Five homes in the Wayne area will be open to visitors this weekend as the Friends of the Wayne County Museum host an event being called 'Christmas Country Tour of Homes."
Homes on this year's tour include that of Melissa Dobbins, Elizabeth King (Rose Cottage) Karen Longe and Mark Hill, Laura and Randy Nelson (Dreamer's Place) and Rhonda and Ron Sebade.
In addition, the Wayne County Museum, located at Seventh and Lincoln Streets, will be included in the tour.
This house was built in 1900 by Dr. W. C. Wightman at a cost of $13,000. It took two years to build. The Wightman family lived here until they moved to California in 1912.
The house was then sold to a local banker, Rollie W. Ley, for about $6,000. The Ley family continued to own the house until 1976 when Mr. Ley's heirs donated it to the Historical Society for use as a museum.
Features of this gracious home include a reception hall of oak paneling, a built-in bookcase with curved glass doors, courting corner, stained glass and beveled glass windows and beautiful parquet floors.
The house is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Refreshments will be served at the museum during the times of the tours.
Tour hours will be from 4:30 to 8 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 15 and from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 16. Tickets can be purchased at State Nebraska Bank, both branches, Elkhorn Valley Bank, F&M Bank, Bloom and Grace, I Wet My Plants, Wayne Greenhouse, Thrift Warehouse, Swans, Wayne America, Inc. office and at the Museum on the day of the tour.
Funds from the event will go toward general upkeep of the museum.
