers, Keel Point, Old 690 Brewing Company, and Silverbrook Farm Bed and Breakfast.
The Short Hill Historical Society, an all-volunteer non-profit, is dedicated to preserving and restoring historic landmarks in the Short Hill region; preserving and enhancing historical information, facts, and stories about our area; and providing experiences that engage people of all ages in learning about and protecting our history. Please consider a year-end gift to the Short Hill Historical Society! Donations can be made online at www.ShortHillHistoricalSociety.org.