At the Acacia Masonic Lodge, CCWC historian Sharon Emory supervises the wreath-making demonstration. Photo by Gretchen Kernbach/The Connection
Home Tour Results
Approximately 250 people went through the homes during the day, and about 70 volunteers worked as hostesses and at the two churches and Masonic Lodge for the Silent Auction and other sales.
The Clifton Community Woman’s Club met its goal of increasing the number from four to five annual scholarships worth $2,000 each as well as contribute $10,000 to other local charities. The number of tickets sold online tripled this year from 2016.
On May 18, the 45th annual Clifton Homes Tour, put on by the Clifton Community Woman’s Club, featured three houses located in Clifton and Fairfax Station. The continuous walk-through tour presented the 11,000-square-foot Andreotta home, the “Gone with the Wind” themed Spikes home and the historically designed Atwell home.
The Clifton Community Woman’s Club is a 501(c)(3) organization, therefore the proceeds from the tour go straight to charities. The profits go into “almost 20 different charities, including the Joe Gibbs, the Ronald McDonald House, the battered women’s shelter and scholarships,” said CCWC member Sara Acuff.
For its 45th year, the homes tour added a few new features. At the marketplace, which was in the Clifton Presbyterian Church, “Trinkets and Treasures” made its debut. The table was filled with old, cherished items donated by the women of the CCWC for purchase.
In addition, the three houses were not the only stopping points on the tour. A 52-foot-long RV was open for exploring as well as a massive garage to house it.
“Every year, we are fortunate to donate about $20,000 to scholarships, food banks, and charities because of the generous support of local businesses and sponsors, our visitors, and most importantly, the homeowners who graciously open their homes to us,” said Michele Belisle, CCWC publicity chair.
Each house offered visitors a different experience, ranging from antique elegance to simple modernity. The families who opened their homes also provided tourists with intriguing sights, alternating between homemade exquisite dolls and popular sports memorabilia. Despite the style-variances from house to house, each location was as intriguing as the last in its own unique way.
The Spikes Home
“It is grand. It is a grand mansion,” said Clifton resident Sue Ann Wallace, commenting on her initial thoughts when walking into the house marked first on the tour.
After climbing up 16 steps and walking through the front door into the entrance foyer, “grand” is right. Visitors were faced head-on with an impressive, central staircase, surrounded by arched openings, columns and not to mention the crystal chandelier hanging overhead.
“When I was growing up I was a fan of ‘Gone with the Wind,’ so it was really neat to be in a house that had all sorts of southern touches. I loved the staircase, it made me feel like a southern belle walking down those steps,” Belisle said.
In the midst the expansive space were a couple portraits of Scarlett O’Hara in the living room and dining room, an Elvis-themed guest room complete with a plush chair in the shape of a high heel and a basement complete with Brazilian wood floors.
The Andreotta Home
The second stop on the tour provided tourists with three ventures — an RV that sleeps eight, a giant garage filled with an impressive motorcycle collection and a four-story home.
“It is elegant, but warm. You see family and friends having fun and being comfortable. Yet, they used every nook and cranny for elegant hospitality,” said Springfield resident Tanya Green, who was enjoying her very first time on the Clifton Homes Tour.
The many treasures on display in the home included Thai vases, a hookah from Egypt, a puppet from Prague and specially made Terracotta Warriors. Upon entering the basement, guests got a full view of the Andreotta’s sports memorabilia collection, including autographs from Mickey Mantle, Tiger Woods, Brett Favre and Michael Jordan.
“I love showing off people’s homes and knowing all the money we collect goes to charity,” said CCWC member Christine O’Hara.
The Atwell Home
The inspiration behind this house’s layout comes from the site of Robey’s Mill. Both the house on the historical lot and this modernized version follow a three-story above ground design with a left two-story wing and a full front porch.
Michelle Stein, President of the Clifton Betterment Association, found the Atwell home to be her favorite because it was the most modern.
“The dining room was beautiful. Very well decorated but still simple,” said Stein.
Although the house was technically the most historical stop on the tour, its inside design proved to be the most contemporary of the three. The extensive renovations complemented the house’s original floor plan, while the antiques on display still brought its history to life.
After visitors finished up the tour, people were encouraged to swing by the Clifton Presbyterian Church for a silent auction and minimarket. Vendor CJ Inspirations was present alongside the numerous tables filled with items for auction.
At the Acacia Masonic Lodge was a wreath-making demonstration as well as light refreshments. In addition, the Clifton Primitive Baptist Church was open for tour-goers to visit.
Local businesses and homeowners in Clifton are encouraged to reach out Homes Tour Chairs, Bev Worek (bvworek@aol.com) and Kay Gilbert (kaygilbert@cox.net), as planning for next year’s tour begins this summer.