Hospice offers home tour
Published 5:04 pm Thursday, November 10, 2011
Hartman School The Historical Association of South Haven (HASH) was formed in 2002 to collect and preserve South Haven history. Since 2006, the former Hartman School building, a Michigan historical site built in 1906, has been its home. The organization has been restoring and improving the building, while taking care to keep its heritage intact. The Historical Association welcomes home tour visitors for refreshments and an opportunity to view current exhibits. Refreshments will be served throughout the day at the Historical Association of South Haven, 355 Hubbard St., South Haven.
The Annual Holiday Hospice at Home Homes Tour is Dec. 4. All proceeds are used by South Haven Hospice at Home to provide hospice and bereavement care in the South Haven area.
“This year, we will be featuring a variety of homes, from historic to recently built, and from simple to elaborately decorated,” said Beth Fones, Hospice at Home volunteer coordinator. The public can tour the following homes from 1 to 5 p.m.:
Smith: 61641 Eighth Ave.
Keith and Fran Smith take great pride in their three floors of holiday decor. Christmas trees of various sizes and colors adorn every room in the home. The lights, candles and collections of snowmen are everywhere to be admired.
Kayse: 40 Columbine Drive
The newest home on the tour, completed in November, is the retirement home of Nancy and Phil Kayse. This custom-built, Craftsman-style, energy-efficient home is built in a wooded setting with a walk-out lower level leading to a ravine and creek. The Kayse family demonstrate their love for the holiday season through their decor.
Fritz: 433 Cherry St.
The Fritz family discovered this hidden treasure in 2010. Today, it reflects much TLC by the new owners and their artistic friends. The original white oak floors are restored to a dark mahogany, hosting cottage white trim and shabby chic decor appointed antiques for a time capsule journey. The hidden gem in this charming home is a full-size indoor pool with a spiral stairway leading to the loft.
Getman: 21185 Ruggles Rd.
This three-story glass and stucco home has been carefully constructed to preserve the surrounding dunes and stays true to nature with a landscape of rock and natural plants. Once inside, it has the feel of a contemporary tree house. A unique staircase and a Getman collection of art makes any visit a memorable experience.
Beatty: 1006 Ravine Rd.
Chuck and Debbie Beatty built and moved into the home, “Sacajawea’s Woods,” in March 2009. Named after the Indian squaw who helped lead the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the rustic home is a timber-frame style with knotty hickory, knotty alder, knotty pine, granite and stone.
Tickets are $15 per person and may be purchased in advance in South Haven at the Hospice at Home–South Haven Office at 05055 Blue Star Highway, the South Haven Visitor’s Bureau, MacDonald Drug Store, Wolverine Hardware or in Bangor at Swanstra Drug Store or by phone at (269) 637-3825.
Tickets are also available at the homes on the day of the tour for $20 per person.
For more information about the Hospice at Home Homes Tour or Hospice at Home, call (269) 637-3825 or (800) 637-3820, or go to www.hospiceathomecares.org.
