By Joyce DeWallace, Contributing Writer
Shrewsbury – Since 1957, the Shrewsbury Garden Club has supported many community beautification projects. Members recently held a Holiday House Tour to raise money for their various missions.
The oldest home on the tour was the former Pease Tavern built in 1751 and now owned by Jim and Hannah Kane. (Jim is the chair of the Shrewsbury Board of Selectmen while his wife is a state representative.) The Porter House was built in 1846 as part of the Howe family farm. If walls could talk, these historic homes would have many tales to tell. The other three tour homes were built in the 1970s and ‘80s and represent a broad cross section of neighborhoods throughout the town.
All the decorations reflected the owners’ personal styles, with many of the ornaments collected from travels from as near as the Cape and Nantucket and as far as all corners of the globe. Fragrant greens, yards of ribbon, nativity sets, villages, baskets, fresh flowers and bright colored lights set the stage for holiday gatherings. Local florist and vendors donated goods for the event.
Photos/Joyce DeWallace