The Friends of the Wayne County Museum Holiday Tour of Homes, taking place Nov. 18 (5 to 8 p.m.) and 19 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.), will feature the homes of Sheryl Jordan, 1014 East 14th St., and Liesel Powicki, 1022 1st Avenue.
Jordan’s townhome has become the first of its kind to be featured in the tour. Pat Gross developed this area in 1980 after creating the first townhome association known as Marywood Home Association.
She purchased this unit, built by Carhart Lumber Company, in 2020, moving to Wayne from Lincoln.
The home includes three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The open layout on the main level highlights a large, cozy fireplace in the living room.
In the basement, Jordan has space for guests and shelves to present her Dickens Village, Cats Meow and book collections.
Jordan has added pieces to these collections for around 20 years, getting them as gifts and picking up new ones at the places she visits.
In her Cats Meow collection, she has replicas of houses in Lincoln and historical places in Washington D.C.
Every year, Jordan and her daughters, Amy Bowers and Jill Sweetland, decorate together for the holidays. They felt excited to spend time decorating the house for the tour, choosing a cheerful, wintery theme, Jordan said.
“It’s a good time to spend together,” Jordan said. “I do have the space, so I look forward to having family come enjoy my home with me.”
Next, Liesel Powicki purchased her 1972 ranch in the fall of 2015. Since then, many renovations have taken place to revitalize the character and charm of the home.
Otte Construction and Hansen Electric have acted as major proponents to help finish the projects last year, Powicki said.
The inspiration for the home’s holiday decorations comes from thrifting and online bloggers and designers.
“A home should reflect yourself and what is important to you,” Powicki said. “It doesn’t matter how much a person spends. I find joy in uniqueness, thrifting treasures and plants.”
As a teacher, Powicki hopes to create a space where others feel welcomed and comfortable. When company comes to visit, she prioritizes making them feel a part of the home.
Along with thrifted treasures, she uses lots of plants to add to the atmosphere. She gathers clippings from loved ones and buys plants from stores like the Flower Cellar in town.
As someone who previously thought she did not have a green thumb, Powicki has grown in her role as a plant caretaker, right along with her flourishing seedlings.
She advises new plant owners to leave new plants in their original pots and put them in a basket instead of repotting.
Visitors on the tour can look at before and after pictures of the changes throughout the home.
Tickets for the event are currently on sale and available at all local banks, Swans for Women and the Wayne Area Economic Development Office. They will also be available at the museum during the length of the tour.
Proceeds from the event will be used for renovation and upkeep of the Museum.
The Wayne County Historical Society is partially funded by the Wayne Community Chest and received a grant from the Wayne County Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.
