The annual Jefferson Candlelight Tour of Homes kicks off this weekend.
Sponsored by the Jefferson Historic Foundation, the yearly event opened Thursday, December 2.
Tours will take place Friday and Saturday from 4-8 p.m. Home tours will resume next Thursday, December 9.
Ensuing tours will be open next Friday and Saturday as well.
For ticket information, visit www.jeffersoncandlelight.com.
This year’s tour will include four local homes decorated for the holidays.
Tour properties include:
Marsh Place
202 S. Friou Street
The Marsh Place is one of the earliest houses of Jefferson being built in 1860. It was purchased in 1861 by S. Marsh, who lived in the home for only 13 years but has been forever known as Marsh Place. One of the early owners, who occupied the home for over half a century, was Sarah Terhune Taylor. Mrs. Taylor was a prominent charter member of the 1881 Club, one of Texas oldest women’s clubs. In 2006, the home was acquired by The House of the Seasons Restoration, LLC.
The house is in the Greek Revival style with a simple gabled roof, a center hall, and retains all the original heart of pine floors. Even though updates have been made, The House of the Seasons Restoration has preserved this quaint two bedroom, two bath East Texas cottage to be enjoyed by anyone looking for the experience of staying in a historic home while visiting historic Jefferson.
Oak-Lief Manor
502 Moseley Street
This home, newly built in early 2020, on the corner of Moseley and Main, may sit on the site where a store and home once stood. The homeowners have a faint picture of the original structure, but have not stopped the search for additional information about the history of its originality. The home combines features admired in historical homes, but with modern features. It is a combination of Greek and Farmhouse Revival with a classic “dogtrot” hall featuring a foyer, grand gallery, Texas gallery, and a large front porch with beautiful gaslights. Furnishings are an eclectic mix of English, French, and American antiques.
Homeowners, Jim and Joanne Stacey, who have moved to Jefferson to retire, have an extensive Santa Claus collection that they are excited to share, along with other treasures they have collected on their travels. Jim and Joanne combined their hometown names to reflect in their naming the home, Oak-Lief.
Secession Hall
310 E. Jefferson Street
Secession Hall, built in 1856, stands as stately and genteel as the Old South itself. Hosting political forums and charming social affairs, it was the home of Judge William S. Todd from 1858 to 1864. Judge Todd was a delegate to the Special State Convention, and with his fellow delegates, signed the Ordinance of Secession in 1861, making Texas the seventh state to join the Confederacy.
Secession Hall was also owned by the prominent Terhune family, notable for two generations of physicians. An addition to the east side of the house was constructed in 1868 to serve as a medical office.
The historic integrity of this Greek Revival cottage, which features the classic “dog trot,” has been preserved and is now owned by James and Cindy Novey. Secession Hall reflects the culture of a fashionable society of the Victorian Era.
Black Swan
210 W. Austin Street
Black Swan was built in 1904 in the Craftsman style, with classic symmetry. The home has exposed rafters, wood siding, and is capped by an overhanging pyramid hip roof, complete with a dormer. The home still has its original 38 large windows, yet four were covered over, but are still located within the walls. It has a front porch and a balcony that was added in the 1980’s.
Black Swan may not be “historical” in the traditional sense, it does have a long history. The Black Swan was flooded in April 1945 along with the entire town of Jefferson. If you look closely, you will see that the house leans into itself.
The home has had many owners and it has been run as restaurants, a bookstore, and a winery. In March 2011, Christi and Darrell Gaither purchased Black Swan and ran it as a wine bar while restoring the upstairs to open a Bed & Breakfast, complete with two 500 square foot suites. Black Swan history continues.