12 Thursday, Nov. 29, 2012 Tour of Homes - 2012

Vermeer Full Page

50th50th

AnnualAnnual

PellaPella

ChristmasChristmas

Tour ofTour of

Homes Homes

& Tea& Tea

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Ticket profits continue to go towards along history of city beautification

projects...

Ticket Information$12 through Dec. 1

$15 Dec. 2 thru Dec. 7 Ticket Chrm. Marilyn Aldrich

641-628-3545 or 641-780-1461 Tickets available Dec. 6 and 7 at the Tea at Scholte Church

Absolutely No Ticket Refunds.Not responsible for inclement

weather or road conditions.Through the kindness of their owners, it is possible

to show these four Pella homes.

It is requested that visitors abide by the following

rules for the protection of property.

-Wear casual shoes (no spiked heels please).-Please do not smoke in the homes.-You may be asked to remove your shoes.-Be prepared to slip on booties made available at eachstop on the tour.-Plan car pools to ease parking.-Park cars outside all driveways and observe all parkingregulations.-Homeowners reserve the right to prohibit the use ofcameras.-Still cameras only, no videos.-Please do not ask to use the facilities in the homes.(Restroom facilities are available at the tea.)-Please leave all handbags in your car to avoid homedamage. (All you need is your ticket and your car keys.)

Boats

Silver Lining

Leighton StateBank

Work of Our Hands

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Pella Garden Club was founded in1963 by 19 charter members. Five ofthose members are still living: DodyBoat, Joan Farver, Fran Kuyper, LollyMenning & Sylvia Van Zee. Frieda TenHagen was the only charter member toremain active in the club until her deathin 2008.

Club membership is currently 26members. Through 50 years 249 active,civic minded, creative members haveworked to support the various club activ-ities. Of these members 67 moved fromPella and 44 have died. Club member-ship currently is: Marilyn Aldrich,Delores Boerigter, Janna Boyd, JulieBernhagen, Barb Braafhart, LynnBranderhorst, Lois Boeyink, EdieBuwalda, Cindy De Kock, MaryEdwards, Lisa Ehrhardt, Eunice Folkerts,Susie Gharst, Sandy Heerema, EileenHessing, Jane Myer, Marlyn RietveldEbbers, Patsy Sadler, Rose Schultz, LisaVander Hyde, Florence Vander Meiden,Milly Van Dyke, Lois Vermeer, PamWheeler and Sandy Winkel.

The purpose of Pella Garden Club forall 50 years has been to perpetuate theTulip Time Flower Show, cooperate inbeautifying our city and further the edu-cation of members and the public in thefields of flower arranging, horticultureand landscape design.

When Pella Garden Club’s firstPresident Marie Blecha passed the hat atthe first meeting to begin fund raising forthe Beason Blommers Mill restoration,the stage was set for what followed as animpressive history of Pella Garden Cluband historic preservation, restoration andbeautification.

Properties of the Pella HistoricalSociety (the group’s “founding father”)have benefitted greatly from the club’sphilanthropy. Over $147,400 has beengiven toward the Beason Mill,Bicentennial buildings, Village land-scape, Scholte Garden, Pella OperaHouse, Vermeer Windmill, Tulip Timeparade float refurbishing and the TulipTime flower show. Many times a majordonation/pledge from Pella Garden Clubspearheaded the fund drives. Theybecame a driving force in downtownbeautification contributing $54,800toward street trees and park preservation

and landscaping throughout Pella. Over$119,000 has been contributed to theflowering street curbs through 50 years ofsupport.

The club recently completed theVeteran’s Blue Star Marker landscapeand restoration of the vintage windmill inBrinkhoff Park. Many of the floweringtrees along Pella streets and in the parkswere given and some of them planted byPella Garden Club members and hus-bands.

Pella Regional Hospital has been arecipient of over $42,000 in donationstoward landscaping of the hospitalgrounds and the Pella Comfort Houselawn.

The Pella schools have benefittedthrough over $26,800 in donationstoward landscape plantings and yearlyscholarship donations through Dollars forScholars.

Two fund raisers, tulip bulb sales andChristmas Tour of Homes, along withmany hours of donated time and talenthave made all these donations happen.Club members have mastered the plan-ning and organization skills to put togeth-er successful events.

Pella Garden Club is not “all work andno play”. Friendships are developedthrough working together on worthwhileprojects. Coffee times, luncheons andcelebrations are all part of the success.The group has enjoyed many educationaltrips throughout the United States,Europe and British Columbia. Alwaysthe trips involved garden/floral activitiesand historic preservation in keeping withtheir education and purpose.

50 years of donations toward Pella civicbeautification, preservation, restoration

and education by Pella Garden Club

Break down of donationsPella Historical Society

$147,400

City Tulip Lanes$119,000

City of Pella Historical Society$54,800

Pella Schools$6,800

Pella Regional Hospital$42,000

Total – $390,000

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PPI - Half Page

Ken & Linda Nollen514 Broadway St.

Originally known as the Porter-Rynsburger House, Ken and Linda Nollen’s histori-cal home nestled on Broadway Street is filled with history of Pella and their own ances-try. The home was built in 1855 and sits in Pella’s historic registry.

With a theme of “The Splendor of Bygone Days”, guests enter at the back door andstart the tour in the breakfast nook off the kitchen. A buffet table sits decorated withpaper mache’s, Santa Clauses, old time candies, cookies and mock snow globes madeout of old mason jars. More goodies line the island in the kitchen that was made by Ken.

Next is the family room that was originally the dining room but converted into acomfortable place for family to relax and enjoy time with each other. Christmas bellsline the top of an antique chest and metal cones hang neatly in the center of each win-dow. A game of scrabble lies on a table, ready for the family to play in a game.

The formal living room hosts a beautiful tree decorated with mercury glass orna-ments and snowflake ornaments made from old jewelry. An antique chest, over 100years old, from Ken’s side of the family sits in the corner of the room.

Separating the living room and dining room is magnificent garland, draped acrossthe threshold. The dining room is centered with a large table, set with a formal settingand decorated with mercury glass. A dry sink sits ready to serve guests.

Ken’s office nestled into the corner of the house holds a golf theme. A golf bag withclubs is displayed and golf balls are mixed in with Christmas decorations. Windingtoward the front entryway, guests can try out the original doorbell of the house, a handcranked doorbell that dings as you crank it.

Up the narrow, steep Dutch stairs, a spectacular old fireman’s map lines the North

wall, a piece of the house already in placewhen the Nollens moved in in 2004.

One of the spare bedrooms upstairs isLinda’s sowing room, dedicated to hermother and sisters. A Raggedy Ann andAndy doll sits on the bed, made byLinda’s mother as a gift to her grandchil-dren. A Christmas tree sits on Linda’smeasuring table and is decorated withsmall thread spools, button garland andfabrics.

A bathroom that has been recentlyremodled still holds some of the home’straditional pieces. The floors are originaland Linda preserved a three-fold mirror that hangs on the wall.

Another spare bedroom is dubbed the Angel room and the Christmas tree is deco-rated with angels. Linda has preserved a piece of her grandmother’s house and made itinto a shelf that holds up angel figurines.

The house is historically and traditionally preserved but fits into today’s modernstyle of living. The Nollens appreciate what’s been left behind from their ancestors andhave woven it intricately into pieces of their home and into the decorating of Christmas.The Nollens are excited to show and share the home they love this Christmas.

Delores Boerigter1001 Main St.

A large entryway and the smiling face of DeloresBoerigter welcomes you into the 100-year old two-story home on Main Street. Only the third family tolive in the home since it’s been built, Delores deco-rates the remodeled home with antique collectionsthat complements the age of the home with a flair ofcontemporary weaved in between.

Her style is what she calls “homey sophistication”- traditional molded with contemporary. Collectionsof antiques decorate the home with a few contempo-rary pieces placed throughout. Collections of deco-rations complete the home’s theme, “ChristmasCollections”.

The entryway leads into a foyer with a cascade ofgreenery flowing down a staircase and onto a sidetable, inviting you into the warm and cozy home. Tothe left is a handsome living room complete with afireplace adorned with a wood mantle and Santaperched on top. Next is the dining room with a neatvibe of traditional with a contemporary twist.Eclectic colors of bright green and blue decorate theChristmas tree, dining room table and buffet table.Another cascade of greenery flows off the sides of

the dining room table’s centerpiece. Through the dining room is the kitchen and break-

fast nook with Christmas colors of red and green.The cascading greenery is featured here too, on thekitchen table, above the cabinets and on top of therefrigerator. Tucked onto the back of the house is abrilliant sunroom, lined with windows and decoratedin an Americana theme complete with a Christmastree centered in the back.

Before you head upstairs is a buffet table decorat-ed with more country collections and a sunflowerChristmas tree. At the top of the stairs, you’re greet-ed with a long wall of antique picture frames, lit upwith the warm glow of a lamp on a table. A bathroomat the end of the hallway is colored with brilliantreds and stark white walls. A master bedroom andtwo bedrooms, each complete with its ownChristmas tree and country theme, make up theremainder of the upstairs.

As a member of the garden club, Delores is trulyexcited to have her home featured in Pella’s Tour ofHomes, and the efforts of the decorating team willnot disappoint you with its Country Collections

theme. The historical home will be sure to surpriseand please you with its cozy yet glamorous mix ofdécor.

Thursday, December 6 and Friday, December 7 will be the 2012 dates for the GardenClub Tour of Homes.

Pella Garden Club members have been creating decorations for Pella homeownersfor 50 years. Each year decorations have grown more lavish. The basic ideas still exist;angels, flowers, greens, birds, sticks and nests. The Garden Club decorators like towork with many items from nature.

The very first December of the year that the Pella Garden Club was formed, the firstTour of Homes was held. About 200 people bought tickets, toured the homes andenjoyed a luncheon. It was a success! The date was established as the first Thursdayin December.

Through the years the luncheon was dropped in favor of the Christmas Tea. The Teawas better suited to busy lifestyles. For the past 23 years the Pella Historical Societyhas taken care of the Tea for the Garden Club. The 2009 Tea was held at the ThirdReformed Church in Pella. In 2010 it returned to Scholte Church; in 2011 the tea wasat Scholte House. It will again be held at Scholte Church this year for the 50th anniver-sary.

Homes on the tour evolve through several ways. Many are volunteered by the own-ers; some homeowners are asked and have their home open when decorating projectsare completed. Often at least one home is that of a Garden Club member or relative.

Garden Club allots a budget for each home which includes a fund for fresh flowers,ribbon and greens. Decorations paid for from the budgeted funds belong to the home-owner to keep. Homeowners often purchase additional decorations that are used. Allof the decorating is done by the homeowners and volunteers with Garden Club mem-

bers as consultants and helpers.The tour has remained popular for 49 years through its unique decorations and lav-

ish displays. Each year the tour seems to be better than the last. As the crowds havegrown the days and tour hours have increased. The 2-day ticket has eased the crowdsinto a more steady flow. The use of hospital booties has helped with the labor intenseuse of cotton runners in the homes making preparation easier for homeowners andGarden Club gals.

No doubt about it; the week after Thanksgiving is a busy one for the homeowners,Garden Club members and volunteers. However they have started dreaming up ideasand gathering decorations two months before so they’re ready to “put it all together”.This is the time when many hands make light work.

Proceeds from the Garden Club tours have been used in civic beautification andrestoration projects in Pella. Projects have been varied; landscaping, antique fountainrestoration, Beason Blommers Mill restoration, Pella Opera House restoration, curbtulip planting, trees for school children, banners, street trees and projects at theHistorical Village and Scholte Gardens. Current project is Brinkhoff Park landscapingand Dollars for Scholars donations.

Pella Garden Club is composed of 26 dedicated creative members. The purpose ofthe group is to perpetuate the Tulip Time Flower Show, cooperate in beautifying ourcity and furthering the education of members and the public in the field of flowerarranging, horticulture and landscape design.

President of the Pella Garden Club is Susie Gharst, Vice President is Edie Buwalda,Secretary is Eileen Hessing and Treasurer is Sandra Winkel.

50 years of Christmas Open HouseDec. 6 & 7, 2012

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Jim & Sue Brandl1227 Shadow Lane

Lowell & John Olivier-Shaw925 Broadway St.

2012 Tour of Homes 2012 Tour of Homes

CommitteesCommittees

(Boerigter House) Front: Florence Vander Meiden, Delores Boerigter, Jane MeyerBack: Patsy Sadler, Pam Wheeler, Edie Buwalda

Absent Marilyn Aldrich

(Brandl House) Janna Boyd, Eileen Hessing, Lois Vermeer Absent: Lynn Branderhorst,

Cindy De Kock and Milly Van Dyke

(Olivier-Shaw House) Front: Eunice Folkerts, Lisa Vander Hyde.Back: Rose Schultz, Sandy Winkel, Sandy Heerema

(Nollen House) Marlyn Rietveld Ebbers, Barb Brafhart, Mary EdwardsAbsent: Julie Bernhagen, Susie Gharst, Lisa Ehrhardt, Charlie Zylstra.

The oldest home on the tour, Lowell &John Olivier-Shaw’s 1853 Dutch homefrom the historic registry will be sure to sur-prise you not only with its original pieces ofDutch architecture but also with theirunique decorating theme titled “DifferentTypes of Tree & Sinterklaas”. TheChristmas trees found throughout theirhouse are not your typical evergreen.

Guests will enter through the front dooron original hardwoods and ceiling beams,

where they will then visit the master bed-room that features family heirlooms. A fam-ily Christmas tree sits next to a shelf full ofLowell’s family quilt collection.

Into the living room, a wonderful floralarrangement done by the Garden Club sitson a coffee table. Various Iowa artists’ workcollected by Lowell and John decorate thewalls throughout the house and in the livingroom. Unique and creative collections ofChristmas trees made from wood and rebardecorate the room.

Next is a cozy kitchen sprinkled withDutch artifacts from the Netherlands along-side contemporary pottery pieces.Chocolate molds, cookies, candies,Pepernoten cookies and Hindeloopen,foods associated with Sinterklaas time, aredisplayed. A collection of Dutch spoonsfrom the Netherlands decorates one wall ofthe kitchen and an antique Dutch high chairsits underneath a window with Dutch lace.

From the kitchen and into the diningroom is a wonderful feature of a Sinterklaas

collection. Through the back door guestswill enter the backyard where they will finda cut down Christmas tree strapped onto aEuropean sled, waiting to be decorated forChristmas. More unique crafts of Christmastrees decorate the yard and a special sur-prise awaits guests in the barn.

The Olivier-Shaw home will be sure to

impress the guests on the Tour of Homesthis year with their wonderful collectionsfrom Holland and contemporary piecesfrom their travels. Lowell and John inviteyou into their home this Christmas to expe-rience a mixture of the old and the newalong with their different types ofChristmas trees for the spirit of the holidays.

Tucked back on Shadow Lane is Jim and Sue Brandl’s 12-year old Dutch Bungalowhome. Both from Dutch ancestry, Jim and Sue along with their decorating committee havedecorated in a wonderful style of Dutch history, thus their theme “Spending Christmas withOma and Opa”.

Dutch for Grandma and Grandpa, Oma and Opa Brandl’s two story home with a base-ment has space for the whole family and their grandchildren. Decorated with an old worldcharm and many Dutch artifacts, the newer home has a traditional feel.

Starting through the garage and into the laundry room, Dutch wooden shoes are linedup against the wall filled with hay and straw for Sinterklaas’ horses, who will arrive onDecember 6. Down the stairs into the basement, you will notice several tiles collected fromthe Netherlands. The family room is warm with colors of brown, copper and green thataccents the nature scene outside. A backyard patio that is decorated for Christmas over-looks Big Rock Park, 83 acres with deer, wild turkeys and even an owl that shows up nowand then.

Guests will also see a woodsy themed spare bedroom, and Jim’s “windmill office”. Jimis a Molenaar (miller) at Vermeer Manufacturing and was instrumental in construction ofthe Downtown Windmill, the 1850 Koren Mollen (Grist Mill). Next is Sue’s creative craftroom where she has spent many hours on crafts and sowing – a labor of love and Dutchperseverance. A large bulletin board and craftsman’s table displays 45 years of Christmascards that Sue has made herself for close families and friends.

On the main level, guests enter authentic Dutch doors into the kitchen where you willsee many wooden cookie molds and cookie cutters. Baking cookies is a must in this house-

hold as Sue’s father owned his own bakery inwhich Sue’s brother now runs. Boerenbont, orFarmer’s dishes, from the Netherlands are nes-tled in a corner cabinet. A kitchen table is setfor Sinterklaas coffee time with cookies, Dutchletters and Saucijzebroodjes.

The outdoor deck decorated with Dutch vil-lages of bird houses and birdseed invites thebirds from the park to join in the festivities.Past an antique stained glass window and upthe stairs you will find Jim and Sue’s grand-children’s toy room. The bedroom/toy room isfilled with Dutch pictures and even an old Dutch word-sounding board that children canuse to learn how to read along with a toy-themed Christmas tree. A “treetop bedroom” andlittle’s sister’s bedroom fills up the rest of the upstairs.

Returning to the lower level, guests will visit the formal living room decorated in warm,neutral colors with lots of candles and silver accent pieces. A magnificent Christmas treethat lights up the front window is beautifully decorated with mercury glass and birch. A for-mal dining room has wonderful, contemporary centerpiece for the dining table and anoth-er beautiful Christmas tree.

It is the Brandl’s hope that you will feel “Gezellig”, the Dutch word for cozy, snug andwarm, in their Dutch home.

Franklin St.Clothing

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Jim & Sue Brandl1227 Shadow Ln.

Lowell & John Olivier-Shaw925 Broadway St.

Ken & Linda Nollen514 Broadway St.

Delores Boerigter1001 Main St.

50th Tour of Homes locations

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Boutique

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Pella Corp

A sneak peak into this year’s homes – Can you guess which photo goes with which home?