On Saturday, December 5, the Clifton Forge Woman's Club will present "Homes For The Holidays" - a Christmas homes tour.

From 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. the participating homes will be open and the participating hosts/hostesses along with club members will be on site to answer questions about the unique home and decor.

The cost of the tour is $10 per person and proceeds will benefit local charitable organizations such as the Clifton Forge Area Food Pantry, Clifton Forge Main Street's beautification efforts, the Salvation Army among others.

There will be five homes open. One of these will include Anne Koethcke's home at 1708 Jefferson Avenue. Anne uses collections of family treasures, quilts, china and the works of many local artists to decorate her home. She enjoys the use of "live" plant materials and will use holly, pine, boxwood, ivy, paperwhites, poinsettias, hydrangeas and amaryllis during the holiday. Koethcke grew up on a large cotton farm in Arkansas and her home reflects the souther-style decor with the use of cotton balls, cotton art and a cotton-stenciled floor.

Dimmitt and Jim Houff will open their "Shutlz" home at 1611 Jefferson Avenue. Oversize brick shaker style roof and cottage windows mirror architectural choices in Colonial Williamsburg. The home is positioned with a majestic scenic view to the west. Family collections of Christmas ornaments and decorations capture the spirit of the season, both inside and out.

Craig Hudson and Fred Johnson at 1414 Grace Avenue have a colonial brick ranch home with eclectic furnishings. An eight-foot revolving tree loaded with deorations is featured in the living room/ Angels, creches, snowmen, and Santa Claus and a host of animated figures are used in every room. Decorations are not confined to indoors. Last year there was an old Santa relaxing on a hammock supported by two palm trees in Hawaii after his taxing journey on Christmas Eve.

Ruby Murphy with her daughter and son-in-law Debbie and Len Faulkenberry live at 727 McCormick Blvd. Built in 1901 this late Victorian style 17-room house has been occupied by only two families, the Westermans who built the house and the Murphys/ The house features a 'widow's walk' and wrap-around porch with a gazebo on one end and a flower house on the other. The orante staircase and wide foyer topped with gingerbread carpentry are among the unuaual features inside. Ruby and Debby decorate four themed Christmas trees - a Victorian style, a peacock tree, a Santa tree and a sugared fruit tree. The outside will be decorated as well in keeping with the season and will feature white floral baskets and poinsettia swags that were originally used my Mrs. Westerman.

Ridgely at 118 First Street is the home of Johnette and Don Roberts. This modified Tudor style home with Arts and Crafts influence was built in 1902. The home remains virtually unchanged in design and exterior appearance. This home will be remembered as the home of Ambrose and Rives Cosby Ford and later their son Kent Sr. and Bernice Ford with their family. The Roberts bought the home in 2003 and are working to restore the two-acre landscaped garden surrounding the house.

Tickets will be offered in advance from any garden club member and also in Clifton Forge at Heirlooms, The Club Car, Country Gardens, and Owens Pharmacy and in Covington at the Main Street Shoppe. The club requests that no children under the age of 12 plan to attend.

Refreshments will be offered at the Murphy/Faulkenbury home. The tour may begin at any home.