BELPRE - Area residents enjoyed an opportunity to visit several Belpre homes and other locations, including a business and a museum, on Sunday.
The annual GFWC Belpre Woman's Club Town and Country Home Tour featured a total of eight stops.
As she visited the homes in Belpre, Tina Brown, of Parkersburg, said Sunday was the first time she had gone on any of the home tours. She came along at some friends' invitations who thought she might enjoy the experience.
"It's wonderful, the houses are beautiful," Brown said of her experience on Sunday, adding she would like to try other tours in the future.
Doris Hoselton, of Belpre, said she has been on several of the tours and "I love all of them," adding she has gone on the Parkersburg tours as well.
"It takes a lot of work for the people to get it done, it certainly does, but it's worth it" from her own perspective, Hoselton said.
Peggy Davis, of Belpre, thought Sunday's home tour in Belpre was "very, very nice." She likes going on as many of the area tours as she can each season.
"I just like seeing the decorations, talking with the people and seeing their lovely homes," Davis said.
Judy Drake is the owner of 809 Westview Drive, one of the homes featured on Sunday's tour.
Drake said Sunday was her first experience as a host home on one of the tours, although she had enjoyed going on past tours around the area.
"Considering the weather, we've had a nice turnout," she said of Sunday's stream of visitors and the rainy weather.
"I enjoy sharing," Drake said, adding she liked having visitors come into her home to see how it was decorated for the holidays.
Drake said her favorite part of the tour experience was getting her home decorated early this year.
"Now I can sit down and enjoy the rest of the Christmas season," she said.
The homes on Sunday's Belpre tour were: the Duffy Home (also known as the Pride Home) at 1811 Washington Blvd.; the Drake home at 809 Westview Drive; the Lewgood/Nelson Home at 815 Ashberry Drive; and the Snider home at 1812 Rockland Ave.
The other stops on the tour were the Farmers Castle Museum at 509 Ridge St.; Belpre Church of the Nazarene at 1301 Putnam Howe Drive; Peoples Bank at 1902 Washington Blvd.; and The Lark's Nest at 2005 Washington Blvd.
Proceeds raised by the tour of homes goes to the Belpre Woman's Club's services and programs which include providing scholarships, sponsoring the Concerts in the Park series and many other community activities.
Club member Rose Logston said organizers estimated about 120 people visited the homes on Sunday, about twice last year's attendance despite the day's rainy weather. Two new additions to this year's program included music at the church and a visit by Santa Claus to the bank, with both being well received, she said.
