Five homes featured in Germantown’s Holiday Home Tour

Shaffer said the program “seems to satisfy the desire of people to see other people’s homes decorated for the holidays.”

Five homes will be open to show off slices of Germantown’s rich history.

This year’s tour includes the homes of:

Bob and Jamie Surface, 11011 W. Market St. This two-story Greek revival house, built in 1853 by Jacob Koehnle, was once owned by Mose Walker, a former Ohio senator and Civil War officer. This house is new to the tour.

Steve and Mary Cotterman, 32 E. Market St.: Likely built about 1825, this home is thought to be the earliest residence of a German couple, Jacob and Anna Bauer, from Pennsylvania.

Irma Bell, 29 S. Main St.: This house was built in the 1820s or 1830s for Edward and Maude Huber Hoerner and their daughter, Manzella Schultz Clark, a fire damaged the home in 1952. The home is now owned and was restored by Steve and Mary Cotterman.

Bret and Victoria Stoneking, 1201 W Market St.: Built in 1865 by famous Germantown distiller David Rohrer, the Victorian house, with Eastlake influence, has 15 rooms, marble mantles, a unique 51-step staircase and inside shutters.

Tim and Sue Smiley, 147 S. Cherry St.: Once the site of the Endress Tobacco warehouse, this home was built in the late 1920s for the Germantown Lumber Company’s manager, Charles Weber. The wood floors are layered in picture frame style with a glass-framed pocket door. The fireplace is surrounded with Rockwood tiles.

Also, during the home tour:

• The new Germantown United Methodist Church, 525 Farmersville, will feature a large display of nativity sets.

• The Germantown Senior Center, 33 N. Cherry, will have a train display and refreshments.

•I Like Dat Antiques at the corner of Cherry and Market streets will be open extended hours, as will The Historical Society of Germantown’s museum, 47 W. Center St. New sale items available.

Presale tickets will be available starting at 1 p.m. at the museum. Tickets are $8 for members and $12 for nonmembers. Children younger than 10 are free.

Contact this writer at (937) 696-2080 or williamgschmidt@ frontier.com.